We Indians have an old tradition of eating food served on banana leaves. It is a process that is favored for its environmental friendliness and cultural significance. But how often do we get a dish made from leaves? Enter patra, a delicacy from Gujarat and Maharashtra, which has captured the attention of the internet, thanks to a viral Instagram video showing its preparation. The clip takes viewers behind the scenes of making this traditional dish. Patra Prepared from the leaves of Colcacia (Arabic pita). The preparation begins with rolling out the large, green leaves and slathering them with a batter made from chickpea flour. This paste is cooked with spices like turmeric, red chillies and jaggery, which gives it a sweet and spicy taste.
What makes this video so fascinating is the scale of the production. Dozens of leaves are tightly twisted by hand to form the spiral. They are then steamed to lock in the flavors, after which the rolls are cut into pinwheels. While patra can be enjoyed in its steamed form, many Gujaratis prefer to pan fry the pieces. “Gujarat’s Biggest Patra Maker,” reads the caption of the viral video.
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Take a look at the video here:
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The video of making this dish has gained a lot of attention online.
One user commented, “The sight of huge batches being made has left viewers in awe.”
Another shared, “Eat and people in UP eat a lot.”
“My favorite thing,” read one comment.
Someone wrote, “Bro, we have such patrods in Himachal and Punjab too, either steamed or fried.”
“We Konkani people also make this dish, and we call it pathrod. Whether you steam or temper it, depends on personal taste,” wrote one user.
Have you tried Pitra yet? If not, now might be the perfect time to explore this leafy delight.