Andhra Pradesh - Others   

Falling for the `bhutta'

S. Harpal Singh

Come rainy season and people lap up the Portuguese gift to India

POPULAR SNACK: Maize cob being sold on the roadside in Adilabad.

ADILABAD: Maize cob or a "bhutta" is very popular as a roadside snack. People love having a bite of the mildly roasted maize cob especially during the rainy season. Roadside vends of bhuttas are a common sight during the season even in small villages.

It is popularly believed that this food crop was introduced in India during the 17th century by the Portuguese. Because of its nutritious value, maize has been accepted as a major food item mainly in North India.

In Telangana region, Maize is cultivated chiefly in Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts. In Adilabad it is cultivated in about 25,000 acres in kharif and in 5,000 acres during Rabi. Maize is consumed as pancake or roti by North Indian communities and as `gatka' and `vada' by the South Indians. The Punjabi dish of "Makke di roti te sarson da sag" is relished by lovers of Punjabi cuisine.

Maize has higher fibre and low fat content than many food grains. If rice has a fibre content of 0.2 per cent, the maize has 2.7 per cent of fibre. In terms of iron and vitamin content, it is slightly less than rice and wheat at 2.3 per cent while its calcium content matches that of rice at 10 per cent. The maize cob is actually the female flower.

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