Interesting – everything you mention sounds like normal Maharashtrian fare, not specifically Saoji. Was that ordering choice on your part or did the server steer you that way?
Except the Tarri Poha which is how it’s served in Nagpur vs. elsewhere — odd that they didn’t give you the tarri part.
The Jhunka is itself served in place of “curry” — it’s pasty and thicker than dal, but serves a similar purpose. (Ethiopian Buticha actually reminds me directly of this dish.)
Did they have Bhakar on the menu to go with it? It’s a flatbread that’s thicker and rougher than chapati. Jhunka-Bhakar is a well-loved combination — about a decade or so ago the govt of Maharashtra created a massive program whereby food stalls were set up to sell this as an affordable and nutritious mid-day meal to workers of all income levels.
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