[1] The name is derived from the way it is made, from the 'gripping' action of the hand.

It is made up of besan (chickpea flour), whole wheat flour, methi (fenugreek), salt, turmeric, chili powder, fresh ginger,[2] green chilies,[2] and an optional bonding agent/sweetener such as sugar and oil.

This item is known as 'vaataa' in Charotar area located in Central Gujarat.

Other varieties are made by using coarse flour of wheat and leafy vegetables such as amaranth, spinach, luni (purslane) or grated bottle gourd (dudhi) or peel of bitter gourd (karela).

[3] Muthiya is part of a category of snack food called ફરસાણ (Farsan).