Named after Bihar, a state in India, Bihari dishes refer to the food eaten in Bihar. With the use of an array of spices including fennel seeds, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, nigella seed, and mustard seeds, red chilies, Bihari cuisines involves a lot of tempering and frying. Most of the food items are fried in mustard oil to tickle your taste buds. The aroma and flavor make these dishes simple mouth-watering.
Bihari food is usually made with wheat, rice, lentils, or chickpeas. While most of the food items can be made at home, you can also place an order online and get food delivery in Patna Bihar. A typical Bihari food platter comprises lentil, rice, flatbreads, veggies, and pickles. Some of the delicious and delightful recipes are mentioned below:
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Litti Chokha
A popular delicacy of Bihar Litti Chokha is also enjoyed in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Nepal. Litti refers to a dough ball made from wheat flour and chickpea flour. Various kinds of spices are also added to the dough to make it taste even better. The Littis are roasted over coal. In some cases, wood or cow dung cakes are also used for roasting them. The piping hot Littis are dabbed with ghee and eaten with chokha, which is a blend of roasted eggplant, mashed potatoes, raw onions, ginger, garlic, tomatoes, lime juice, mustard sauce, herbs, spices, and other condiments. Litti is believed to emerge in Magadha, an ancient kingdom in Bihar that existed from the 6th to the 4th century BCE. The sattu in Litti has cooling properties and keeps people energetic throughout the day. Litti Chokha was preferred during the year 1857 Revolt due to its filling and non-perishable nature. The dish was said to be a travel meal of Tantia Tope and Rani Lakshmi Bai.
Bihari Kabab
Originally from Bihar, Bihari Kebabs make use of meat cut into slices. The tender pieces are mixed with curd, papaya kabab chini, mace, poppy seeds, nutmeg among other ingredients. These are barbecued on coal on skewers and tossed with ghee. Its melt-in-the-mouth texture makes it one of a kind snack. The vegetarian version of the snack is made and loved by people.
Sattu Paratha
This Indian bread made from roasted chickpea flour is most popular in Bihar. This flour is made from roasted and powdered brown-skinned chickpea. It is nutritious and full of fiber. Healthy cuisine consumed in breakfast, lunch as well as dinner. It has proteins and essential minerals that give strength to the body. It is a time-consuming process but is well worth the time. You can also opt for food delivery in Patna Bihar if you find it to be a tedious task. The flatbread is fried in ghee that gives it an amazing taste and rich aroma.
Pitthas
Pitthas are steamed dumplings made from whole wheat or fresh rice flour. These are stuffed with delicious Bengal gram (chana dal) paste blended with spices and herbs, and eaten with coriander chutney, Tomato Chutney or Mint Chutney. This amazing cuisine is vegan, gluten-free, and high in proteins, they can be consumed anytime and is usually enjoyed by all. These small dumplings are eaten in breakfast, brunch, or supper. Just like Littis, Pitthas can also be served with chokha. These dumpling delicacies can also be made sweet by stuffing shredded coconut and jaggery.
Ghugni
Just like other Bihari delicacies, Ghugni is also consumed in Jharkhand, Bengal, Assam, and Odisha. The delicious curry is made by soaking Bengal grams, chickpeas, or dried peas overnight and boiling them the next day. A lot of spices, herbs, and condiments are added to it. The ghugni can be eaten with various Indian flatbreads such as rotis, pooris, or parathas. You can also have them with steamed rice or puffed rice.
Chura Bhuja Mattar
Chura bhuja matter is a popular snack from Bihar made with roasted flattened rice (chura) and cooked peas (mattar). The crunchiness of chura perfectly balances the tenderness of peas. It can be beaten in breakfast or brunch. You can also munch it in your free time or when you get hunger pangs. Sauteed red chilies, spices, roasted peanuts, onions, and puffed rice can also be added to enhance the taste of this dish. This easy-to-make snack is absolutely delicious. You cannot just have a handful as you will end up craving for more. You can easily make this interesting snack at home and treat your taste buds with yet another delicious dish. Flattened rice is a versatile snack that can be baked, roasted, or fried. It can be eaten with yogurt, Ghugni, or jaggery and with a spicy preparation of peas and onions.
The list does not end here. You can also try balushahi, khaja, thekua, parwal ki mithai, tilkut, malpua, falooda!