BIHARI CUISINE -"INTERNATIONAL LITTI CHOKHA"

 

 Litti Chokha is a traditional dish eaten mainly in Bihar and Jharkhad. It can be had for lunch, dinner or you can make it on your holidays and you will surely love it. Litti is similar to Bati in appearance but there is a little difference. The Pitthi(stuffing) to be filled in it is made with Sattu and Litti is eaten with brinjal bharta or mashed potato. We can also prepare Mixed Veg Chokha. So let us start the preparation for Litti Choka.

 

Ingredients:

• For The Litti Dough • 250 gm Atta • 100 gm Besan (Gram Flour) • 5 gm Ajwain • 5 gm Mangraila Salt (according to taste) • Water For The Litti Filling • 250 gm Sattu (Roasted Gram Flour) • 1 clove Garlic (finely chopped) • 50 gm Ginger (finely chopped) • 5 piece Green Chilies (finely chopped) • ½ a bunch Cilantro (Dhaniya) Leaves • ½ tsp Thyme (Ajwain) • 2 tsp Lemon Juice For the Chokha • 1 piece big Brinjal (whole) • Tomato 2 pieces (whole) • Salt (according to taste) • ½ tsp Mustard Oil • 1 piece Onion (finely chopped) • 2 piece Chilies (finely chopped) method for litti chokha: Prepare dough for Litti Filter the flour and keep it in a utensil, put Ghee, baking soda, Ajwain and salt in flour then mix well. Beat curd and put it in flour as well. Knead a soft dough using warm water. Cover the dough and keep aside for 30 minutes. Dough required to make Litti is ready. How to make Stuffing for Litti Wash, peel and finely chop ginger(you can also grate it). Break the stems of the green chillies, wash then finely chop them. Clean green coriander, wash then finely chop the leaves. Take out Sattu in a utensil put chopped ginger, green chillies, coriander, lemon juice, salt, Jeera, Ajwain, mustard  oil and pickle spices in it. Mix all the ingredients properly, if the Pitthi seems dry then add 1-2 spoons of water to it, Sattu Pitthi is ready. How to make Litti Break off medium sized pieces from the dough. With the help of your fingers expand the pieces 2-3 inches in diameter. Place 1- 1 1/2 tsp Pitthi on it, wrap up the dough piece and close from all sides. Press this stuffed pieces to flatten it a bit, Litti is ready for frying. Heat the Tandoor(furnace), place the stuffed pieces of dough in the Tandoor  and cook it by turning sides regularly till they turn brown (traditionally Litti is cooked on a Upla). How to make Chokha for Litti Wash brinjals and tomatoes then fry them. Allow them to cool, peel the  skins, keep them in a bowl and mash with a spoon. Put the chopped spices,  salt, oil and mix properly. Brinjal Chokha is ready. If you prefe garlic and onion then peel 5-6 cloves of garlic then finely  chop them. Peel 1 onion, chop it finely and mix these with brinjal. Aloo ka Chokha Peel 4-5 boiled potatoes break them into small pieces, add chopped ginger , green chillies, green coriander, red chilly powder and salt to it then mix  well. Aloo ka Chokha is ready. Serve Put Chokha in a bowl, dip hot Litti in melted Ghee, Litti can also be broken  at the centre and then dipped. Serve with Chokha, green coriander chutney  and eat.. Suggestions: Litti Chokha is best served hot with a bowl of melted pure desi  ghee. you can fry it or bake it and can serve it with different variety of chokha made up of  tomato, brinjal or you can serve it with cutney and sauces. It takes nearly 40-50 minutes for preparation. There is a famous song sung by Bhojpuri singer Manoj Tiwari about litti chokha. International litti chokha and described it quality ,receipe and how it's famous world wide. The lyrics states "international litti chokha je khaalas na kaalas dhoka up chaihe Bihar mein gadh ke jhanda ayegail jha gail sansar mein"