Litti Choka may be the crown jewel of Bihari cuisine, but that's not the only delicacy the East Indian state has to offer. With Nepal on top, Jharkhand to its right and Uttar Pradesh to its left, Bihar is a fairly large state with a majority of vegetarians and few meat and fish eaters. We reached out to Puja Sahu, the co-founder of Pot Belly, one of the first and most prominent Bihari restaurants in Delhi, to give us a brief overview of Bihari cuisine. What we heard left our appetite and taste buds craving for more. "Sattu (a mix of ground pulses and cereal) is one of the most commonly used ingredients in Bihari cuisine. It can be seasoned lightly with jeera (cumin) powder, coriander, salt and pepper, and used as a stuffing for paranthas, litti or as a paste. You can also use it to make drinks like Sattu ka Sherbat or the Sattu Cooler."
(Read more: Sattu, the Healthy Flour You Should Add to Your Diet)
She adds, "Another ingredient enjoyed commonly in Bihar is the Bengal gram or the chana dal. Potbelly has a delicious dish centred around the Bengal gram- the Baggia Basket, which is basically pockets of rice flour stuffed with spiced channa dal, tempered with spices and served with tomato chokha and coriander chutney. An easier, more homely way to use this dal is by making Dal Bhari Puris or puris stuffed with chana dal."
5. Dal Bhari Poori
Golden and deep-fried pooris stuffed with dal are enjoyed across the state, espeically during festival season. They're made without salt and are often eaten with kheer or achaar. Dal Poori is also extremely popular in Bengal and their version is made using bengal gram, chana dal and maida (all-purpose flour) whereas in Bihar, most people use chana dal and wheat or atta.
7. Laung Lata
'Laung' means cloves and Laung Lata is a clove infused Bihari dessert made with flour, oil, milk and stuffed with a divine filling of khoya, cardamom and sugar, fried and then dipped in a sugar syrup.
8. Sattu Cooler Recipe
Once popular as a rural delicacy, Sattu Cooler eventually caught the attention of the urban population. It is considered a detox drink that cleanses the system and aids in weight loss, just the perfect drink for all summer woes.
9. Bihari Fish Curry Recipe
A typical way of cooking fish in Bihar or by the Bihari community is what makes Bihari Fish Curry different.The secret of this spicy curry is the typical masala. The masala is made from Coriander, Cumin, Black pepper, Mustard seeds and Red chili roasted slightly over low heat before grounding.
So, now you don't have to visit Bihar to savour the exotic Bhiari cuisine. Try these Bihari recipes and treat your loved ones with them.