image: Litti Chokha
Hello friends,
Today I am here to share with you a healthy and famous delicacy of Bihar "Litti Chokha". Before that would like to share few information related to the dish. Many people believed that during 'Magadh Kingdom' litti was first cooked. It was a staple food of Magadh. Litti rose to eminence during times of 'Tantia Tope' and ' Rani Laxmi Bai'. As litti didn't required much water and also can be bake without using any utensils, that's why it was an important food during war time. It can also stay fresh for 2-3 easily. It doesn't required much oil so it's also healthy for our body. During Mughal emperor many changes happened in this recipe, they usually have shorba with Litti but in Bihar it is serve with 'Chokha'. Hope you like the information.
Ingredients:-
For the Cover Of Litti-
Whole wheat flour- 3cups.
Ghee(clarified butter)- 1-1/2 tbsp.
Salt- 1/2tsp.
Water- As required.
For the Stuffing:-
Gram Flour- 1-1/2 cups.
Fennel seeds- 1/2 tsp.
Carom seeds- 1/2 tsp.
Cumin seeds- 1/2 tsp.
Nigella seeds- 1/2 tsp.
Green chilies- 3(chopped).
Garlic- 1-1/2 tsp( finely chopped).
Ginger- 1-1/2tsp(finely chopped).
Black salt- 1/2 tsp.
Cilantro leaves- 3tbsp(chopped).
Lemon juice- 2-1/2 tsp.
Mustard oil- 3tsp.
Regular Salt- To taste.
Water- As required.
Preparation Method:-
Dough Cover For Littis :-
Step 1- In a mixing bowl, take whole wheat flour and salt, ghee. Now add water little by little and Knead to get a smooth, soft dough. Knead till smooth and soft. Cover the dough and keep aside for at least 30 minutes.
Stuffing preparation For Littis :-
Step 1- First crushed fennel seeds and cumin seeds in a mortar pestle. Keep aside.
Step 2- Next, take roasted gram flour in a mixing bowl. Add(step-1), the slightly crushed cumin seeds and fennel seeds.
Step 3- Now add all the spices mentioned above, carom seeds, nigella seeds, and red chili powder, chopped green chilies, finely chopped ginger, finely chopped garlic, chopped coriander leaves, and black salt. Also, add regular salt as per taste. Mix well.
Step 4- Add lemon juice and mustard oil. Mix very well.
Step 5- Next, Sprinkle water over and mix the flour with water evenly. Mix well. Add more water if required. The gram flour stuffing mixture should not be too dry or too wet. It should have medium texture.
Process of Staffing:-
Step 1- After 30 minutes, make medium-sized balls from the dough. Next, flatten the dough ball with your palms to make a shallow cup. Now place 2-3tbsp of the stuffing.
Step 2- Gently bring together the outer dough cover in the center; while pressing the stuffing. Join and then seal the edges.
Step 3- Press the joined part and lightly roll the stuffed dough balls in your palms; to get a round shape. Keep aside.
Step 4- Now, Keep the prepared littis under a kitchen towel; so that the dough does not get dry out.
Step 5- Grease the baking tray very well with oil. Once all littis will prepare, place them on the baking tray. The tray should be greased well otherwise the littis will stick to the tray.
Baking Litti:-
Step 1- Preheat the oven for 20 minutes at 200 degreesC before baking. Now, Place the littis in a preheated oven at 200 degrees C.
Step 2- After 10 to 15 minutes of baking, remove the tray, and flip each litti. Keep the tray back in the oven.
Step 3- Again, after 10 to 15 minutes, remove the baking tray, and flip each litti. Place the tray back in the oven. This has to be done once or twice more for even baking of littis.
Step 4- Bake till the crust looks done with some light brown or golden brown spots on them. Timing will vary upon the size and liters of the oven. It took me about 45-50 minutes for these to bake.
Step 5- Brush the littis very well with some melted ghee all over.
Step 6- Now, Serve these Bihari style litti with aloo chokha; with a small bowl of melted ghee. The litti is broken, dipped in ghee, and then had with the aloo chokha.
Making Aloo Chokha:-
Ingredients-
Potatoes- 300g(peeled).
Onion- 1/2 cup(chopped).
Green chilies- 1tsp(chopped).
Garlic- 1/2(finely chopped).
Mustard Oil- 1tsp.
Salt- To taste.
Lemon Juice- 1/2 tsp.
Preparation Method:-
Step 1- First, boil potatoes till they are thoroughly cooked. Allow them to become warm. When the potatoes become warm, mash them.
Step 2- Now, add chopped onion, chopped green chilies, finely chopped garlic, mustard oil, salt, and lemon juice.
Step 3- Mix very well. Check the taste and add more salt, lemon juice, or green chilies if required.
Step 4- Now, it's ready to have with Litti.
image: Aloo Chokha