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Though the cuisine of Bihar is largely similar to East and North Indian cuisines, there are a few dishes which you can only relish in the state. You will witness a lot of watery foods and dry preparations that are quite different from its neighbouring states like Jharkhand, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Video Credit: Nisha Madhulika/ YouTube
The state’s cuisine is highly influenced by the weather of the state. As monsoon is approaching, here are a few deep-fried snacks that pair well with a cup of hot ginger tea. If you are planning to visit the state, you must try these snacks to hop on a gastronomic ride.
Chana Dal Samosa
While you get to taste aloo, aloo matar, or even matar samosa in Uttar Pradesh, you only get to taste chana dal samosa in Bihar only. Split chickpeas are mashed into a spicy mixture by adding spices and herbs to it. The rolls are deep-fried and served with green and tamarind chutneys. It is a must-have with samosa.
Bhujia
When drinking a cup of tea, if you get a serving of bhujia, it makes the weather more enjoyable. Imagine sipping a cup of chai along with a bowl loaded with bhujia as you enjoy the refreshing drops of rain making your face wet. It is prepared with a spiced gram flour mixture. You can also toss it with boiled potatoes, onions, green chillies, and tomatoes to enjoy it like bhel.
Litti
Though the famous variant of litti is roasted, in many parts of the state, people prefer to dry it to extend its shelf life. When your travel plans involve staying away from home for days, you can pack deep-fried littis along with pickles and enjoy them with a cup of tea. They are prepared by stuffing wheat flour dough balls with a spiced mixture of roasted gram flour. You can also add onions but their shelf life will be reduced.
Kachori
Bihari kachori is slightly different from what you will get to taste in the neighbouring states. In most of the eateries, you will get the option to pick among potato, dal, and matar kachoris, but if you are noting the recommendations, don’t overlook dal kachori. The wheat or maida dough is stuffed with spiced dal mixture and kachoris are deep-fried until crispy and flaky. It is also a part of Bihari travel food.
Thekua
Thekua is an integral part of Bihar’s culinary landscape. It is among a few dishes specially cooked during Chhath Puja, however, you can enjoy it throughout the year. It is a sweet dish that is often served with hot tea. Wheat flour, sugar or jaggery, and ghee are mixed together and converted into discs or oval shapes. These discs are deep-fried and served as snacks.
Singhara Fritters
Singhara fritters are crispy bhajiya that marry the spiced flavour of tea. Take water chestnut flour or singhara atta and make a thick paste by adding some water and spices to it. You can also drop a few chopped vegetables into the mixture. Deep-fried fritters are served with tangy and spicy green chutney. If you pair these with cutting or masala chai, every bite will lead you to gastronomic heaven.
Khaja
While you are relishing snacks, there is no compulsion that they have to be spicy and salty. Khaja is a sweet snack with roots in the Ottoman Empire. Some believe that it is quite similar to Baklava. It is made by giving the desired shape to the wheat flour, mawa, and sugar dough and deep-frying it in hot oil. If you are near Udwantnagar, Bihar, you get to meet Khaja’s close cousin Belgrami which is also a deep-fried sweet snack made using ghee, milk solids, and sugar.
