Litti chokha Recipe (Oven / Air fryer )

What is litti chokha?

The most famous food in Bihar, liti choka is a dish close to many a heart. This is a must have in Bihar just like Dal Bafla(in M.P) and Dal Bati  in Rajasthan. Some people also call it baati chokha or chokha bati. You could actually call all of them as cousins. All of the baati are made with wheat flour over coal. Nowadays, you can bake them at home on an oven grill. Only, the curry served differs. While we serve the dal bati and dal bafla with lentils, this Bihar street food comes with vegetable mash. Another prominent feature is mustard oil. The mode of cooking changes from ghee in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to mustard oil in Bihar food. Thus, changing from dairy to vegan.

Jump to:

• What is litti chokha?
• Litti chokha is famous food of which state ?
• What is sattu ?
• how to consume sattu?
• Related links
• Equipment
• Ingredients
• How to make litti ?
• How to make litti in oven ?
• How to make Litti in air fryer
• How to make chokha in oven? (prep)
• How to make chokha in air fryer ? (prep)
• How to make chokha ?
• Litti chokha recipe
• Variation
• Storage
• FAQs

Litti chokha is famous food of which state ?

Liti choka brings back memories of rural India to me. It is very popular in Bihar and surrounding areas. It is full of protein. Rustic and filling. Good meal for daily wagers. Made with local veggies. Nothing fancy yet taste is delicious. Some people also eat dal chawal chokha as a simple meal.

I have enjoyed having this recipe in both Patna and Benaras. Clear vivid memories flood my vision when I write about it. I had the best litti chokha in patna in a small rooftop dhaba near Patna station. No fancy décor but best food dishes you can ever have. They make it on coal day in day out. Benaras was a pleasant surprise. Small street food stalls selling them fresh along with chola rice. Great price for college students. Cheap and a hearty meal!It is so delicious that my mouth is still watering.

Well, it may be a distant dream to visit now but the taste lingers on. I love making it whenever I want a special brunch. This Bihari food recipe is full of flavor. Now, when you cannot visit Bihar, you got to make your own at home.

What is sattu ?

In Bihar, UP from eastern parts of India, sattu is made by dry roasting Bengal gram and grinding it. You can make both sweets and savory from it. Versatile and rich in proteins.

how to consume sattu?

You can make a sattu sharbat, a drink made by mixing it in water. Just add salt & lemon and beat the heat. You can also make a parantha or sattu bati.  Make a sattu ladoo or a sattu burfi if you love sweets. You can also make this at home by grinding the roasted chana at home(do not remove the skin).

Equipment

• Frying pan
• OTG or oven with grill
• Stand mixer optional for kneading

Ingredients

For baked litti

• Whole meal flour
• Pinch of baking soda
• ajwain / caraway seeds
• oil.
• water for kneading
  For Litti stuffing
• sattu
• Pickle masala from any spicy pickle
• mustard oil
• lemon juice
• chopped ginger and chillies
• black salt/salt as per taste
  For baingan chokha
• tomatoes
• eggplant / brinjal
• potato/sweet potato boiled or cooked in oven(in a foil)
• onion
• salt as per taste
• mustard oil
• ginger garlic paste
• green chili finely chopped
• cumin seeds

How to make litti ?

1. Mix the dry ingredients with oil and water. Knead a semi-tight dough for litti.

2. Mix the stuffing ingredients. Add more salt, if required.

3. Roll the dough and place the stuffing in the center.

4. Close and shape it into a ball.

How to make litti in oven ?

1. Place the litti in a hot oven in a baking tray

2. Cook until they crack open and turn light brown.

3. Further, grill them on gas to get the charred effect and flavor.

4. Brush them with ghee or oil if vegan, before serving.

How to make Litti in air fryer

1. Place the litti in a pre heated air fryer (pre heated at 170C for 10 minutes)

2. Cook for 18-20 minutes at 170C. Brush oil 2 times in a between.

3. Optionally grill them on a gas cooktop for the authentic charred flavour and look.

How to make chokha in oven? (prep)

1. Grill the aubergines/eggplant/brinjal and other vegetables in an oven at 180 C(fan forced) or 200C or until cooked.

Eggplant for 20 mins after brushing oil
Potato grill for 30 mins
Sweet potato 25 mins
Peeled onions and tomato for 20 mins (covered in aluminum foil)

How to make chokha in air fryer ? (prep)

1. Grill the aubergines/eggplant/brinjal and other vegetables in an pre-heated air fryer using the grill option

Eggplant for 20 mins after brushing oil

2. Potato grill for 30 mins
Sweet potato 25 mins
Peeled onions and tomato for 20 mins (covered in aluminum foil)

How to make chokha ?

1. Peel all the vegetables(eggplants, onion, potato, tomato)

2. Mash all the vegetables for the chokha. Mix with salt, oil and lemon juice.

3. Heat mustard oil in a pan. Add ginger, garlic, chilly & cumin seeds.

4. Add the mixed vegetables to the tempering. Mix well.

5. Serve it hot along with some sliced onions, lemons and chilly. Garnish the mash with chopped coriander for freshness.

Variation

Bihari cuisine also has the non vegetarian version of lithi choka, litti chicken is quite popular. Sometimes mutton is cooked in raw spices too as a variation.Another popular food is chaap litti where mutton chaap is served.. Another variation is Bihari aloo chokha recipe which does not contain brinjals as some people may be allergic to it.