Litti choka

Traditional dish of Bihar , deeply rooted in its culture.

Litti is stuffed and baked dough balls and choka is the mashed vegetable accompaniment.

Ingredients for Litti :

For dough

Wheat flour -1cup

Salt to taste

Ghee – 1 tblsp

Ajwain – 1/4 tsp crushed

Baking soda – a pinch

For stuffing

Sattu or roasted chickpeas flour – 1cup

Salt to taste

Grated ginger – 1/2 tsp

Green chilies – chopped 1 tsp

Onion – 1 chopped

Garlic- 3-4 chopped (optional)

Lemon juice -1 tblsp

Coriander leaves – chopped 1 tblsp

Pickle gravy – 1 tablespoon

Mustard oil – 1 tablespoon

For Chokha

Aubergine -1 small

Tomatoes – 2

Onion -1

Garlic pod – 1

Green chilies -2

Potatoes – 2 boiled

Procedure for Litti

For dough

Mix all the ingredients and make a hard dough with little water . Close and let it rest for 20 mins

For stuffing

Mix all the ingredients and add 1-2 tsp water so that the mixture holds.

Now take a small amount of the dough and shape it like a cup and fill it with 2 tsps of the stuffing . Close it gently and make a smooth ball . Can smear a little ghee on palms when making the litti. This is then cooked be on a thick iron bottom pan or appam vessel with depressions as shown in picture.

A little oil is smeared on the bottom of the vessel before the Littis are placed. The vessel is closed and they are cooked on moderate flame . Every 4 mins change the sides so that the littis are cooked evenly on all sides . Takes about 20 mins to be completely cooked . Cracks on the surface confirm it is completely cooked .

Procedure For Chokha

Smear little oil on the aubergine and tomatoes , slit them half way and grill on the gas stove along with the green chilies, onion and garlic pod . Once completely grilled which takes approximately 20 mins , let it cool and then remove the burnt skin .

Then mash all of them together along with the boiled potatoes . Now add salt to taste , some lemon juice , grated ginger (optional) , chopped coriander leaves and 1 tsp mustard oil and mix well.

Serve the hot Littis with a generous dip of ghee along with the choka .

By Dr Vijayalakshmi