Bhojpuri cuisine

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Litti

Bhojpuri cuisine is a style of food preparation common amongst the Bhojpuri people of Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Bhojpuri foods are mostly mild and are less hot in term of spices used, but could be hotter and spicier according to individual preference. The food is tailor-made for Bhojpuri lifestyle in which the rural folk expend many calories in the fields. Bhojpuri people take pride in celebrating various festivals and religious rites with food; as a result, their food resembles the delicacies offered to deities.

Bhojpuri people enjoy eating both vegetable and meat dishes.[1] The cuisine is heavily influenced by its neighbouring Awadhi.

Staple diet[]

Wheat (Ganhum गँहूम्) and Rice (Chawal चावल) are the staple cereal of most of the peoples. Maize (Makai मकई), Barley (Jau जौ) and Pearl Millet (Bajra बाजड़ा) are also highly consumed in Bhojpuri cuisine.

Lentils (daal दाल), beans (lobiya लोबिया, rajma राजमा), meat (sikaar सिकार) (mutton, lamb and chicken; beef and pork are avoided), green vegetables (sabzi तरकारी), leafy vegetables (saag साग), paneer (पनीर), and fish (machhari मछरी) are major constituents of the regular diet of the peoples.

Breakfast[]

Breakfast in the region is roti based and includes a variety of breads made up of whole wheat or refined wheat flour which includes roti, , stuffed parathas and is made with sabzi, dahi (yogurt), or raita.

On special occasions Halwa-Puri, Kheer/sevai-Puri, Pua-Dahi, Chhole-Puri, etc. are commonly served as breakfast. A more common breakfast served as street food includes Puri-Sabzi, Chana, Kachori and Jalebi.

Lunch[]

Lunch is rice based and includes Dal (split beans like chana dal, masoor dal, moong dal, urad dal, arhar/tur dal etc. are cooked with water, turmeric powder and salt), sabzi-korma (vegetable or meat cooked in rich but mildly-spicy and balanced gravy), chokha (boiled, roasted and mashed potatoes, eggplants, tomatoes are mixed with several herbs and seasoning), chutney (dhaniya ka chutney or coriander chutney is the most traditional chutney of the region with rich flavour of coriander, green chilli, garlic, lemon and mustard oil), bhujia (pan fried potatoes cut in finger shapes), pickle and may also include rotis for those who prefer it over rice. On special occasions, several rice dishes like pulao, biryani etc. are served and several changes can be observed in the lunch. In fact, it can be completely changed and then it could have many delicious dishes, sweets and savouries.

Snacks[]

Generally served with tea, at evening time. It includes many kind of snacks mostly deep fried and salted. Most of the time, as a substitute for it, a handful and generous amount of dry fruits are eaten like kishmish (raisins), badam (almonds), khajur/chohara (dates), zameeni badam/chinia badam (peanuts), akharot (walnuts), chillgooza (pinenut), kaju (cashews), pista (pistachios) and anjeer (dried figs) soaked in milk.

Dinner[]

Dinner is also roti based and is eaten with sabzi-korma or roti is broken into a bowl of hot milk (can be sweetened), and then eaten. It is often called doodh-roti. Sometimes, litti is grilled over charcoal or is baked in cowdung cakes or charcoal in a clay oven and is eaten with chokha or murga (chicken korma). Dinner could change at special occasions and can be replaced by meat dishes like korma (meat with gravy), kebab and kofta (meat balls with spicy gravy) and served with tandoori roti (harder than the usual pan baked roti) or naan and Salaad (salad).

Satvik Khana[]

There is a tradition of eating Satvik Khana (Sentient food) in the holy city of Banaras.

It is a Lacto Vegetarian diet and excludes the uses of garlic and onion.

Non Vegetarianism[]

Since ancient times, peoples of this region have been practicing non-vegetarian along with vegetarian diets to meet the need for protein, vitamins and fat. Also non-vegetarian dishes are seen as delicacies and are eaten with great relish. It has always been a custom to serve the guests any non-vegetarian dish at least once in their term of stay. But after the decline of Vedic Hinduism and uprising of Modern Hinduism along with direct influences from newborn religions like Buddhism and Jainism resulted in decrease of heavy dependence upon meat and ended up with only few kinds of meat yielding animals being edible like goat, sheep and swine, and because Cows got an auspicious position in modern Hinduism, the meat of cows, oxen and bulls became taboo. Later on after the influence of Islam, swine also became a taboo. But still many Hindu families in remote areas of this region hunt for wild boars and Muslims can be still found enjoying beef and meat of Nilgai (Asian antelope). Nilgai is avoided among Hindus because they are mistaken to be cow like cattle's and hence sacred.

After the arrival of British rulers, poultry became popular and now has become one of the largest contributor in meat yielding animals. But still mutton is regarded as the superior meat over poultry and fish.

Fish have also been popular since ancient times due to a large number of big and small rivers flowing through the region. Freshwater fish and small freshwater prawns also form a good proportion in total meat consumption.

Essentials[]

Spices & condiments[]

Amount of spices used in cooking are very few and sometimes can be just two or three kind of spices, which imparts a perfect aroma and taste, rather than putting all spices together and making the dish very spicy and hot. Among these spices, a few of them are used in any particular dish.

  • Cumin seed (Jeera)
  • Caraway seed (Shahi Jeera)
  • Cinnamon (Darchini)
  • Aniseed (Saunf)
  • Black pepper (Kaali Mirch)
  • Asafoetida (Heeng)
  • Garam masala
  • Red Chili (Lal or Laal Mirch)
  • Green Chili (Hari Mirch)
  • Cardamom (Elaichi)
  • Black cardamom (Badi Elaichi)
  • Nutmeg (Jaifal)
  • Mace (Javitri)
  • Saffron (Kesar/Zaffran)
  • Flax seed (Tisi/Alsi)
  • Dried Pomegranate (Anardana)
  • Carom seed (Ajwain)
  • Fenugreek seed (Methi)
  • Dried Fenugreek leaves (Kasuri Methi)
  • Onion seed (Mangraila)
  • Mango powder (Amchoor)
  • Dried Mango (Khatai)
  • Coriander (Dhania)
  • Rose water (Gulab Jal)
  • Turmeric (Hardi)
  • Salt (Noon/Namak)
  • Black Salt (Kala Namak)
  • Rock Salt (Sendha Namak)
  • Poppy seed (Khas Khas)
  • Clove (Lavang)
  • Mustard (Sarson)
  • Bay leaf (Tejpaat)
  • Sesame seed (Til)
  • Olive (Jaitun)
  • Nigella seed (Kalaunji)

Herbs, oils & nuts[]

  • Green Coriander leaves (Hara Dhania patta)
  • Mint leaves (Pudina patta)
  • Parsley (Jafari)
  • Holy Basil (Tulsi)
  • Dill (Sowa)
  • Ginger (Adarakh)
  • Dried Ginger (Sonth)
  • Garlic (Lahsun)
  • Onion (Pyaz)
  • Fenugreek leaves (Methi ke patta)
  • Tamarind (Imli)
  • Date (Khajur)
  • Lime (Limu)
  • Lemon (Nimbu)
  • Mustard Oil (Sarson ke tel)
  • Olive Oil (Jaitun ke tel)
  • Ghee (Ghee)
  • Butter (Maakhan)
  • Hydrolysed Vegetable Oil (Dalda)
  • Almond (Badam)
  • Peanut (Zameeni badam/ Chinia badam/ Moongphali)
  • Walnut (Akharot)
  • Cashewnut (Kaju)
  • Dried Fig (Anjeer)
  • Date (Khajur)
  • Dried Apricot (Zardalu)
  • Dried Plum (Baiir)
  • Pistachios (Pista)
  • Raisin (Kishmis)
  • Black Raisin (Sultana)

Tools & techniques[]

  • Handi (हांडी/ہانڈی)
  • Kadahi (कराही/كراهي)
  • Tava (तवा/توا)
  • Tandoor (तंदूर/تندور)
  • Tasla/Bhagona/Patili (तसला/تسلا)
  • Degchi (extra large degchi is called deg or dig) (देगची/دےگچي)
  • Banarsi Dum Technique (बनारसी दम तकनीक/بنارسی دم تکنيك)

Common vegetables[]

Festival delicacies[]

In the region, a festival is celebrated by preparing several delicious dishes. And the dishes are shared with all communities irrespective of religion or caste.

Khichdi/Sekraat[]

Also called Makar Sankranti is the first festival of the year. On this day, at morning, people eat Til ke laddu, Tilwa, Tilkut and Laai. And at lunch time, Chura-Dahi-Gur is eaten. And at evening special Khichdi is served along with melted ghee, Pickle, papar, chokha, chutney, and dahi.

Vasant Panchmi[]

This festival is celebrated as the last day of winter season and welcoming of spring season. On this day Halwa is made of semolina. And is eaten with Puri.

Holi/Hori/Paguwa[]

Holi is one of the largest festival of Bhojpuri region. On this day, meat dishes and intoxicating drinks and sweets (thandai/bhang halwa) are the main attraction. In large families, a Bakra/Khasi (he-goat/sheep) is bought few days before the festival, and is slaughtered on the day of festival. The backstrap and shoulder parts are cut into small pieces and marinated in garlic, onion and few spices and then skewered over charcoal to make Bihari Seekh Kebab. Liver (kaleji) is cut into small pieces and is pan fried with a little salt and pepper. And is one of the delicacies for children. While the rest part of the meat are cooked as korma. The korma is eaten with Pua (a batter of wheat flour and sugar with various dry fruits, deep fried in ghee). Meat dishes are eaten all day and the meat is also shared with neighbourers and relatives. Also a very sweet halwa made up of dry fruits, condensed milk and bhang is prepared.

At evening/night, peoples enjoy delicious Pakora, Gulab jamun, Chhole, Dahi-baras, and Kadhi-bari served with boiled rice.

Shivraatri[]

On this day, the persons specially women who did fasting eat Phalahar (fruit diet).

Ramnavami[]

It is also one of the major festival of the region. A night before this festival, women cook Kheer, Puri, Dal-Puri and gulgula next morning after worshiping, these are eaten as offering whole day.

Janmashtami[]

This occasion is linked with special of Singhara (Chestnut) and Khas-Khas (Poppy seeds).

Teej[]

A day before the festival, women dedicate their whole day in preparing Perukia. And on the day of this festival, they offer this dessert and fruits to the God and after the worshiping, it is eaten as offering. It can be eaten for several days as it doesn't require preservation or refrigeration.

Navami/Navraatar and Dassahara[]

Satvik khana is eaten on all the nine days of Puja. And on tenth day i.e., Dussehra special dishes like Puri, Kachori, Dum-Aloo, Chhole, Jalebi Pua, Bari-Kadhi, Dahi-Bara, etc. are cooked. At evening after "Ravan-Dahan", there is tradition of meat eating.

Diwali[]

This is one of the largest festival of the region and people enjoy eating numerous kind of sweets and savouries, like gujia, anarsa and ladoo. One sweet always associated with Diwali is Cheeni ke Khilone.

Chhath Puja[]

It is the largest festival of this region. It is celebrated 3 consecutive days. On first day "Nahay Khay", after the holy bath in river, boiled small grain "arwa chawal/sama ke chawal" is eaten with lauki ki sabzi (bottlegourd sautéd in ghee and li'l rock salt is added and cooked till done) and "Chane ki dal". On second day "Kharna", people take dip in holy Ganges and take the water home to cook Kheer (jaggery is used in place of sugar) and Puri. And is eaten as Prasad at night. Next day on "Dala Chhath" Thekua and belgrami is prepared by the women who are on fasting. After both the "Arghyas", on the fourth day, these sweets along with several fruits and dry fruits are served as Prasad. And is eaten for several days.

Dishes[]

Some dishes popular in Bhojpuri cuisine include:

  • Channa and Chhole (chickpeas cooked in spicy gravy)
  • Rajma (red kidney beans cooked in mildly spicy and creamy gravy )
  • Lobiya (black eyed bean cooked in lightly spicy gravy)
  • Dal makhani
  • Dal maharani
  • Dum Aloo (Potatoes cooked in spicy gravy with Benarasi Dum technique)
  • Urad ka daal
  • Chokha (roasted tomatoes, roasted aubergine roasted potatoes, roasted brinjals mixed with garlic chilly and raw mustard oil)
  • Raita (yogurt dips)
  • Kofta (meat/vegetable/paneer balls cooked in spicy gravy)
  • Maakuni (Paratha stuffed with cooked potatoes or yellow/green peas or sattu)
  • Aloo mutter
  • Kadhi-Bari (fried chickpea flour dumplings cooked in spicy yogurt)
  • Mutton Biryani (long grain basmati rice cooked with mutton or chicken)
  • Bihari kebab (pieces of meat marinated in onion, garlic and salt then skewered in seekh and then grilled over charcoal)
  • Gulab jamun
  • (sweetened wheatflour batter with nuts and raisins poured in a karahi of hot oil and fried)
  • Petha (locally called Bhatuapag, is a sweet white flavoured candy made up of ashgourd)
  • Murabba (pickled fruits)
  • (fried biscuits of wheatflour flavoured with aniseed)
  • Anarsa
  • (poori stuffed with boiled and mashed dal)
  • [[litti chokha]] ()
  • (made of green peas)
  • Ghugni (pan fried and seasoned green peas or sprouted black gram)
  • (Curd and chooda)
  • (wheatflour stiffly kneeded and rolled thick and then cut into different shapes, though flower shape is common then cooked with dal and seasoned with salt and pepper also called Dalpiththee)
  • (stuffed with Daal and cooked in steam)
  • Nimki
  • Sev
  • Dalmot
  • Chana ke saag
  • Sarson ke saag
  • Palak saag
  • Khesari ke saag

Bread[]

  • Roti
  • Parantha
  • Stuffed Paranthe (Aloo Parantha, Sattu Parantha)
  • Naan
  • Stuffed Naan
  • Litti
  • Poori
  • Dalpuri
  • Kachori
  • Mughalai Parantha
  • Rumali Roti (used in rolling up Bihari kebab, together with called Paranthe Kebab or Bihari rolls)
  • Pua (considered a dessert)
  • Thekua (considered a dessert or a biscuit like snack)
  • Tandoori roti

Desserts[]

Anarsa
Balushahi
Thekua
  • Gaja
  • Rasmalai
Rasmalai
Khaja
  • Khajhulee
  • Meethe Samose
  • Halwa, generally of Soozi (Semolina), Gajar (Carrot), Besan (Chickpea flour), Atta (Whole wheat flour), Singhara (Chestnut), Doodhi (Bottle gourd), Badam (Almond), Khas khas (Poppy seeds)
  • Sohan halwa
  • Laddoo (made up of besan, motichur, bundi, gond, mewe etc.)
  • Barfi
Burfi
  • Gulab Jamun
Gulab Jamun
Sohnpapri
  • Methi Ke Laddoo (esp. during winters. It is prepared by mixing powdered fenugreek seeds and powdered flax seeds with much ghee and jaggery and nuts and raisins.)
  • Tilwa (esp. during winters)
  • Til ki Laai
  • Tilkut
  • Parwal ki Mithai
  • Jalebi
Jalebi
  • Belgrami (A dry sweet made up of Maida, Sugar and Ghee)
  • Pedukia/Murki A dry sweet made up of Maida and stuffed with mixture of Khowa/fried Soozi (Semolina, sautéed in little Ghee) and Sugar and then fried.
  • Ghujhia (Pedukia dipped in sugar syrup)
Pedukia
  • Laktho (A dry and hard sweet, made up of Maida and Jaggery and seasoned with aniseed)
  • Malai Kofta
  • Pua
  • Malpua
  • Sev-Bunia (Bundia)
  • Kulfi
Matka Kulfi is most famous among Bhojpuri peoples

Drinks[]

  • Chai
  • Coffee (commonly in Urban population)
  • Falooda (esp. in summer)
Falooda

Snacks[]

Pickle[]

In Bhojpuri region, pickling is quite common and traditional. There are varieties of pickles (Pickle & Murabba) prepared in each and every home. Aachar includes, Aam (Mango), Aãwla (Amla), Imli (Tamarind), Mooli (Radish), Lehsun (Garlick), Nimbu (Lemon), Lemu (Lime), Gajar (Carrot), Gobhi (Cauli flower), Sonth (Dried Ginger), Laal aur Hara Marcha (Red and Green Chilli) and Murabbas are generally prepared from Aãwla (Amla), Cheri (Cherries), Aam (Mango), also called Amawat etc.

Dips, chutneys and raita[]

Dips like raita and chutney are important part of Bhojpuri cuisine. There are several dips prepared which are served as a side dish to enhance the taste of the centre-piece meal.

Raita[]

Raitas are prepared by mixing thick dahi (yogurt) with several vegetable, herbs and seasonings.

  • Lauki Raita (Bottlegourd Raita)
  • Kheera-Gajar Raita (Cucumber-Carrot Raita)
  • Pudina Raita (Mint Raita)
  • Bundi Raita (Bundi are rain drop size fried balls of chickpea flour batter)
  • Sarson Raita (Mustard Raita)
  • Zeera Raita (Roasted Cumin Raita)

Chutney[]

  • Dhaniye ka Chutney (corriander leaves along with green chillies, garlic, salt and a little lemon juice are ground to a thick but watery paste.)
  • Tamatar ka Chutney (it is either sweet or salted. Salted one is prepared by mixing chopped tomatoes, chopped onion, garlic, green chilli, green corriander and salt. Whereas sweet chutney has same procedure as with khajur and imli chutney)
  • Pudina ka Chutney (mint leaves along with raw mango, green chillies, sugar and salt are ground to same consistency like dhaniye ka chutney)
  • Khajur ka chutney (dates soaked overnight or boiled and mashed and mixed with jaggery and cooked and tempered with few spices.)
  • Imli ka chutney (tamarinds soaked overnight or boiled and then skinned, deseeded and mashed and mixed with jaggery and cooked and tempered with few spices.)
  • Dry fruit Chutney (base is raisin and other nuts and dry fruits are added into it.)

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Bhatt, Neha (10 March 2018). "Beyond 'litti chokha'". LiveMint. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
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