This article explores some most famous food of Bihar, giving credit to the state’s culinary heritage. The popular food of Bihar Includes a wide range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.
About Bihari Food
The cuisine of Bihar is known for its simplicity, yet it offers a unique and soul-satisfying experience to food enthusiasts. Rice and wheat are the staple foods of Bihar.
The state’s cuisine prominently features a variety of rice dishes, including steamed rice and aromatic rice pilafs. Wheat-based items like roti (flatbread) and parathas are also commonly enjoyed.
Sarson ka tel (Mustard oil) is the mostly used oil in Bihari cuisine. Rice-based alcoholic drinks are also very popular among Bihari people. Panch Foran spices are very common in Bihar food.
List of top 16 Famous food of Bihar
The traditional food of Bihar is a blend of Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Magahi cuisines. Vegetarian dishes are more prevalent, but there are also some popular non-vegetarian options.
Here we have listed the 16 Most Popular food in Bihar.
- Litti Chokha – State food of Bihar
- Chana Ghugni – Chekpeas Special Dish
- Mutton curry– Bihari Style Mutton Dish
- Kadhi Badhi– Bihari Kadhi dish
- Naivedyam– Special Prasad from Patna, Bihar
- Handrakala/ Suryakala– Sweet Dish of Bihar
- Khaja– A Kind of Baklava from Bihar
- Thekua- Chhath Pooja Special Dish
- Makhane ki Kheer- Sweet dish Made of Lotus seed
- Kesar Pedha– Devghar Special Sweet Dish
- Sattu Sarbhat– Summer Special Drink of Bihar
- Kala Jamun – Bihari Version of Gulab jamun
- Till Laddu – Sweet Dish Made of Sesame seeds
- Malpua– Indian pancake
- Anarasa –Bihari Sweet Dish for Diwali
- Balu Sahi– A special Sweet dish of Bihar
1. Litti Chokha- The most Popular food in Bihar
Bihari dishes are truly remarkable, and among them, “Litti Chokha” holds a special place in the hearts of people across the country. This vegetarian delight is synonymous with Bihar’s authentic cuisine and is known for its high energy and health benefits.
Litti, a ball made with wheat flour dough, is skillfully stuffed with a special mix prepared using gram flour, pulses, and a blend of aromatic herbs and spices. Slowly cooked over coal and wood, this dish requires time and patience, often enjoyed when prepared in a communal setting.
Once cooked to perfection, Litti is drizzled with ghee, adding richness and flavour to this delectable creation. The taste is truly mesmerizing, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who savours it. Accompanying Litti is its perfect companion, Chokha, made of roasted brinjal or “Baingan Ka Bharta.”
The brinjal is carefully roasted on a low flame until it achieves a smoky and irresistible taste. Served hot, Litti Chokha is complemented with refreshing Dahi (yoghurt), Aloochokha (mashed potatoes), and crispy Papad. This wholesome combination constitutes a fulfilling and delicious meal, often enjoyed for dinner or lunch.
As the most famous food of Bihar, Litti Chokha represents the culinary essence of the region. Its flavours, heritage, and community-centric preparation make it an iconic dish that celebrates the rich culinary traditions of Bihar.
2. Chana Ghugni
“Chana Ghunghni” stands as a renowned snack in Bihari food, celebrated for its exquisite taste and health benefits. This mouthwatering treat is not only simple to make but also easily prepared at home.
The delightful dish is crafted using boiled chickpeas, which are then sautéed with onions, spices, and flattened rice, resulting in a delectable combination.
With its rich energy content, this spicy and tangy-flavoured snack is guaranteed to elevate your mood and leave a lasting impression on your taste bud.
3. Mutton Curry
One of Bihar’s traditional foods that truly showcases the authentic Bihari style is the Mutton Curry. This beloved dish involves tender mutton cooked in a delightful blend of mustard oil and ghee, infused with aromatic spices.
What sets this delectable preparation apart and makes it a quintessential part of Bihar’s culinary heritage is the distinctive aroma of mustard oil, which elevates the taste to unparalleled heights.
Mutton Curry holds a special place in the hearts of Biharis and exemplifies the rich and flavorful traditional foods of the region.
4. Kadhi Badi
Kadhi Badi, a Famous dish from Bihar, shares its popularity with the well-known Kadhi from North Indian Cuisine. This traditional Bihari delicacy features a special gravy made with gram flour, yogurt (curd), and an array of aromatic spices. Complementing the curry is the flavorful Badi, a deep-fried dumpling crafted from gram flour dough.
This Bihari-style kadhi dish is commonly enjoyed with steamed rice or roti, creating a fulfilling meal. The addition of yoghurt and herbs imparts a delightful sour and spicy taste, adding a unique twist to this delectable curry. Kadhi Badi stands as a testament to the diverse and flavorful traditional foods of Bihar.
5. Naivedyam
Naivedyam, the renowned holy food of the Hanuman Mandir in Patna, holds a special place in the hearts of devotees. This delectable laddu is lovingly offered to Lord Hanuman and has become a famous prasad in the state.
The Special Prasad of Mahavir Temple has been certified by the Ministry of Food, Government of India, ensuring its authenticity and purity. It is also guaranteed by FSSAI, further assuring the quality and hygiene of this sacred food.
Naivedyam is skillfully made from besan or gram flour, sugar, cashew, raisins, green cardamom, Kashmiri saffron, and other carefully selected ingredients. The laddu is finally prepared with pure ghee, enhancing its divine flavour.
This temple stands as India’s 9th and Bihar’s 1st temple to receive the coveted certificate of blissful hygiene for offering this sacred blog to the revered deity. Naivedyam represents the devotion, tradition, and culinary excellence that enriches the spiritual experience of those who partake in this holy offering.
6. Chandrakala/ Suryakala
Chandrakal and Suryakala are famous sweet dishes from Bihari cuisine, resembling Gujia in appearance. These delectable stuffed treats are made with Maida (all-purpose flour).
The outer cover is crafted with Maida dough, while the filling consists of Khoya, a dairy product, and a generous amount of dry fruits. Once the dumplings are prepared, they are deep-fried and then soaked in sugar syrup.
The names of these sweets are inspired by their shapes; one resembles the sun, and the other takes the form of a half-moon. Chandrakal and Suryakala rank among the most delicious Bihari dishes and are especially popular homemade sweets during festivals.
7. Khaja
Khaja is a delicious sweet dish that hails from Bihar and enjoys popularity not only in Andhra Pradesh, Nepal, and Odisha but is also offered at the Jagannath Temple in Andhra Pradesh. This traditional delicacy is reminiscent of the famed Baklava from the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East region.
Prepared with a blend of wheat flour, sugar, mawa, and other ingredients, Khaja boasts a crispy and layered texture. The process involves creating a batter, which is then deep-fried in oil to achieve the desired consistency.
Next, the deep-fried delight is immersed in sugar syrup until it fully absorbs the sweetness, leaving a lasting impression on the taste buds. This extremely sweet dish offers an unforgettable and unique taste, making it one of the cherished sweets in Bihar’s culinary repertoire.
8. Khajuria/Thekua – Traditional food of Bihar
Thekua or Kahjuria holds immense significance during Chhath Puja, making it the most important dish of the occasion. It is offered to the god “Sun” as Prasad and is savored by devotees during this auspicious time.
This delightful dish is prepared using wheat flour and jaggery, and then deep-fried to perfection. Thekua is known for its delectable taste and deliciousness, making it a treasured traditional food from Bihari cuisine.
Typically served as a snack during breakfast or evening time, it pairs wonderfully with tea or coffee, adding to its charm as a popular treat for all.
9. Makhane ki kheer- Special food of Bihar
Special recipes from Bihari dishes include Kheer made of Makhana, which is also known as Fox Nut or Lotus Seed. Makhana is known for its health benefits. This sweet dish holds immense popularity during Chhat Puja in Bihar, a significant festival in the state.
The dessert is prepared with Makhana, sugar, and milk, and is garnished with dry fruits. It is served hot, offering an amazing variant of Kheer from the traditional Bihari cuisine.
This delightful dish is also known as “Rasia.” this famous food of Bihar is a very common recipe in everyone household.
10. Kesar Peda
Kesar Peda is another Sweet dish from Bihar. Devghar is a place that is very famous for Pedas Now it is part of Jharkhand.
This sweet dish is made with khoya, Sugar, Saffron, and Cardamom. Dessert is quite popular among all age groups. Devnager Kesar Peda is very famous in the entire state. Festivals and celebrations are incomplete with Kesar Peda in Bihar.
11. Sattu Sharbat
Sattu Sarbat is a popular drink during the summer in Bihar, as it acts as a body cooler. Sattu is a flour made from pulses and cereals.
Preparing this beverage is very easy. Simply add water to Sattu powder and season it with your preferred flavours. Your drink is now ready to be consumed.
Sattu is also highly popular in North India, especially in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. Moreover, the drink is very beneficial for your health.
12. Pantua/ Kala Jamun
This Bihari food is a sweet delicacy, resembling Gulab Jamun in appearance, but the two dishes have distinct recipes. While Gulab Jamun uses main ingredients like Khowa or Mawa and all-purpose flour, Kala Jamun or Pantua uses Chhena or Paneer.
A dough is prepared with Chhena or Paneer, which is then deep-fried and immersed into a sugar syrup. This delectable sweet dish is also highly popular in West Bengal.
13. Til Laddu
Laddu is a traditional sweet dish of Indian cuisine, made of sesame seeds, and highly popular nationwide. It is a staple in both South and North Indian cuisine and an integral part of the Makar Sankranti festival.
The Bihari dish is prepared with sesame seeds, jaggery, and cardamom powder, making it a rich source of iron and calcium. It is known by various names, including Til Gur, Ellu Urundai, Ellu under, and Nuvvula Undalu, and is beloved by people of all ages in Bihar.
14. Malpua
Malpua is a sweet dish of Bihari food, also referred to as an Indian pancake coated with sugar syrup. The pancake is prepared using all-purpose flour, curd, khoya, a blend of spices, and nuts. Malpua is widely cherished during all festivals.
The texture of this delightful dish is soft and fluffy from the inside, offering a delightful mouthfeel with every bite. It can be relished on its own, or in certain regions of the country, it is savoured along with Rabri, enhancing the culinary experience even further.
15. Anarsa
This famous food of Bihar is very popular during the Diwali festival. Anarsa is a delicious sweet dish during Diwali celebrations. The dish is prepared with soaked rice, jaggery, poppy seeds, and ghee. A ball is prepared with the dough made from the main ingredients.
This ball is then rolled out on poppy seeds, flattened, and finally deep-fried to golden perfection.
16. Balu Sahi – Popular sweet dish of Bihar
Balu Sahi, also known as Badusha or Badhusha, is a traditional food of Bihar. The dish is prepared using Maida, Ghee, and Sugar. The dough is shaped into discs and then deep-fried in Ghee to achieve its desired texture.
After frying, it is delicately dunked into sugar syrup, creating a sweet and flaky coating that enhances its taste. This delightful sweet dish is cherished for its distinct sweetness and unique texture, solidifying its reputation as one of the famous foods of Bihar.
In conclusion, exploring the famous food of Bihar is not just a culinary journey of Bihar, but also an immersion into the cultural heritage and warmth of the state.
FAQ- Bihar Food
A: Rice and Wheat are the staple food of Bihar.
A: Famous street food of Bihar is a Samosa, Pani puri, Chat, Sattu Paratha, Chana Ghaguni etc.
Q: What is the famous sweet of Bihar?
A: Til ka Laddoo, Anarsa, Balu Sahi, Devghar Pedha, Malpua are some Famous sweets of Bihar.
A: The most famous food of Biha is Litti Chokha.
A: Traditional food of Bihar is Thekua, Pittha, Sattu.
A: Litti Chokha, Thekua, Sattu Sarbat, Devghar Pedha, Bihari Style mutton curry are some popular food in Bihar.
A: Famous drink of Bihar Non-Alchololic – Sattu Sarbat and Alchololic – Handia.
A: Bihar’s Popular Local liquor Handia is prepared with Rice.
A: Sattu ka paratha, Thekua, and Chana Ghuni are the famous snacks of Bihar.
Read More – Traditional Food of Uttarpradesh
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