I really love things to eat, and have a great sweet tooth, so I am thrilled to tell you about one of my favorite subjects, delicious sweets in the state of Bihar, India. The Traditional Sweets of Bihar are not only delicious, but it is also a major aspect of the culture and festivals of the region. I have had numerous delightful moments trying these delicacies and getting to know the history about them. We should have a nice adventure with food!
Traditional Sweets of Bihar: A Bite of History and Culture
Sweets are not only desserts in Bihar. They are initiated into festivals, both large and small. Special treats are served in every festival, wedding or family meeting. Preparing and presenting such delicacies is an expression of love and respect. The Delicacies of Deepavali unite people and leave them with pleasant memories. The recipes can also be quite ancient and have been inherited by the grandparents to the parents and subsequently to the children.
Festive Foods of Bihar to Enjoy This Diwali
Various sweets have been prepared to be used in various festivals. Indicatively, there are sweets that are only prepared at the time of Diwali. Diwali Special Foods Bihar contain sweet, rich and flavorful treats. We would like to examine some of the most popular ones.
Must-Try Diwali Special Sweets
During Diwali, the festival of lights, the Bihar kitchens are extremely busy. These are a few Diwali Special Dishes Bihar that you should not miss.
- Balushahi: This pastry resembles a donut to some degree, but it is much better! It is a flakey, porous pastry which is deep fried and soaked in sugar syrup. Whenever you have a bite of one, you sense the affection of the marvel that is the Bihar food. It is full of sugar, tasty and complete.
- Malpua: It is a common sweet pancake. It is a fried batter made of flour, milk, mashed bananas and sugar in a ghee batter and dipped in sugar syrup. The outer crunchy layer and the inner mushy taste. They are normally accompanied by heavy creamy rabri, and thus are an ideal Diwali Special Foods Bihar delight.
- Kheer Kadam: It is a fun sweet which resembles a white ball. Its outer is soft comprised of Khoya (milk solids) and contains a small, plump rasgulla. The best thing is it tastes just like a sweet surprise!
- Pedakiya (Gujiya): This is a sweet dumpling which is particularly famous in Holi. The outer casing is cooked with maida (flour) and the filling is cooked with semolina, sweetened khoya, and a lot of dried nuts. It’s a festive favorite!
Thekua: The Star of Chhath Puja
Although Thekua is not a Diwali sweet, there is no list of Bihari festival foods that would not be complete without Thekua. The offering of Chhath Puja is the sweetest. It is crispy and tasty and is made with wheat flour, jaggery or sugar, ghee, and cinnamon or cardamom which makes the snack last two weeks. I can recall the odor of ghee and jaggery in the house as my grandmother prepared them.
More Famous Treats: The Heart of Bihari Sweets
In addition to the large festivals, there is a wide range of traditional desserts that are eaten every year around the clock. These are some of the best known ones.
Tilkut: The Winter Wonder
It is a winter sweet dessert prepared using sugar, jaggery and sesame seeds. It is the Bihari version of gajak. There are various types, white (sugar-based), brown (jaggery-based), and one prepared with dark sesame. My favorite one is the one prepared with jaggery; it is very warm and refreshing in cold weather.
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Khaja: The Flaky and Crispy Delight
When you go to Bihar and you have not tasted Khaja, then you have not gone there! It is a deep-fried dessert that is made of wheat flour, sugar, and mawa. This is a dessert that is Bihari and is wafery in texture and melts in the mouth. Nalanda is particularly known because of its Khaja at Silao.
Parwal ki Mithai: The Most Creative Sweet
Yes, you read that right! Even such simple vegetable as parwal (pointed gourd) was transformed to a sweet dish by Biharis. Pulp of the parwal is removed in the center, it is boiled, then put into syrup, and filled with the sweet khoya preparation. The final product is as royal as it is tasting! It is one of the most innovative desserts that I have ever had.
Anarsa: The Festival Favorite
Anarsa is a popular festival particularly in Diwali. It is prepared with rice flour dough with jaggery and sprinkled with sesame seeds and then fried to perfection. Anarsa is the kind of food I like because of the combination of the textures, there is a crunchy outer layer and a bit of those that are grainy and slightly chewy.
Litti Chokha and Sweets: A Perfect Bihari Meal
At this point, you may be thinking of Litti Chokha Sweets. Even litti chokha, a well-known savoury preparation of Bihar, is not unknown. It is made out of whole-wheat dough balls (litti) that are filled with spiced sattu (roasted gram flour) and that are served with mashed vegetables (chokha). It is a wholesome and nutritious food.
Though Litti Chokha is not a sweet, a Bihari meal can be completed by a sweet that is usually very pleasant. Then, when you have been in the smoky spicy flavor of Litti Chokha you may want to have a bite of Malpua or a bite of Balushahi to sweeten your tongue. Such a blend of salty and sweet makes the food experience really unique.
Pua and Malpua: Tasty Fritters
Pua and Malpua are discussed as a pair. Pua is said to be the poorer relative whereas Malpua is its wealthier counterpart. As I have said, Malpua is a sweet pancake. Another deep fried fritter is called pua, usually made of mashed bananas, and is popular especially among children. Both of them are absolutely tasty and have to be included in the list of the popular Bihar food to be eaten during Diwali and other celebrations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous sweet of Bihar?
It's hard to pick just one! However, Khaja and Tilkut are often considered the most iconic. Khaja is famous for its flaky layers, and Tilkut is a winter specialty made from sesame seeds and jaggery.
Which sweet is famous in Diwali in Bihar?
During Diwali, you will find homes in Bihar filled with Anarsa, Malpua, and Balushahi. These are the classic Diwali Special Foods Bihar is known for.
What is the special sweet of Patna?
While you can find most Bihari sweets in the capital city, Patna, Khaja from the nearby town of Silao is something you should not miss. Also, Parwal ki Mithai is a unique sweet that is easily found in Patna's sweet shops.
Is Litti Chokha a sweet dish?
No, Litti Chokha is a savory dish. It is the most famous main course or snack from Bihar. It consists of roasted wheat balls stuffed with spiced gram flour, served with mashed roasted vegetables. It is usually not sweet.
A Final Sweet Note
The Traditional Sweets of Bihar are more than just sugar and flour. They are a piece of history, a symbol of culture, and a taste of pure happiness. Each sweet has its own story and its own special place in the hearts of Bihari people. I hope you get a chance to try these amazing treats. I promise, your taste buds will thank you.
