Sattu Ka Sharbat (Healthy Drink made of Roasted Black Chickpea flour - Bihari Cuisine)

 

          Check out this healthy Bihari style summer drink made of roasted black chickpea flour. Very few ingredients are required to come up with this amazing chilled beverage. The chickpea flour can be easily made fresh at home and stored in an air-tight container for later use. 

          This drink can be made in minutes by just mixing the flour with chilled water, salt, roasted cumin powder, lime juice, grated ginger, chopped green chilies, pepper powder, chopped coriander & mint leaves. It keeps you hydrated all day long. So go ahead a give it a try by checking out the step by step pictorial recipe to make this quick and fuss free homemade energy drink. 

         Sattu has essential nutrients like calcium, fibre, iron, proteins, potassium and magnesium.    It helps to reduce bloating and burns calories effectively. So it aids in weight loss. It also keeps blood sugar levels in control and regulates blood pressure. 

          This Sattu drunk is very popualr in Bihar and other North Indian states. It is healthy, cooling and a refreshing beverage. Besides this savory drink, the sweet version, too can be made out of this Sattu flour. 

• 1 cup roasted black chickpea with skin
• 1/2 tsp. roasted & ground cumin powder
• pinch of pepper powder
• 1 pinch of rock salt / normal salt or to taste
• 1-2 green chilies, chopped
• 1 tbsp. fresh coriander-mint leaves, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. ginger, grated or ginger powder
• 1 tsp. lime juice 
• 2 glasses chilled water
• few ice cubes (opt)

          Grind the roasted black chickpea in a mixer grinder into a fine powder. Sieve well and store in an air-tight container. 

          In a large bowl, take two glasses of chilled water. To it add 3 tbsp. Sattu flour, followed by salt to taste, pepper powder, roasted cumin powder, chopped green chilies, chopped coriander-mint leaves, lime juice and grated ginger. Stir and mix everything well. 

          While serving, stir well as the flour tends to settle at the bottom. Enjoy this healthy summer drink along with some ice cubes if preferred. 

                                  Take 1 cup roasted black chickpea in a mixer grinder. 

                                  Grind the roasted chickpea into a fine powder. 

                                 Sieve well and store in an air-tight container. 

                                 The sieved flour.

  

                     In a large bowl, take two glasses of chilled water & add 3 tbsp. Sattu flour, 

                                  followed by salt to taste,

                                   pepper powder, 

                                  roasted cumin powder, 

                                 chopped green chilies, 

                                  chopped coriander-mint leaves, 

                                  lime juice 

                                 and grated ginger. Stir and mix everything well. 

 

                        While serving, stir well as the flour tends to settle at the bottom. Enjoy 

                        this healthy summer drink along with some ice cubes if preferred. 

Litti Chokha - (Stuffed Whole Wheat Dough & Mashed Potato-Eggplant Bharta ( Bihari Style)

          This is a traditional and a wholesome dish from the Indian state of Bihar. It can be relished as a snack, breakfast, lunch or dinner. Choice is yours. Basically they are balls of whole wheat dough stuffed with sattu (fried gram flour) and other ingredients. It is relished with potato-eggplant bharta (mash). I like to have mine with green chutney, raita or pickles. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

Litti-

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 & 1/2 tbsp. yoghurt
• 1/2 tsp. ajwain (carom seeds), crushed 
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. oil / ghee

Stuffing-

• 3/4 cup fried chana dal flour 
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 1-2 green chilies, chopped
• 1 tsp. red chili flakes
• 1 tbsp. lime juice
• 1 tbsp. pickle masala
• 2 tbsp. coriander leaves
• 1/2 tsp. ajwain (carom seeds)
• 1 tsp. kalonji (nigella seeds )
• 1 tbsp. mustard oil
• 1/2 tsp. pepper powder
• 1 tsp. coriander-cumin powder

Chokha-

• 1 medium eggplant, roasted, peeled & mashed
• 1 potato, boiled & mashed
• salt to taste
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 tbsp. mustard oil
• 2 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped
• oil to deep fry

          Litti - In a bowl, mix together all the mentioned ingredients and knead into a stiff dough with required quantity of water. Cover and keep aside.

          Stuffing - In a separate bowl, combine together all the mentioned ingredients and keep aside.

          Chokha - In a separate bowl, combine all the mentioned ingredients (except oil to deep fry) and keep aside.

          Divide the dough into 8-9 equal portions. Roll out each portion with your fingers into a small poori. Make a hollow and put 1 tbsp. of the stuffing in it. 

          Bring all the edges together and make a round ball. Flatten it slightly. Fill rest of the dough with the stuffing and keep aside.

          Heat oil in a pan and gently slide the Litti into it and fry on a medium flame on all sides till golden in colour. 

          Drain on a kitchen towel and serve them on a bed of chokha, accompanied with green chilies and sliced onion for a sumptuous meal.

                                  Roast eggplant & boil potato.

                                To the mashed eggplant & potato, add all ingredients.

                                  Mix well & keep aside.

                                  Take 3/4 cup of roasted chana (Gram) dal.

                                  Grind to a fine powder.

                                 To it add rest of the ingredients for stuffing.

                                 Mix well & keep aside.

                                Litti - In a bowl, mix together all the mentioned ingredients.

                               Knead into a stiff dough with some water. Cover & keep aside.

                                 Divide the dough into 8-9 equal portions. 

                Roll out each portion with your fingers into a small poori. Make a hollow &
                put 1 tbsp. of the stuffing in it. 

                 Bring all the edges together & make a round ball. Flatten it slightly. Fill rest 
                 of the dough with the stuffing and keep aside.

 
                                  Heat oil & gently slide Litti into it.

                                 Fry on a medium flame on all sides till golden in colour. 

                                 Drain on a kitchen towel.

                      Serve them hot on a bed of chokha with green chilies & sliced onion.