Litti Chokha
Wheat flour balls filled with spiced roasted gram flour, served with mashed vegetables
Litti Chokha is a meal from the Bhojpuri region of India, made of wheat dough balls filled with a seasoned mix of roasted gram flour (sattu) and spices. Traditionally roasted over coals, litti is paired with chokha, a mash of roasted eggplant, potato, and tomato, and is enjoyed as street food or a main dish.
- Litti is stuffed with a spiced roasted gram flour filling called sattu
- Traditionally cooked over coals for a smoky flavor
- Served with chokha, a mashed mix of roasted vegetables
- Central to religious festivals in Buxar and Varanasi
- Eaten as both a street food and a main meal
What is Litti Chokha?
Litti Chokha is a combination of wheat dough balls, known as litti, and a side called chokha. The litti are stuffed with a blend of roasted gram flour (sattu), onions, garlic, ginger, fresh coriander, lime juice, and spices like carom and nigella seeds, all mixed with mustard oil. Roasting over hot coals gives the litti a smoky aroma and a crisp outer layer. Chokha, served alongside, is usually a mash of roasted eggplant, potatoes, and tomatoes, seasoned with herbs and mustard oil. The dish is hearty and filling, with earthy and tangy notes from the stuffing and chokha.
Where does Litti Chokha come from?
Litti Chokha comes from the Bhojpuri-speaking areas of eastern India, especially around Buxar and Banaras. Its roots are tied to local customs and religious events. During the Panchkosi Jatra in Buxar, litti is prepared and offered as a sacred food to Lord Ram. Legends from the Ramayana connect the dish to Lord Ram’s travels in the region. In Varanasi, the Lota-Bhanta Mela features litti as an offering to Lord Shiva, following traditions said to date back to ancient times. These stories and rituals have helped keep litti central to the area's food culture.
How is Litti Chokha made?
To make litti, wheat flour is kneaded into a dough and shaped into balls. Each ball is filled with a mixture of roasted gram flour, chopped onions, garlic, ginger, coriander, lime juice, and spices, all blended with mustard oil. The stuffed balls are then roasted over charcoal or baked, sometimes even fried. Chokha is prepared by roasting eggplants, potatoes, and tomatoes, then mashing them together with onions, herbs, and oil. The finished litti is often dipped in ghee before serving.
How and when is Litti Chokha eaten?
Litti Chokha is eaten as a main meal or as a snack, found at street stalls and in homes. It is enjoyed hot or at room temperature, often with a generous drizzle of ghee. The chokha adds a soft, tangy side to the crisp litti. In some areas, it may be served with chicken curry or with pickles. During religious festivals and pilgrimages, people prepare and share litti as part of rituals, eating together in groups or offering it as prasad (sacred food).
Kinds of Litti Chokha
In different regions, litti may be served with other sides. In Madhesh, Nepal, it is paired with momo achar, a spicy pickle. Some areas use chicken curry as an accompaniment. The dough balls can be roasted, baked, or fried, depending on local custom or convenience. A related dish, baati, is found in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, but the fillings and sides differ. Modern versions may include new stuffings or sauces.
What Litti Chokha means
Litti Chokha is more than just food; it is woven into local festivals and religious observances. During the Panchkosi Jatra and Lota-Bhanta Mela, preparing and sharing litti is a ritual act, believed to honor deities and connect people to their heritage. The dish has also become a symbol of Bhojpuri identity and is recognized at national and international food events, representing the region’s street food culture.
Questions people ask about Litti Chokha
What is Litti Chokha made of?
Litti Chokha is made from wheat flour dough balls filled with a spiced mixture of roasted gram flour (sattu), onions, garlic, ginger, coriander, lime juice, and spices. It is served with chokha, a mash of roasted eggplant, potato, and tomato.
Where does Litti Chokha come from?
Litti Chokha comes from the Bhojpuri region of eastern India, especially around Buxar and Banaras, and is also found in parts of Nepal such as Madhesh.
How is Litti Chokha cooked?
The dough balls are stuffed and then roasted over hot charcoal, baked, or sometimes fried. Chokha is made by roasting and mashing vegetables with spices and oil.
Is Litti Chokha vegetarian?
Yes, the traditional version is vegetarian, using wheat flour, gram flour, vegetables, and spices. Some regions may serve it with meat curries, but the main dish is vegetarian.
When is Litti Chokha eaten?
It is eaten as a main meal or snack, often during lunch or dinner, and is also prepared for religious festivals and rituals in the Bhojpuri region.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Litti (dish)", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
More from India
All the food of India
Kebabكَبَاب
🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 moreGrilled or roasted meat, often on skewers, found across the Middle East and beyond
Main dish, Lunch, Dinner
Samosa
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreFried or baked pastry with a spiced filling, shaped into triangles or cones
Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks, Lunch
Biryani
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreRice and spiced meat or vegetables layered and cooked together
Main dish, Lunch, Dinner
French toast
🇫🇷 France and 5 moreBread soaked in egg and milk, pan-fried and served sweet or savoury
Main dish, Breakfast, Snacks
Its cousins elsewhere
All main dishes
Chicken tikka masalaMeat
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 4 moreRoasted marinated chicken in a creamy, spiced tomato-based sauce
Main dish, Lunch, Dinner
ShiroVegan
🇪🇹 Ethiopia and 1 moreChickpea or broad bean stew, a staple in Ethiopian and Eritrean meals
Stew or curry, Lunch, Dinner
BaltiMeatبالٹی گوشت
🇬🇧 United KingdomA British curry cooked quickly in a thin steel wok called a balti bowl
Main dish, Dinner
Luwombo
🇺🇬 UgandaUgandan stew steamed in smoked banana leaves
Main dish, Lunch, Dinner