The cuisine of Patna is a mix of Bihari, Bhojpuri, Maithil, and Magahi cuisine. The natives are mostly vegetarian here because of the influence of Buddhism and Hindu values of non-violence.
Among the non-vegetarian dishes, fish is very common because of the presence of a number of rivers in the region.
People like to eat seasonal food in Patna and rest of Bihar. Let’s discuss some of the traditional delicacies of Patna.
Litti Chokha
Litti Chokha is a traditional dish of Bihar and Jharkhand. There are two main components of this dish- Litti and Chokha. Litti is made from wheat flour and dry roasted in firewood. Chokha is the minced vegetable. Generally, people make chokha from brinjal. Cooking over firewood gives an exceptional taste to this dish.
Kesar Peda
Kesar Peda is a sweet dish made from thickened milk and saffron. The Bihari version of this dish is mildly sweet and mostly the sweetness is because of milk only. It is a must-have dish in Patna.
Chana Ghugni
It is a dish made from black chickpeas. Chana Ghugni is mainly prepared during winter as the chickpeas give warmth to the body. People make both dry and curried version of this dish. It is usually served as a side dish with chapati or rice.
Posta-dana ka halwa
Posta or Khus is a seed from lemongrass family. It is a nutritional plant with use in medicine, food, flavoring, skincare, perfumes, etc. The locals make a sweet dish from the Posta or Khus seeds by adding milk, sugar, butter, and dry fruits.
The dish imparts a minty feel in the throat, which distinguishes it from other types of halwa.
Sattu Paratha
Sattu Paratha is a very common dish of Bihar. Roasted gram flour along with local spices are stuffed in Paratha and then shallow fried. People prepare this dish in both sweet and savory variant.
You can also hire a cab in Patna on day rental and enjoy your food trail.
Useful Links-
Chhath Puja: Everything you need to know about this festival