Dal Pitha
Veg
Vegan
Steamed rice-flour dumplings stuffed with a spiced chana dal filling seasoned with ginger, green chilli, and cumin — a Bihari pitha that can be boiled, steamed, or pan-fried until crisp. Eaten as breakfast, a main course, or a festival preparation across Bhojpur and Mithila.
Cuisines
Bihari
Maithili
Best for
Breakfast
Lunch
Recipe
Prep: 20 min
Cook: 40 min
Total: 60 min
2-3 servings
Ingredients
| 1 cup | rice flour |
| 1/2 cup | chana dal (split Bengal gram) |
| 1 teaspoon | cumin seeds |
| 1 teaspoon | ginger paste |
| 1 teaspoon | green chili paste |
| 1 tablespoon | mustard oil |
| — | salt to taste |
| — | water as needed |
Instructions
- 1 Wash and soak the chana dal for at least 2 hours.
- 2 Drain the dal and grind it coarsely with cumin seeds, ginger paste, green chili paste, and salt.
- 3 Heat mustard oil in a pan and sauté the dal mixture for 5-7 minutes until it is cooked and aromatic. Set aside to cool.
- 4 In a bowl, mix rice flour with a pinch of salt and gradually add boiling water to make a soft dough. Knead well.
- 5 Divide the dough into small portions and flatten each into a small circle.
- 6 Place a spoonful of the dal mixture in the center of each circle and fold it over to form a semi-circle, sealing the edges well.
- 7 Steam the pithas in a steamer for about 15-20 minutes until the outer covering becomes firm and translucent.
- 8 Serve hot with chutney or pickle.
Tips
Ensure the dough is soft and pliable to avoid cracks in the pithas.