JHARKHAND – Poshan Maah – 28 Days, 28 States

Jharkhand is a state that people don’t generally relate to mouth-watering delicacies, but like all the other states it too has some staple and a delicious treasure trove of recipes. Jharkhand is an eastern state that was a part of Bihar until 2000 and hence, the cuisine of Jharkhand is not very different from Bihar.

Every season – mainly winter, summer, and rain – coming into the region brings a range of Food with itself. However, the Famous cuisines of Jharkhand, used in all seasons are Rice, Roti, Daal, Tarkari and sweets, and much more.

The food of Jharkhand is generally very light on the stomach and easy to digest.
Some of the famous delicacies from this state are:

CHILKA ROTI: Chilka Roti is one of those dishes which are prepared using rice flour and besan. It is prepared in households during festive seasons and special occasions and is enjoyed along with chana dal chutney. It is quite similar to Dosa prepared in South India, yet has a distinct flavour.

DHUSKA: It is one of the most popular items in Jharkhand and is a part of every household. It is usually consumed as a breakfast item and is prepared from rice and lentil batter, which is fried later. It is normally served with traditional ghugni.

GHUGNI: This is a simple, spicy, and tangy curry made with black chickpeas in mustard oil. Dhuska and ghugni is a delicacy that would definitely make it to your must-have food item list!

THEKUA: This is a recipe that is borrowed from Bihar too. It has been used as a sweet snack in the region for centuries and is considered a revered Prasad during the Chatth Pooja. It is mainly prepared from wheat flour and consists of dollops of sugar.

TIL BURFI: It is one of those yummy desserts which is exclusively prepared during the Makar Sankranti. The state of Jharkhand takes great pride in Til Barfi as one of its most scrumptious and nutritive delicacies. Since it is so loved by the locals, it is prepared on other occasions also.

MALPUA: This desi pancake is synonymous with Holi in Jharkhand. Every single household in Jharkhand is filled with the sweet smell of malpua on the eve of Holi. It is rather a famous delicacy which is found in all the States across the country, but actually is a part of the tradition of Bihar and now Jharkhand. Like all the good-tasting things in the world, it is high in calories but the irresistible taste of a malpua is totally worth it!

RUGRA: This is an item that tastes like a mushroom and is very delicious to eat. Rugra is basically an indigenous variety of a vegetable, rich in protein and minerals and high in calorific value. This is thus a very healthy dish. It is available in abundance during the monsoon season. This dish is preferred by the local people and is high in demand during the peak seasons.

HANDIA: A festive drink made of cooked rice soaked in water overnight in an earthen pot. It is prepared using ranu tablet which is essentially a combination of 20-25 herbs acting as a fermentor. It is loved by the people and has lower alcoholic content than the country’s liquors.

There are many foods that are a part of the traditional cuisine that are also known for their medicinal values, like Kurthi (Horse gram), which is a kind of pulse and is considered a cure for kidney stones and is also recommended for fast recovery after childbirth. Fruits such as Jackfruit, Blackberry, Mango, and Litchi are found in abundance.
With their innovative ways of mixing ingredients available and making the best use of natural products, Jharkhand’s cuisine stands distinctive.