10 Authentic Indian Recipes Your Dadi Never Wrote Down

10. Litti Chokha — Rustic stuffed wheat balls with smoky vegetable mash

Litti chokha brings together roasted, smoky mashed vegetables (chokha) and wheat dough balls stuffed with a spiced gram flour mix (litti). Traditionally cooked over coals, litti develops a charred, earthy flavor that pairs beautifully with the bright chokha of roasted eggplant, tomato, and potato. Grandmothers soaked the litti dough, stuffed it generously, and brushed it with ghee after cooking for richness. For North American kitchens, oven-roasting or stovetop tandoor-style methods recreate some of that char; finish with a light smear of ghee or butter to mimic the original sheen. The gram-flour stuffing can be adapted with roasted spices and a dash of citrus or mango powder for tang. Litti chokha is rustic and hands-on, best enjoyed warm and shared—its textures and smoky notes stick in the memory the way dadi’s cooking often does.