Bhakka- Eastern Tharu Delicacy

August 12, 2017 Leave a CommentWritten by Prashanta

Bhakka, simple fluffy rice flour steamed cake, is a traditional delicacy of Tharu community living in
eastern plains of Nepal especially of Rajbansi community. It is typically eaten as breakfast or as a snack
with freshly prepared tomato pickle. Although it looks very simple, the process of making it amazingly
soft and fluffy is very creative. The one prepared with freshly harvested rice flour has some sweetness. If
you happen to visit Biratnagar or other cities and towns in eastern plains, you are likely to see women
steaming and selling bhakka early morning in the chowks. It has become popular street breakfast!
The rice flour prepared from milling soaked rice is first sprinkled with some water to make lightly moist
and then massaged with palms to form moist sand like texture. It is then sieved through the sieve, which
helps in forming small round sand-size grits. It is then lightly compacted in a small bowl and then
steamed. Traditionally clay pot with the narrow opening is used for steaming. The opening is covered by
muslin cloth where the rice cake is placed and steamed with lid-on.

A woman steaming bhakka during Maghi festival in Kathmandu

Steaming bhakka
Sieving moist rice flour to make bhakka- this is what makes bhakka soft and fluffy
 Too many bhakka to eat- delicious with freshly made tomato chili achaar

http://www.thegundruk.com/bhakka-eastern-tharu-delicacy/