Sattu Sharbat (Bihari Roasted Gram Protein Drink)
ستو شربت (بہار کا بھنے چنے کا پروٹین مشروب)
is flour made from roasted chickpeas, and in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh it's the poor man's protein shake. Stirred into cold water with lemon, roasted cumin, black salt and fresh mint, it becomes a filling, savoury drink that keeps labourers and farmers going through scorching summer days. A sweet version with jaggery is just as popular. It's naturally high in protein and fibre and costs very little.
- ⏱ Total: 5 min
- Prep: 5 min
- Easy
- Serves 2
Method
Tap a step when it is done.
Whisk the sattu with a little of the cold water into a smooth, lump-free paste.
Whisk in the rest of the water, then the lemon juice, cumin, black salt, mint, chilli and onion.
Pour over ice and drink at once, stirring as you go; sattu settles to the bottom.
Kitchen notes
For the sweet version, skip the salt, chilli and onion and stir in 2 tbsp jaggery or sugar.
Sattu is sold in Indian grocers. To make it, dry-roast bhuna chana (roasted chickpeas) and grind finely.
Use more sattu for a thicker, more filling drink.
Bihar’s summer staple
In Bihar, sattu is everywhere: in the stuffing of litti chokha, in parathas, and above all in drinks. Roadside sattu sellers mix glasses to order on hot afternoons, and workers carry a bag of sattu to mix with water at lunchtime. It’s one of the cheapest sources of protein in India.
Roasted, not raw
Sattu is made by roasting chickpeas (or sometimes barley) and grinding them into flour. Because it’s already cooked, it can simply be stirred into water. It has a nutty, toasty flavour that pairs beautifully with lemon and roasted cumin.
Savoury or sweet
The savoury version, with black salt, onion, green chilli and mint, is a meal in a glass. The sweet version, with jaggery, is lighter and more like a sharbat. Both are drunk ice-cold.
Serving
Drink straight away, stirring as you go. For other traditional coolers from the same region, try bel sharbat, aam panna or masala chaas.
Questions people ask
Is sattu good for summer?
It's traditionally drunk in Bihar's hottest months as a cooling, filling drink. It's high in protein and fibre.
Can I use besan instead of sattu?
No. Besan is raw gram flour and must be cooked. Sattu is made from roasted chickpeas, so it's ready to eat.
Nutrition (estimate, per serving)
- Calories
- 140
- Protein
- 8 g
- Fat
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 22 g
