Sattu Drink Recipe: 5 Easy Sattu Sharbat Recipes, Sweet & Namkeen

Sattu drink, also called sattu sharbat or sattu ka sharbat, is one of Bihar's simplest summer drinks. Mix roasted chana sattu with water, add a few everyday ingredients, and your glass is ready in about two minutes.

Long before protein powders became common, homes across Bihar were already mixing roasted chana sattu with water, lemon, jeera, salt or jaggery.

If you have a packet of sattu at home, here are five easy ways to turn it into a drink.

Prep time: 2 to 5 minutes
Servings: 1 glass
Cooking required: No

What Is Sattu Drink?

Sattu drink is traditionally made by mixing chana sattu, or flour made from roasted Bengal gram, with water.

In Bihar, the savoury version is commonly made with black salt, roasted cumin, lemon, green chilli and sometimes coriander or onion. A sweet version can be made with jaggery or sugar.

Unlike besan, which is generally used in cooked dishes, roasted chana sattu can be mixed directly with water, making it convenient for quick drinks and meals.

Basic Sattu Drink Ingredients

For one glass, start with:

• 2 to 3 tablespoons chana sattu
• 250 ml cold or room-temperature water
• Ice cubes, optional

The most important trick is simple:

Do not pour all the water over dry sattu at once.

First mix the sattu with 2 to 3 tablespoons of water until it becomes a smooth paste. Then slowly add the remaining water while stirring.

This gives you a smoother sattu sharbat without lumps.

1. Classic Namkeen Sattu Sharbat

This is the traditional savoury-style sattu drink most closely associated with Bihar.

Ingredients

• 2 to 3 tbsp chana sattu
• 250 ml chilled water
• ¼ tsp black salt, or according to taste
• ¼ tsp roasted jeera powder
• 1 to 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
• Fresh coriander, optional
• Finely chopped green chilli, optional
• Ice cubes, optional

How to Make Namkeen Sattu Drink

1. Add sattu to a glass.
2. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water and mix into a smooth paste.
3. Slowly add the remaining water while stirring.
4. Add black salt and roasted jeera powder.
5. Squeeze in fresh lemon juice.
6. Add coriander or green chilli if you like.
7. Stir well and serve immediately.

The result is earthy, tangy, salty and unmistakably Bihari.

2. Sweet Sattu Drink With Jaggery

Prefer your sattu meetha? This version combines roasted chana sattu with jaggery and a little cardamom.

Ingredients

• 2 to 3 tbsp chana sattu
• 250 ml water
• 1 to 2 tsp jaggery powder, according to taste
• A small pinch of cardamom powder
• Ice cubes, optional

How to Make Sweet Sattu Sharbat

1. Mix the sattu with a small quantity of water to form a lump-free paste.
2. Add the remaining water gradually.
3. Add jaggery and stir until well combined.
4. Add a small pinch of cardamom.
5. Add ice if desired and serve fresh.

You can adjust the quantity of jaggery depending on how sweet you like your drink.

3. Lemon Mint Sattu Drink

This variation keeps the traditional namkeen base but adds fresh mint for a brighter flavour.

Ingredients

• 2 to 3 tbsp chana sattu
• 250 ml chilled water
• 1 to 2 tsp lemon juice
• 5 to 6 fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
• ¼ tsp roasted jeera powder
• Black salt according to taste
• A small pinch of chaat masala, optional

Method

1. Make a smooth paste with sattu and a little water.
2. Slowly stir in the remaining chilled water.
3. Add lemon juice, black salt and roasted cumin.
4. Add finely chopped mint.
5. Finish with a small pinch of chaat masala if you like.
6. Stir and serve immediately.

This is especially good when you want a sharper, more refreshing version of traditional sattu sharbat.

4. Moringa Sattu Lemon Drink

You can also replace regular chana sattu with Moringa Sattu for a different flavour profile.

Ingredients

• 2 to 3 tbsp Moringa Sattu
• 250 ml water
• 1 to 2 tsp lemon juice
• Black salt according to taste
• A small pinch of roasted jeera powder
• A small pinch of ginger powder, optional

Method

1. Mix Moringa Sattu with a few tablespoons of water until smooth.
2. Slowly add the remaining water.
3. Add lemon juice, black salt and roasted jeera.
4. Add a small pinch of ginger powder if desired.
5. Mix well and serve fresh.

The moringa gives the drink a more herbaceous flavour than classic chana sattu.

5. Sattu Chaach

Sattu and chaach make an excellent savoury combination when you want something slightly thicker than regular sattu sharbat.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp chana sattu
• 250 ml chilled chaach or buttermilk
• ¼ tsp roasted jeera powder
• Salt according to taste
• Fresh coriander
• Finely chopped green chilli, optional

Method

1. Mix the sattu with a small quantity of chaach until completely smooth.
2. Slowly add the remaining chaach while stirring.
3. Add roasted jeera and salt.
4. Mix in chopped coriander and green chilli if desired.
5. Serve chilled.

How to Make Sattu Drink Without Lumps

This is probably the easiest mistake to avoid.

Put the sattu in your glass first and add only a few tablespoons of water. Mix until it becomes a smooth paste.

Once no dry flour remains, add the rest of the water gradually.

Think of it exactly like making a slurry before adding more liquid.

Which Sattu Is Best for Sattu Sharbat?

Traditional Bihar-style sattu sharbat is generally made with chana sattu prepared from roasted Bengal gram.

Fresh sattu should have a pleasant roasted, nutty aroma. Because sattu is the main ingredient in the drink, its flavour makes a big difference to the final glass.

For the traditional version, use Authentic Chana Sattu.

You can also experiment with Moringa Sattu, Jeera Chana Sattu or Jau Sattu depending on the flavour and type of drink you want to make.

Sattu vs Besan: Are They the Same?

No.

Although both can come from Bengal gram, they are prepared differently.

Besan is generally flour made from unroasted gram and is usually cooked before eating.

Chana sattu is made from roasted gram. Because the gram has already been roasted, sattu can be mixed directly with water for drinks such as sattu sharbat.

That roasted process also gives sattu its characteristic earthy and nutty flavour.

Tips for the Best Sattu Drink

• Make a sattu paste before adding the full glass of water.
• Use fresh sattu with a clean roasted aroma.
• Adjust the amount of sattu depending on how thick you like the drink.
• Add lemon only after the sattu and water are properly mixed.
• Stir again before drinking because sattu naturally settles at the bottom.
• Use jaggery for a traditional sweet variation.
• For savoury sattu, roasted jeera and black salt make a big flavour difference.
• Drink it fresh rather than leaving a prepared glass sitting for a long time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sattu Drink

What is sattu drink made from?

Traditional chana sattu drink is made by mixing roasted Bengal gram flour with water. Depending on the recipe, lemon, black salt, roasted cumin, jaggery, mint, coriander or green chilli may also be added.

How much sattu should I put in one glass of water?

For a 250 ml glass, 2 to 3 tablespoons of sattu is a good starting point. Add more if you prefer a thicker drink or less for a lighter consistency.

Can you mix sattu directly with water?

Yes. Sattu is made from roasted gram, so it can be mixed directly into water. For the smoothest drink, first make a paste using a small amount of water and then gradually add the rest.

Is sattu the same as besan?

No. Besan is generally made from unroasted gram and is normally cooked before consumption. Sattu is made from roasted gram and can be used directly in drinks and other preparations.

Is sattu a source of protein?

Chana sattu contains naturally occurring plant protein, along with carbohydrates, fibre and other nutrients. The exact nutritional values vary between products, so check the nutrition information on the specific sattu you are using.

Is sweet or namkeen sattu better?

It depends on your taste. Traditional namkeen sattu sharbat uses black salt, jeera and lemon, while sweet sattu is commonly prepared with jaggery or sugar. Both start with the same basic combination of sattu and water.

Why does sattu settle at the bottom of the glass?

Sattu does not completely dissolve in water like sugar. Some of the ground roasted gram naturally settles over time. Simply stir the drink again before drinking.

Bringing Bihar's Sattu Tradition to Your Glass

Sattu does not need complicated recipes.

A few spoonfuls of roasted chana sattu, a glass of water and ingredients already sitting in an Indian kitchen are enough.

Start with the classic namkeen sattu sharbat, try the jaggery version when you want something sweet, or experiment with lemon, mint, Moringa Sattu and chaach.

Explore the Mithila Foods Sattu range, including Authentic Chana Sattu, Jau Sattu, Moringa Sattu and other traditional varieties inspired by the food culture of Bihar.