Are you a true foodie? If you are, then you would love to explore the authentic cuisines from various regions across India and the world. Whenever we talk about a delectable dish, we immediately think of the place of its origin.
Odisha is famous across India for its vast range of ethnic dishes, including sweets, sea food items and various veg dishes. Odias are basically rice eaters and rice is a fundamental source of nourishment for the people here. Every Odia derives immense joy and happiness from a hearty meal of pakhala bhaat (water rice) during the peak summer days.
While Odias share an unbreakable bond with rice, they also love preparing a variety of sweet and savoury dishes using rice as the main ingredient.
If you are planning to visit Odisha in the near future, do plan to taste some of the famous rice-based delicacies for a great gastronomical experience.
Kanika
One of the 52 bhogs served to Lord Jagannath as Mahaprasad, Kanika is one of the most revered dishes in Odisha. This scrumptious dish is prepared in ghee using cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, mace, and bay leaf, which gives the rice an incredible flavour. When everything is perfectly blended in the right quantity, the taste of Kanika never leaves your mouth!
It is essentially prepared using Basmati rice which helps bring out the dish’s essence. Sundays are a good time to savor Kanika with your family and friends!
Chakuli Pitha
A breakfast staple for every Odia, Chakuli Pitha is primarily made from rice, with lentils added for nutritional value. The spongy texture and the tangy flavor that it carries will make your mouth drool!
The preparation is simple yet delightful. Both rice and lentils are soaked overnight. Once the batter is ready, crispy Chakuli Pithas are cooked with mustard oil, adding to the delight!
They are typically served with jaggery, coconut, and other delicious curries for breakfast in Odia households.
Enduri Pitha
A delicacy every Odia would die for, Enduri Pitha adds flavor to every major festival and occasion in Odisha.
Also known as Haldi Patra Pitha, it is a steamed rice cake wrapped in turmeric leaves. Ground rice and skinless, split urad dal form the base of this dish. They are soaked for a few hours and then a batter is prepared. To add to the magic, jaggery along with freshly grated coconut and cardamom are added. This mixture is carefully placed in the center of turmeric leaves, folded, and then steamed, till all the ingredients are properly cooked, which is symbolised by release of a beautiful pure aroma that tickles your taste buds in the most mesmerizing way!
Enduri Pitha is quite popular during Prathamastami, a festival held to honor the eldest child in the family.
Pakhala
A unique dish special to every Odia, Pakhala serves as a delightful treat during the scorching summers. This refreshing dish is prepared from cooked rice soaked overnight. The flavor it releases feels like paradise to anyone who has not eaten it before. While it is popular in every Odia household, Pakhala has also gained international acclaim for its unique health benefits.
For every Odia foodie reading this blog, you’ll be delighted to know that there are several tasty variations of Pakhala. The traditional Pakhala is made by adding a pinch of salt to fermented rice, but numerous other methods offer a surreal taste.
We Odias love to cherish pakhalas in both the ways. Basi Pakhala, which is made with rice soaked overnight, and Saja Pakhala which is made by freshly cooked rice.
Manda Pitha
A delectable sweet dish prepared for every important occasion in Odisha, Manda Pitha looks like a nice and puffy dumpling that every Odia savors with joy. Another dish made from rice flour, it is loved by many in Odisha.
First, a dough is prepared with rice flour, salt, and water. Round-shaped dumplings are then prepared using the mixtures, which are prepared out of ghee, coconut, jaggery, and paneer. The stuffing is like the icing on the cake, making it a true delight. After a few stuffed balls are prepared, they are finally steam-cooked.
These dishes are then served hot as snacks or as a breakfast dish. The best thing about having the Manda Pithas is that they are pretty heavy and filling. Moreover, the soft and stuffy layer infused with an aroma makes it all the more loveable and wholesome!
Would you like to share some popular rice recipes from your region?
Also, do try out the above-mentioned Odia dishes and share how you liked them.
Are you a true foodie? If you are, then you would love to explore the authentic cuisines from various regions across India and the world. Whenever we talk about a delectable dish, we immediately think of the place of its origin.
Odisha is famous across India for its vast range of ethnic dishes, including sweets, sea food items and various veg dishes. Odias are basically rice eaters and rice is a fundamental source of nourishment for the people here. Every Odia derives immense joy and happiness from a hearty meal of pakhala bhaat (water rice) during the peak summer days.
While Odias share an unbreakable bond with rice, they also love preparing a variety of sweet and savoury dishes using rice as the main ingredient.
If you are planning to visit Odisha in the near future, do plan to taste some of the famous rice-based delicacies for a great gastronomical experience.
Kanika
One of the 52 bhogs served to Lord Jagannath as Mahaprasad, Kanika is one of the most revered dishes in Odisha. This scrumptious dish is prepared in ghee using cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, mace, and bay leaf, which gives the rice an incredible flavour. When everything is perfectly blended in the right quantity, the taste of Kanika never leaves your mouth!
It is essentially prepared using Basmati rice which helps bring out the dish’s essence. Sundays are a good time to savor Kanika with your family and friends!
Chakuli Pitha
A breakfast staple for every Odia, Chakuli Pitha is primarily made from rice, with lentils added for nutritional value. The spongy texture and the tangy flavor that it carries will make your mouth drool!
The preparation is simple yet delightful. Both rice and lentils are soaked overnight. Once the batter is ready, crispy Chakuli Pithas are cooked with mustard oil, adding to the delight!
They are typically served with jaggery, coconut, and other delicious curries for breakfast in Odia households.
Enduri Pitha
A delicacy every Odia would die for, Enduri Pitha adds flavor to every major festival and occasion in Odisha.
Also known as Haldi Patra Pitha, it is a steamed rice cake wrapped in turmeric leaves. Ground rice and skinless, split urad dal form the base of this dish. They are soaked for a few hours and then a batter is prepared. To add to the magic, jaggery along with freshly grated coconut and cardamom are added. This mixture is carefully placed in the center of turmeric leaves, folded, and then steamed, till all the ingredients are properly cooked, which is symbolised by release of a beautiful pure aroma that tickles your taste buds in the most mesmerizing way!
Enduri Pitha is quite popular during Prathamastami, a festival held to honor the eldest child in the family.
Pakhala
A unique dish special to every Odia, Pakhala serves as a delightful treat during the scorching summers. This refreshing dish is prepared from cooked rice soaked overnight. The flavor it releases feels like paradise to anyone who has not eaten it before. While it is popular in every Odia household, Pakhala has also gained international acclaim for its unique health benefits.
For every Odia foodie reading this blog, you’ll be delighted to know that there are several tasty variations of Pakhala. The traditional Pakhala is made by adding a pinch of salt to fermented rice, but numerous other methods offer a surreal taste.
We Odias love to cherish pakhalas in both the ways. Basi Pakhala, which is made with rice soaked overnight, and Saja Pakhala which is made by freshly cooked rice.
Manda Pitha
A delectable sweet dish prepared for every important occasion in Odisha, Manda Pitha looks like a nice and puffy dumpling that every Odia savors with joy. Another dish made from rice flour, it is loved by many in Odisha.
First, a dough is prepared with rice flour, salt, and water. Round-shaped dumplings are then prepared using the mixtures, which are prepared out of ghee, coconut, jaggery, and paneer. The stuffing is like the icing on the cake, making it a true delight. After a few stuffed balls are prepared, they are finally steam-cooked.
These dishes are then served hot as snacks or as a breakfast dish. The best thing about having the Manda Pithas is that they are pretty heavy and filling. Moreover, the soft and stuffy layer infused with an aroma makes it all the more loveable and wholesome!
Would you like to share some popular rice recipes from your region?
Also, do try out the above-mentioned Odia dishes and share how you liked them.
