Foods of Odisha or Dishes of Odia Cuisine – The foods of Odisha, popularly known as the Odia Cuisine, are a mixture of varied items and practices. As Odisha is surrounded by both North Indian and South Indian states, the food of Odisha is majorly affected by the food of North India, Bengal, and Assam. Rice is the staple food of Odisha. The use of Mustard oil in cooking in every household is a must. Yogurt forms a prime part of many dishes of Odisha while many sweets are made of Chhena. Odia food is less oily and spicy but is very appealing to the mouth.
Foods of Odisha
Odia food is very simple but delicious, prepared with little or no oil which is very beneficial for good health. The specialty of Odia Cuisine is the use of flavoring spices.
Spices are very helpful for cooking and medicinal purposes. They enhance the natural flavor of food items and are used to adjust the appearance of food and make it more pleasing in color.
Examples of spices such as turmeric, cumin, cardamom, coriander, fenugreek, black pepper, mustard, and ginger are used while cooking. Traditionally Indian home-cooked food is often thought to be one of the healthiest consumed foods due to the use of spices.
Odisha Cuisine is simple but tastes heavenly. Spices have a variety of health benefits as they are high in antioxidants, heart protection, anti-inflammatory, etc. So, Here you can get a glance at varieties of special, authentic delicacies found in Odisha.
1. Khichdi
It is a wholesome meal of Odisha. In Odisha, Khichdi is one of the most important dishes being offered as the main Bhog to Lord Jagannath at the Puri temple. The perfect combination of rice and dal is cooked together in ghee giving a distinctive and delicious flavor to it. This comforting meal not only offers great taste but is also highly nutritious. This dish is highly spiced, often served with curd and Papad.
2. Chingudi Malai
As the name suggests, this dish is about creamy prawn curry. The creamy part comes from coconut milk. The richness and silkiness of this delicious dish are additionally improved by light and mild spices that add a unique taste to it. This dish is mouthwatering delightful and flavorsome. It tastes best when served with steamed Basmati rice.
3. Macha Ghanta
It is a very popular fish dish in Odisha. This delicious mouthwatering dish is enjoyed by every Odias. It is a special dish offered to Maa Durga on Dusshera. This tempting curry consists of Chana dal, with a mixed set of vegetables and the fried head of the fish. It is served with hot rice and salad. The curry is richly blended with Onions, Potatoes, garlic, and regular spices.
4. Pakhala Bhata
Pakhala Bhata is an Odia Cuisine consisting of cooked rice lightly fermented in water. It is the very basic daily lunch in almost every household during summer. This dish is prepared by soaking cooked rice in water and sour curd. It is left overnight and is often served with potatoes, fried fish, Papad, and Badi Choora. 20th March is celebrated as Pakhala Dibasa.
5. Dalma
It is the staple food of Odisha. It has a unique taste when prepared with roasted moong dal without any onion or garlic. A few regular spices along with a cup of veggies are added to it to give it an appetizing flavor. Common veggies include pumpkin, papaya, beans, potato, and all types of vegetables which are rich in nutrition. It is mostly eaten with rice. This lip-smacking meal will fill the appetite of a person.
6. Gupchup
It is very popularly known as Panipuri in Western India, Puchka in Bengal, Golgappa in North, and Gupchup in Odisha. When the name comes to Gupchup, our mouth gets watery. It is one of the most common street foods in the Indian subcontinent. This food comprises small and crisp puris made from dough of suji, maida, and Atta served together with chana masala and Khata Pani of Jaljeera and tamarind. It is probably a special food which is loved by people of every age group. It is very cheap.
7. Dahi Vada Aloodum
It is another popular street food after Gupchup in Odisha. Dahi vada and Aloodum are considered two separate dishes. It is prepared by soaking Vadas ( fried flour balls) in light Dahi ( Yoghurt) water. The Alu Dam and Ghuguni ( curry of chana and potato) are added to them. Every Odia craves this dish. The Dahi vada of Cuttack is very famous all over Odisha.
8. Rasabali
It is a type of sweet dish. This dish is garnished with cardamoms and soaked in thick flavored milk. It is served as a part of Chappana Bhoga in Lord Jagannath temple. This delicious sweet dish originated from the Kendrapara district.
9. Chhena Poda
Odisha’s very well-known cheesecake. It is the type of sweet dish for which Odisha is famous. It is also known as Lord Jagannath’s favorite sweet and is offered to him at Puri temple.
10. Kanika
It is a traditionally prepared dish of Odisha. The aromatic basmati rice is used for the preparation of Kanika. It is mostly prepared as offerings in temples.
11. MahaPrasad
MahaPrasad is referred to as 56 food items offered to Lord Jagannath in the Puri temple in Odisha. It is also widely named as famous Chappan Bhog.
12. Chaatu Rai
Chatu Besara or Chatu Rai is a nutritious vegetable dish that is very popular in Odisha. The ingredients that enhance the taste are turmeric powder and tomato with a bunch of mushrooms cooked in a spicy, delicious mustard paste. This dish is often prepared on special occasions. It is famous all around India.
13. Aloo Potala Rasa
A distinctive dish prepared with potato and pointed gourd. It is a very popular dish in the state of Odisha. Aloo Potala Rasa is known as Parwal in North India. This dish is offered to God at the Puri Jagannath temple. A bit of Cashew along with ginger makes it more palatable.
14. Kora Khai
Kora Khai is a special sweet dish item. It is extremely popular as a form of Prashad (holy offering in temples, especially to Lord Jagannath). Very few ingredients are used to make Kora Khai. It is mainly prepared with a mix of four ingredients that are Khai, coconut, jaggery or sugar, and cardamom.
Kora Khai is a bit hard and chewy compared to other sweets. This sweet has a uniquely delicious taste. It is a flavourful savor that gives freshness to coconut and crunch from the caramelized Khai. Devotees of Lord Lingaraj offer Korakhai as a form of Prasad. Bhubaneswar Korakhai is famous in India for its mouth-watering taste.
15. Kadali Manja Rai
This appreciating banana stem curry flavored with garlic cloves, Cinnamon with two red chilies, cardamom, and cumin makes the perfect side dish for a meal. The fragrance of stir-fried banana stems and the coriander leaves as seasoning brings so much joy that lasts till you lose its taste.
16. Besara
This simple tasteful dish is a mixture of potato, pumpkin, banana, and papaya. The mustard seeds, cumin seeds, garlic, and dry chili make it flavoury to the genuine taste of Odia. Cut vegetables and sliced onions that turn golden brown as you fry them in the pan making your little heart yearn to taste them. This dish is garnished with coriander leaves is a cherry on top.
17. Khattas and Chutneys
The Khatta of Odia comes in a range of wide variety of dishes. Khajur Khatta, Tomato Khatta, Mango Khatta, and Dahi Nadia are all the ranges of Odia Khattas. Among these dishes, ingredients such as tomato, green chilies, Punch-Phutana, methi, turmeric, ginger, oil, and salt to taste are all common. These primary ingredients add flavor and richness to the dish. With its delicious chutneys, it is best served with steamed rice and fried green chilies.
18. Chakuli Pitha
Chakuli Pitha is a prominent dish from Odisha that is somewhat like a Dosa, yet different. It is prepared using a batter made with equal portions of lentils (black gram) and rice (soaked, grained, and fermented for at least 5 hours). The batter is spread on a griddle in a circular shape and cooked on both sides using some mustard oil. Chakuli Pitha is softer than that Dosa. Chakuli Pitha is comparatively thicker as well. This tastes well with Aloo Bhaja, Ghuguni, or jaggery.
19. Mudimansa
Mudhi is puffed rice and Mansa is meat. The combination of Mudhi and Mansa is a delicious mouth-watering dish famous in the Baripada district of Odisha. It is a typical, traditional dish that is loved by the people of Odisha. The goat’s meat is marinated in oil with a lot of spices. Gravy is prepared with tomatoes, onions, and spices and then the meat is added to it. It is served hot with crunchy Mudi, garnished with chopped onions, tomatoes, and fresh coriander leaves. It is an interesting combination that is quite preferred by the people of Odisha.
20. Chhena Jhilli
It is another sweet dish from Odisha’s cuisine. Its key ingredient is curd and cheese which is moist and crumbled. The other ingredients of Chhena Jhilli are sugar, sugar syrup, ghee, wheat flour, cardamom powder, curd, and a tad bit of salt. A soft dough-like mixture is prepared and small-sized balls are made. These balls are then deep fried in oil and then dipped and coated in sugar syrup. Chhena Jhilli is soft, luscious, and delicious.
21. Khaja
Khaja is a crispy, cracking, and cherishing sweet dish. It’s a blast of savor and texture. Khaja is prepared with ingredients such as refined flour, butter, sugar, water, cardamom, and rose water. The dough is blended using flour and ghee, to prepare a thin hotcake. These hotcakes are then layered one above the other with the help of ghee and dry flour. Before rolling them and cutting them into pieces, around 6 layers are formed. A part of a small portion of flattening from the sides, and they get into deep frying until golden. In the end, it is coated with flavored sugar syrup and the layered crunchy goodness is ready to enjoy.
22. Chaula Bara
Chaula Bara is extremely mouth-watering crispy balls that are made with primarily black gram and rice. This dish is light, fluffy, and tasty. For preparation, four parts of rice and one part of black gram are soaked overnight ( minimum 8 hours). Then it is blended into a medium coarse paste. Ingredients like cumin seeds, coriander leaves, a pinch of baking soda, salt, and pepper are added to this paste. After mixing it, it is ready to fry. Chaula Bara is best served with a tangy chutney of your choice.
23. Gajja
Gajja is a typical, traditional sweet dish of Odisha that has different variations. For example – Chhena Gajja, Khata Gajja, Khira Gajja, and some others differ in their style of preparation (boiled dry or fried sugar syrup). The name of the variant is based on the core ingredients of the respective recipes. The most popular form is the little square-shaped pieces of Chhena Gajja that are fried and soaked in sugar syrup for about 1 hour to absorb the sweetness.
24. Palua
Palua is named Arrowroot. Arrowroot is a plant-based grain free from starch, that aids in a better texture of various dishes. Palua Ladu is another interesting sweet item that is relished by the people of Odisha. It originated in the place of Bhadrak district in Odisha. The Palua Ladu recipe has several ingredients such as wheat, refined flour, semolina, Palua, sugar, water, oil, and baking soda. This sweet dish is visually attractive amazing tastes as well.
25. Rasogolla
The Rasogolla from Odisha is a popular sweet dish. It has been a topic considering its battle beginning with Bengal. With its mouth-melting appearance and divine savor, Rasogolla wins the heart of every person in every part of the world. The white goodness soaked in sugar syrup makes it one of the best desserts. The elegant softness of Chhena and the perfect balance of sweetness make it a wonderful indulgence. The Rasogolla and Khira Mohana are served as Bhoga in the Jagannath temple in Puri.
26. Kanika
Kanika is a traditionally prepared dish of Odisha made of sweet Pulao and finds a place of honor in the list of 56 items in Lord Jagannath’s Chappan Bhog. It is the favorite Odia dish before biriyani and fried rice took their place. The raw rice used to prepare Kanika can be easily replaced by aromatic basmati rice. It is a staple meal of Odisha. Kanika is mostly prepared as an offering in temples. It is best served with appetizing chicken or mutton curry.
27. Pilaf
It is also known as Pulao. Pilaf is a dish made of rice in a seasoned broth. When sauteed lightly in ghee the rice attains a golden brown color with the aroma of mixed spices. Depending on distinct cultures, this dish is prepared in a variety that includes meat, vegetables, dry fruits, and even pasta. The taste of pilaf is spread from state to country worldwide. It is a staple dish among the foods of Odisha.
28. Santula
It is a classic Odia dish. Santula is a fried or boiled vegetable curry that gulps through your tongue with every spoon. It is a healthy dish with a blend of raw papaya, potato, tomato, and brinjal. It is most commonly eaten for a healthy diet as the recipe is low on spices and high on vegetables.
