Odisha is surrounded by both North and South Indian states, the traditional foods of Odisha are majorly influenced by the food of North India, Bengal, and Assam. Fish is a staple of Odisha’s traditional cuisine, and the majority of people in Odisha are not vegetarians. Rice, both sun-dried and par-boiled, is the staple food for the people in this state. Indulge yourself with the delicious food of Odisha in its authentic flavors. Here is a list of 10 such out-of-the-box, extremely flavorful traditional foods of Odisha.
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10 Best Traditional Foods of Odisha
Dalma
Dalma is one of the most popular traditional foods of Odisha, it is made with roasted moong dal without any onion or garlic. It’s a kind of dish that is simply made from dal and vegetables. The dal is generally made from Toor dal, and the making of Dalma is a staple food in every Odisha household and a must-try food for visitors. Common veggies are pumpkin, plantain, yam, and papaya which are like magic to your whole health. This finger-licking meal, mostly eaten with rice will not only satisfy your hunger but also fill your mouth with flavors.
Khicede
Khicede or Khichdi as we call it in other states is one of Odisha’s famous foods, – is a simple yet wholesome meal that you would enjoy all over Odisha. In Odisha, khichdi is an important dish as it’s offered to Lord Jagannath mandir at Puri in its main Bhog.
When both rice and lentils are cooked together in ghee, the taste becomes mouth-watering. Not just delicious to eat but nutritious as well, this simple meal can soothe your soul. This is an appetizing meal that’s lightly spiced, often served with curd and Papad; it makes one salivate for the same and is one of the delicious foods of Odisha.
Gupchup
Panipuri is called a bunch of different names, including Panipuri in Western India; Puchka in Bengal, or the northern pani puri—but under any name you choose to call it by, gupchups are among Odia people’s front-ranking street food of Odisha. Gupchup is among the most popular traditional foods of Odisha. This is now a nationwide staple quick snack and does not need any introduction.
This very popular street food is a combination of little and crisp puris from the dough made up of Suji, Maida, and atta served together with mashed potatoes, boiled chickpeas spices, and Khatta Jal jeera. This is most probably one food that every age group adores and can eat at any time of the day. One of the best things about this dish is that it is so cheap and light you seldom see Gupchup eating contests on your roads. It is undeniably everyone’s favorite!
Chhena Gaja
If you are interested in trying some of the finest traditional foods of Odisha, then Gaja is a must-try. Gaja is a traditional sweet in Odisha that comes with many versions. Chhena Gaja, Khasta Gaja, Khira Gaja, and others vary in the method of preparation. Chhena Gaja may be a popular sweet dish, but the sweet shops and eateries in the state serve different variants of this scrumptious dessert.
To make this dessert, Chhena is mashed and then made into square or rectangular discs that are deep-fried in oil until they reach golden brown. The Gajas are then fried and soaked in sugar syrup for a few minutes to ensure that they hold the sweetness. Though a basic sweet, Gaja indeed is one of the most mouth-watering sweets found in Odisha. Trying other variants of the sweet such as Khasta Gaja and Khira Gaja is also worth it.
Chakuli Pitha
One of the most loved foods in Odisha is Chakuli Pitha. We definitely cannot miss out on mentioning it while discussing about traditional foods of Odisha. Chakuli Pitha is a dish that resembles Dosa but tastes different. It is made from a batter with an equal mix of lentils Urad Dal and rice soaked, grounded, and fermented for at least 5 hours. Sometimes even the black lentils are used without skin to replace Urad Dal. The batter is spread on a griddle or pan in a circular shape and cooked over both sides using some mustard oil. Chakuli Pitha is less spongy than a Dosa and also comparatively thicker.
Pair it with Aloo Bhaja and Ghuguni (white peas curry) and enjoy the perfect breakfast combo!
Chhena Poda
If you like sweets, Chhena Poda is the best dessert for your taste buds. It quite resembles cheesecake and according to many is one of Odisha’s famous foods. Chhena Poda is a sweet dessert that tastes like cheesecake, which some people believe to be the Lord’s favorite dessert. Hence, it is used as an offering by devotees in Jagannath Puri Temple. Locals relish the sweet mostly in festive times such as Diwali, Durga Puja, and other significant occasions.
To prepare this dessert different ingredients such as the crumbled paneer, semolina sugar, almonds, raisins, cashew nuts, and cardamom powder are beaten into a batter and then baked up to golden brown. The end product is a sweet and tasty cheesecake that one can savor at all points of the day. You can easily find it being sold in almost every streetside corner.
Dahi Vada and Aloo Dum
Dahi vada and Aloo Dum are Odisha’s famous foods as well as popular street foods that we see after Gupchup in Odisha. If you ever have visited Odisha, then only you can know how popular this scrumptious combination is. Go out at even 5 in the morning and they are all there. You’ll see large vans loaded with Dahi Vada for sale or smaller pots filled with Aloo Dum. While all over India Dahi Vada and Aloo Dum are thought of as two different dishes, Odisha merges both in rather unique ways.
The state prepares its version of the famous aloo dum with baby potatoes that are cooked with garam masala and other spices; while dahi vadas made of lentil fritters are deep-fried. The savory flavors of dahi vadas temper the spiciness derived from aloo dum carefully, thus giving the taste that every Odia longs for. Known also as the ‘Vada Pav’ of Cuttack, this food item has gained its place in people’s hearts and their daily lives.
Macha Ghanta
Since fish dishes are so popular in Odisha and every Odiya’s favorite, it is always good to relish a dish of Macha Ghanta. Macha Ghanta is one of the traditional foods of Odisha, also one of the most loved foods in Odisha and especially by non-veg lovers.
This is a delicious fish curry that uses fried pieces of fish immersed in a spicy rich curry or gravy served with hot steamed rice and salad. Potatoes, tomatoes, and onions are added first followed by garlic, cardamom, cinnamon sticks and chana dal chili powder mixed with curry. Vegans and Vegetarians can make a simple ‘Ghanta’ by omitting the fish in it. This is one dish that does not have a peer; no matter where you are, this food will lure you to eat it again and again until the period of your stay in Odisha.
Pilaf
Just like vegetable pulao, pilaf is among the most popular Traditional foods of Odisha. Pilaf (Pulao) is a seasoned rice dish in broth. The rice when slightly cooked in oil achieves a golden-brown color with an odor of blended spices.
The dish is a variety of this depending on certain cultures which can be with meat and vegetables. Soaked rice is fried in oil, spices, onions, garlic, and chopped vegetables and is added to it for some time then cooked with water after nearly half an hour. It is also possible to cook pilaf using dry fruits and meat. It is more like a one-pot meal that you can enjoy with raita or any curry of your liking. Pilaf is spread in different cuisines from states to countries across the globe. It is a standard dish in Odisha food.
Chhena Jhili
Chhena Jhili is yet another sweet delicacy from Odisha’s widespread cuisine. As the name implies, the candy is prepared with crumbled Chhena and other components, like wheat flour or all-purpose flour, semolina, powdered sugar, and crushed cardamom pods. Everything is mixed right into a soft dough, shaped into small balls after which deep-fried in ghee or oil. The Chhena balls are then soaked in sugar syrup and garnished with a few cardamoms powder and dry culmination. This sweet dish is soft, succulent, and scrumptious. If you love sweets, you couldn’t deliver this signature Odia dessert a miss!
In essence, the top 10 Lip-smacking delicious food of Odisha leave an unforgettable imprint on every visitor in Odisha. As we reflect on the traditional foods of Odisha, it’s impossible to ignore the staple food Dalma, the crispy chhena Gaja. These dishes along with other delicacies like Chhena Poda and Chakuli Pitha are very flavorful and can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
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Although most Odisha dishes are prepared with less oil and spices, they offer an array of flavors and distinct textures. The desserts such as Chhena Jhili and Chakuli Pitha talk much about the diversity of cuisine, which makes Odisha a heavenly paradise for food lovers. Hope you had fun knowing about some of the lip-smacking traditional foods of Odisha. From the crispy Khaja to the Pakhala exploring the delicacies of Odisha is sure to provide you with a truly fabulous experience that combines heritage with brilliant tastes that stay for long, after each bite.
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