Growing up in an Odia household is special. Be it a special occasion or any usual day, women of Odia households, especially grannies, have a never-ending storage of heavenly delicious food dishes that may satisfy your soul.
Here, let’s check out these traditional Odia dishes that are known to be the favourite of every Odia granny.
Pakhala: The soul food of every Odia is the nutritious fermented rice that is mainly eaten with potato fries, fish fries, saga bhaja, prawn fries, badi chutney, etc. It’s every granny's favourite pick in Odisha.
Habisha Platter: It’s the food platter eaten in the holy month of Kartika Masa. The platter includes rice, a delicious dalma made with no garlic, onion, or turmeric and a pleasing accompaniment of a simple, savoury chutney made of lemon or orange and chilli.
Teel Laddo: Made with sesame seeds and jaggery, this delicious sweet treat is mainly prepared during Krishna Janmashtami. You can add dry fruits to make it more delicious and nutritious.
Drumsticks Leave Chutney: The drumstick leaves are lightly roasted, wrapped in banana leaves, in an earthen chulha or clay stove, and then mustard oil, chillies, and chopped onions are added. It pairs well with rice.
Banana Flower Chutney: It’s made by roasting banana flowers. Then they are mashed with mustard oil and chillies. Roasting the flowers adds an authentic burnt flavour to the dish.
Kakharu Phula Bhaja: These are the crispy fritters of pumpkin flowers or kakharu phula which are swallow-fried with a coating of rice batter. Not only grandmas but this dish is the favourite of everyone in Odia families.
Poi Besara: This mouth-watering dish is made with Malabar spinach or poi, potatoes or other veggies with mustard, cumin seeds, ginger, and red chilli paste. With an earthy flavour, it pairs well with steamed rice and roti.