Odisha, the land of Lord Jagannath, is a place with varied cultures and is highly religious.
This specialty of them is quite visible in their food as well. Despite the easy recipes, the dishes of this state are very delicious.
16 Local Foods You Must Try Out in Odisha
1. Dahibara Aloodum
This dish is loved a lot in Cuttak and is a legendary street food that everyone should surely give a try. Dahibara might be a common dish that you might have had at a lot of places but when it is combined with a little hot & spicy aloo dum and ghuguni, then its heavenly taste will drive you crazy! It is garnished with onions and coriander leaves providing you with a mesmerizing flavor.
2. Bara
Bara can be called a grain cutlet that is typically served as a traditional tiffin in various parts of Odisha. Though you will get it all over the state, Dhenkanal is said to be the city providing you with the tastiest and relishing Bara(s). They are crispy from outside but tenderly soft from within. The main ingredients of this dish are black-gram dal or urad dal along with rice. The luscious taste and aroma of this cuisine lure masses.
3. Chungdi Malai
Just like its name, this dish mainly comprises delicious creamy prawn curry. The coconut milk plays the role of making prawns creamy in this dish. It possesses unique richness and silkiness that is enriched by light and different types of spices giving it its delicious taste. It is best served with basmati rice. You should surely give it a try if you visit Odisha.
4. Macha Ghanta
Because of the geographical position of Odisha, there is the popularity of fish dishes in the state. They are relished by every household and are among the favorite dishes of people over there. Macha Ghanta is amongst those delicious dishes and is special because it is offered to Durga Maa on Dussehra. This dish comprises a blend of onions, potatoes, garlic, and regular spices. One should surely try this dish.
5. Badi
It is a very unique dish in itself as it has a crispy taste. They are made up of black-gram which are ground on a slit-stone. They are being given the shape of a flower that ends up making it a rather eye-catching dish. Phula Badi’s are a bit delicate and fragile in nature due to their light weight. One can have them in a roasted or fried manner but it tastes best when consumed with rice.
6. Rasabali
One can have this dish in the Kendrapara district of Odisha that is usually offered to Baladevjew and is believed that it is originated from the Baladevjew Temple. This dish is one of the most famous sweet dishes found in this province of Odisha. For its preparation, it is soaked in thick flavoured milk and is garnished with cardamoms on top for enhancing its beauty. It is also served at Jagannath Temple.
7. Chenna Poda
This is the most prominent cheese dessert of Odisha which you can taste in Nayagarh in the state. The burnt cottage cheese present in it gives such an enduring flavour equaling with the sweet sugar syrup being added to make it taste more awesome. One cannot forget its taste once tasted. For its garnishing, dry fruits like cashew nut and raisins are mixed during its preparation which is mesmerizing.
8. Mudhi-Mansa
To have the taste of this scrumptious dish, you will have to visit Baripada, a small town of Mayurbhanj district in Odisha. It has really gained a lot of popularity for its mudhi that can be called puffed rice and Mansa, known as mutton in an amazing combination. People have it with their tea and also with the meal! They are very fond of it.
9. Chhena Jhilli
This dish has its birthplace Nimapada. It is a town situated near the Puri district of Odisha and is quite renowned for this popular dessert. Once you have this dish then you are definitely gonna crave it again so the best part is that you can have it all over the state and not only in Nimpada. For preparing it, fresh cheese balls are fried and are caramelized with sugar syrup, making it a lip-smacking dessert.
10 Khaja
Khaja is a unique sweet dish used as one of the chhappan bhog as an offering to Lord Jagannath in Puri, Odisha. It is made in the temple of Lord Jagannath daily and is served as a very tasty prasad. No matter it is Shree Mandir or any street-side shops, this dish can be found nearly in every corner of Puri. It is sugar-coated giving it a lip-smacking flavor.
11. Kora Khai, Bhubaneswar (Khurda)
Kora Khai is majorly found in Khurda district of Bhubaneshwar. It is believed to be a traditional food of Odisha and has a special mention when it comes to the names of the most famous offerings in temples. It is served as prasad at the very renowned Lingaraj Temple of Bhubaneswar. It really has a wonderful taste obtained from spices like cinnamon and cardamom along with puffed rice and is caramelized with jaggery or sugar and coconut pieces.
12. Dalma
Dal is surely a kind of dish which one can never get over and a special part about it is that it is eaten all over the country but certainly in different varieties. Talking about Odisha, this state is also here with a unique flavour with the Dalma in which it is made with roasted moong dal without any inclusion of onion or garlic. Spices, along with different veggies are also added to it, making it even more delicious. It is mostly eaten with rice. You should surely give it a try if you are visiting Odisha.
13. Pakhala Bhata
If you wanna have an Odiya dish as lunch giving you a household feel, then Pakhala Bhata is for you. It can be prepared by soaking cooked rice in water along with sour curd and is generally left overnight. It is often served with other Odiya dishes like potatoes, fried fish, papad and Badi choora. It is a dish that will completely refresh you in the excessive heat of Odisha.
14. Kanika
Kanika is a traditional dish of Odisha. It is made of sweetened pulao. This dish has its significant place as a Prashad in the list of 56 items in Lord Jagannath’s Temple as ‘Chappan Bhog.’ Before biryani and fried pulav gained their popularity, this was the dish that was favorite of all of the Odiyans. It is a staple meal of the state and is best served with scrumptious chicken or mutton curry.
15. Santula
This is a classic Odiya dish. You can call it a fried or boiled vegetable curry that gives you a heavenly taste and will make surely satisfy your taste buds. Santula is raw papaya, potato, tomato, and brinjal blend. A bowl full of this curry is a bowl full of health. Its recipe is low on spices and quite high on greens. It can be mildly sauteed with milk and spices for making it even tastier.
16. Chaatu Rai
This dish is also called Chaatu Besara. It is also a very healthy dish as it has a lot of nutritious vegetables in it. It is really popular throughout the state. Key ingredients of this dish making it taste awesome and provide certain health benefits are turmeric powder, tomato, mushrooms, etc. which are cooked in a tangy, delicious mustard paste.
Read also – 15 Most Popular Foods to Eat in Shimla
