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Showing posts with label Authentic odia recipe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Authentic odia recipe. Show all posts

Friday, August 18, 2017

Madaranga Sagaw Raee

The woman stood still near the broken down gate. The sun was shining directly over head and everybody seemed to have vanished indoors to escape the yellow orb's fury.While she visited the compound everyday to draw fresh water from the well along with her friends, the desolate house scared her into inaction for a few moments. The ghost stories that floated around the neighborhood were of least concern to her. Her fear was real. God knows what kind of anti-social might have taken refuge in the rundown place.

She lingered on for a few more minutes looking out for any visible signs of recent occupation. And then pushed open the gate with a calculated force. The rusted hinges let out a loud creak. Walking determinedly up to the well, she put down the 'gara' or metal pot on the ground with a thud and then proceeded to lower the bucket into the well with another loud splash. It was a deliberate move to let everyone know that she meant business.

Once her pot was filled with the sweet tasting water, she stood straight and looked around once before getting down on her haunches. The small bushes of 'Madaranga sagaw' or Alternanthera sessilis that had sprung around the moist soil had been tempting her for many days. Maybe the previous owners of the house had planted a few stalks a long time back. Now it was all overgrown and quite a treat for the summer months given that the vegetable supplies has dried up. But picking those stalks in the morning hours would mean sharing it with the other women. While she had no qualms about doing so, it was a practical decision given that the number of mouths to be fed were more.

Gathering a modest sized bunch, she tied it up into a bundle using a piece of twine that was lying around. Her friends would surely notice the dwindled vegetation and start a discussion the next day. Maybe they might even overcome their superstitions and start plucking the nutritious greens on a regular basis. It might as well be the first and also the very last time she got some of it on her hands. Whatever maybe the case, she decided to keep it a secret and cook a delicious meal of 'Madaranga Sagaw Raee' with Pakhala for her family.

Read on for the recipe -

















Preparation Time - 30 mins

Ingredients -
  • 200 gms of Madaranga Sagaw / Alternanthera sessilis 
  • 1 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 medium sized potato
  • 1 medium sized tomato ( country ones preferred )
  • 1 small onion
  • 5 garlic cloves
  • 2 dry red chilis
  • 2 tsp mustard oil
  • salt to taste
  • a handful of badi / vadi 


Preparation - Keeping aside a pinch of the mustard seeds, grind the rest along with the cumin seeds, 1 dry red chili and 3 garlic cloves into a smooth paste.

Pluck the leaves from the stems and wash them 2-3 times in sufficient water. Drain the excess water.
Finely chop into small bits.

The potato, tomato and onion also need to be chopped into small pieces.

Crush the remaining garlic cloves.

Cooking - Heat a wok and throw in the badis. Fry them without oil for a few minutes before drizzling with a few drops of the mustard oil. Fry for another minute or two. Remove and keep aside.

Add the remaining mustard oil to the same wok.

Add the broken red chili and a pinch mustard seeds .

Once it starts to splutter, add the 2 crushed garlic cloves. After a minute, toss in the chopped onions as well.

As the onions turn pink, add the chopped potato and tomato.

Cook till the tomato is mushy.

Add the chopped greens and cook for 4-5 mins on a medium flame.

Dilute the mustard paste and add to the wok. ( Straining this liquid before adding to the wok is a good idea as it removes the black residue which can lend a bitter note to the curry )

Add salt and cover with a lid till cooked.

Add the crushed badis just before removing the wok from the flame.

Serve with Pakhala or even hot rice !


















Tip - To get the most out of your 'raee' dish, season with some raw mustard oil and crushed garlic just before taking it off the flame. 

Sunday, January 22, 2017

A (Fish) Bone Of Contention and Some Delicious Resolutions

Though I have been rather fond of eating fish right from my childhood days, the 'fish head' was one part of the anatomy that was strictly off limits for me. I always found it too intimidating and it was much later (sometime in my mid twenties) that I gathered the courage (plus some accompanying good sense) to attempt a go at it. And it was made possible only because some good Samaritan introduced me to a fish head curry without giving away the secret ingredient. Most of them are quite delicious and with a multitude of ingredients, it is tough to pick out the fish unless one encounters the bony pieces.

But in most Odia homes, the head of the family and the fish head are considered to be a match made in heaven. The uncanny Odia folks do know a thing or two about good (read nutritious) food. While many communities discard the fish head or dress it up to a such an extent that whatever remains is barely a few pieces of bone joined together by a bit of cartilage. The Odia people however place a lot of stress on preserving every possible bit of the fish head which they believe to be highly nutritious. And regular consumption is rumored to make a person intelligent. Although the last statement is highly debatable, the fish head contains high levels of Vitamin A, Omega 3 fatty acids, iron, zinc and calcium. No wonder the head of the family, who is often the one making the highest contribution to the household kitty, stakes a n undisputed claim to it.

But during the community feasts, there would have been too many claimants on this bounty. Any kind of refusal could only lead to slighted egos and fights. Hence, some devious chef might have come up with this idea to appease everyone's egos and palates. Instead of dunking the fish heads into the gravy, they were cooked with an assortment of vegetables, leafy greens or even lentils. Not only a new non-vegetarian dish was added to the menu, it was also extremely delicious . And it also spared me the horror of looking into those lifeless eyes. Or the guilt of tossing it into the waste.

Here is a list of those delectable 'Fish Head' preparations that grace Odia cuisine. These are the more common ones  -

1. Fish Head cooked with Malabar spinach and other vegetables ( Poi Chenchedda ) -































Read recipe HERE.

2. Fish Head cooked with Cabbage (Bandha Kobi Chenchedda ) -






























Read recipe HERE.

3. Fish head cooked with lentil dumplings (badi), potatoes and mustard paste
 ( Maccha Munda Besara ) -


















Read recipe HERE.

4. Fish head cooked with split Bengal gram and few vegetables (Mudhi Ghanta) -






























Read recipe HERE.

5. Fish Head cooked with a medley of seasonal vegetables (Maccha Mahura) -
































Read recipe HERE.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Talaa Pitha ( Ice Apple / Sugar Palm Fritters from Odisha )

Would you like to guess what is the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of the 'Talaa Pitha' which are a variety of incredibly aromatic and sweet tasting fritters. No, it is not the heavenly aroma that envelopes the entire household when they are being prepared nor it is the residual note of bitterness that lingers for a few seconds after the very last bite. Rather it is those old fashioned milk cans made from steel. The reason behind this bizarre connection is that that my grandmother used to get the sugar palm juice/extract from our native village in these milk cans. The mind certainly works in a strange fashion, doesn't it ?

Being an arthritic patient, she could not extract the juice herself as it requires a lot of effort. Hence we always got the extracted juice from our village which is a few hours distance from Rourkela. Since the sugar palm ripens during the cold winter months, the cool temperatures prevalent in the hilly regions of Western Odisha ensure that the fermentation process does not set in within a day or even two. Once the juice is cooked and made into these delicious fritters, they can be stored in air tight containers for up to a week.

I found this ripe fruit on my weekly trip to the HAL market in Marathahalli and could not resist buying one even though it cost me eighty rupees. One can get one for about 10 bucks in Odisha so it seemed rather steep at first. But the dormant foodie in me suddenly turned hyper thinking about the glorious possibilities that it could open up. And I ended up buying one. So, while a variety of dishes can be prepared using this wonderful fruit, the fritters and the poda pith happen to be my favorites. Here I am sharing the recipe for the fritters -

[This time does not include the 40-45 minutes of time required to extract the juice. Plus more time is required to boil and then cool it down completely before using it in any recipe. Refer to the process mentioned in the last section of this post.]

















Preparation Time - 25 mins

Ingredients -


  • 1 cup sugar palm juice / Talaa 
  • 1 cup rice powder ( arua / jeera rice, approx as it depends on the thickness of the juice )
  • 2 tsp semolina (suji)
  • 3-4 tsp sugar (optional, the sugar palm already has loads of it )
  • oil for deep frying


Preparation - Take all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Mix together to get a thick but dropping consistency.

Let it stand for 10-15 mins.

Cooking - Heat sufficient oil in a wok for deep frying the fritters.

Drop a few teaspoons of the batter at a time. Fry on all sides to a rich brown shade.

Remove and keep aside.

Repeat the process for the remaining batter.

Let it cool down completely before enjoying the fritters. Keep away some of them in an airtight container as they taste even better on the next day.


















Extraction and Prepping of the juice -
  • When you buy the ripe Sugar Palm, check for one that is a little mushy when you press it.
  • Wash the outer surface and slice off the top portion.
  • Carefully peel the black fibrous outer layer and throw it away. 



  • Put 1 cup water in a deep bowl and place the orange flesh in it. Squeeze and mash it to remove the hardened seeds. Throw away these seeds.
  • Finally use a strainer to separate the juice from the fibers.




  • Put this juice in a thick bottomed pan and place it on the burner. Bring it to a bubbling stage on a low flame.
  • Let it bubble for 4-5 mins before switching off the flame. Remember to keep stirring it throughout.
  • Once it cools down completely (takes a few hours), one can use it. Boiling the juice reduces the bitter notes in it though a slight bitterness can still be detected. Add a little sugar will mask it further. 


Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Ambada/Ambeda Khatta ( Tangy Indian Olives Curry )

One of the most endearing and enduring memories of my childhood days have been those village feasts where everyone sat down on the floor to partake the meals. Served on disposable plates sewn out of dried Sal leaves (khali patra), even the simplest of meals acquired that 'wow' factor in my city bred conscience. Even as the piping hot rice was piled on the sal leaves, the aroma released by the heat was enough to set the salivary glands in a state of overdrive. A topping of dal and some random vegetable curry usually followed the rice.

However, all tongues were kept hanging in limbo for the arrival of the 'piece de resistance', if I may christen it so, of all odia feasts. The mutton curry was undoubtedly most sought after dish at these feasts. But any guesses what came a close second on my list? None other than the 'ambada khatta', a sweet and tangy relish made out of Indian olives. While, the coastal regions of Odisha swear by the 'Oau' or elephant apple, the 'ambada' is more prevalent in the Western parts of the state. Given that the mutton curry is quite spicy and laden with fat, the sweet sour nature of the 'khatta' acts as the perfect foil for it.

It had been ages since I got the chance to feast on some of this delicious stuff. Hence I was almost euphoric when I chanced upon a vendor selling them in Bengaluru. The young fruit is usually tender and one can easily split it into four halves. But the ones that I found were quite mature and hence I just ended up putting slits on their surface. They got nicely cooked in the gravy and lent their juices to it. However, the consistency was a little thinner than usual. One can mash them up a little to thicken the gravy. I was quite happy with the thin consistency so I just let it be.

Read on for the recipe -


















Preparation Time - 30 mins

Ingredients -

  • 250 gm Ambada/Ambeda/Indian Olives
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 tsp mustard 
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1-2 dry red chili
  • 3-4 garlic cloves
  • 1/4 tsp pancha phutana
  • a sprig of curry leaves
  • 2 pinch asafoetida
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric
  • salt to taste
  • 2 tsp oil

Preparation - Dry grind the red chili, mustard and cumin seeds. Once powdered, add the garlic and a little water. Grind into a fine paste and keep aside.

If the ambada is tender, cut each one into 4 halves. Else just put 3-4 slits on the surface.

Cooking - Heat the oil in a wok. Add the pancha phutana and let it splutter.

Add curry leaves and asfoetida. Fry for 30 seconds before throwing in the ambada.

The ambada need to be cooked/stir fried till it turns brown and the skin is almost ready to peel off.

Now add 2 1/2 cups water, salt and turmeric. Let it simmer for a while to let the juices seep into the gravy.

Then add sugar and boil some more till it reaches the desired consistency. 

[Mash them up a bit if you want a thicker curry. However, it will also increase the sour quotient of the gravy and hence you have end up putting more sugar to balance it out]

Serve with rice and mutton curry.


















Note - This can be preserved in the fridge for a couple of days. 

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Maccha Poda ( Kancha Maccha Besara )

One of the authentic odia recipes that has always been close to my heart is the 'Maccha Poda' which literally translates into burnt fish. It is prepared by first marinating the fish in a mustard paste, then wrapping it up in 'sala patra' or Sal leaves and finally popping it in the dying embers of a wood/charcoal fire. But as more conventional cooking appliances came up, people started putting all the ingredients together in a thick bottomed vessel and cooking it on a very low flame. While this variant tastes quite yummy, the authentic version flavored with the smokey scent of the Sal leaves just happens to be out of this world. I myself dream of making this in an OTG in case I get my hands on some Sal leaves.

I happen to have a rather emotional connection with this dish. My grandmother absolutely loved it and did brilliant job of preparing it . Infact I havn't tasted a better one . Though it is quite easy to prepare, one has to get proportion of the ingredients right and use the right quantity of spice/oil.

Read on for the recipe -


















Preparation Time - 40 mins ( including standby time )

Ingredients -

  • 3 pieces of Rohu/Catla fish
  • 2 tsp mustard seeds
  • 7 garlic cloves
  • 1 dry red chili
  • 2 green chilis
  • 2 pinch turmeric
  • salt to taste
  • 1 1/2 tsp mustard oil
  • 1 tsp chopped coriander leaves


Preparation - Wash the fish pieces. Marinate with a pinch of salt and turmeric. Let it sit for 5 mins.

First grind the mustard seeds and dry red chili. Then add 1 green chili and 4 garlic cloves along with a little water. Grind again into a fine paste.

Add the mustard paste to the fish. Also add the slit green chili, crushed garlic cloves, salt, turmeric, 1 tsp mustard oil and about 1 cup of water. Mix and let it sit for 15-20 mins.

















Cooking - Take everything in a thick bottomed pan. And let it cook uncovered for about 15 mins till the gravy forms a thick layer around the fish. Remove from the flame.

Drizzle the mustard oil and sprinkle chopped cilantro before serving (hot). Tastes best with steaming hot rice and yellow dal !




Monday, July 4, 2011

Mudhi Ghanta ( Fish Head cooked with Lentil and select Vegetables )

Much before chicken became the meat of choice (though convenience is more appropriate word), fish was a regular feature in most Odia housholds. Except for the Sundays which were reserved for mutton, non-vegetarian preparations consisted of a variety of fish recipes. While fish is mostly cooked on it's own, the fish head is often prepared with lentils and/or select vegetables. Maccha Ghanta, Maccha Mahura and Mudhi Ghanta are example of such dishes.

Mudhi Ghanta used to a regular at weddings in the coastal districts of Odisha much like the Potolo Rasa, Aau/Ambada Khatta, Nadia Raee and Chenna Tarkari.

Read on for the recipe -
















Cooking Time Required : 35 mins

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Channa dal, 
  • 1 large tomato 
  • 1 medium potato (cut into cubes)
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin cubes 
  • 2-3 potolo/pointed gourd ( peel and cut each into 3 pieces )
  • 1 fried fish head 
  • 1 fried fish tail (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/3 tsp cumin seeds
  • salt to taste
  • 5-6 tsp mustard oil ( can use any vegetable oil )

For the masala paste -

  • 1 medium onion
  • 1 inch ginger
  • 7-8 garlic cloves
  • 1 inch cinnamon stick
  • 2 green cardamom,
  • 2-3 cloves
  • 2 nos bay leaf, 
  • 2-3 dry red chilli 

Preparation: Wash and soak the channa dal for 2-3 hours.

Grind the onion, ginger and garlic along with the spices (except bay leaf) into a smooth paste.

Cooking: Cook the soaked channa dal with a little water, salt and turmeric in a pressure cooker for 1-2 whistles. Keep aside till steam escapes.

Heat 2 tsp oil in the wok. Add the potato, pumpkin and pointed gourd. Sprinkle some salt. Fry for 4-5 mins.

Transfer the fried vegetables into the pressure cooker. Cook for 1 whistle on a high flame along with dal. Keep aside.

Add another teaspoon of oil to the same wok. Add the fish and crush it with a spatula. Fry on medium high till it turns reddish. Remove and keep aside.

Heat remaining oil in the wok. Add the cumin seeds and bay leaf.

Allow seeds to crackle and then add a little turmeric ( for color ). Take care not to burn it.

Add the masala paste. Cook the masala for 5-6 mins till raw smell goes away.

Add the chopped tomato and cook for another 5 mins for it to soften. Add the boiled channa dal and veggies. Mix well and cook for 3 mins.

Add 1/2-1 cup of water and bring to a boil. Add more salt if required. Simmer for 5-6 mins or till you get the desired consistency.

Finally add the fried and crushed fish pieces . Mix well and remove from the flame.

Serve hot with dal-rice/rotis.

































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