Nirvana. Jannat. Bliss. I could barely utter these words as I experienced the explosion of flavors on my tongue. The nuttiness of the toasted pumpkin seeds, the sweetness of the shrimp, the heat from the green chilis, the tang from the tomato, the freshness of cilantro and oh, just that hint of garlic. The coming together of all these elements had just awakened my senses. Ah, at last I was having a good decent odia meal. It felt quite liberating and exhilaratig to leave behind the almost sterile bhajas (fries) and the tarkaris ( curries). Poda (burnt/grilled), chakta(mashed) or checcha(crushed) is what captures the essence of Odia cuisine. And this amazing chingudi - kakharu manjee checcha just reinforces that belief !!
Read on for the recipe -
Preparation Time : 10-15 mins
Ingredients -
Preparation: Wash and clean the prawns.
Chop the onion, garlic and green chilli into small pieces.
Cooking: Heat 1 tsp of oil in a wok. Add the prawn and fry on low to medium flame till crispy.
Remove and keep aside.
Add 1 tsp oil in the same wok. Add the pumpkin seeds and toast for 3 mins.
Remove from the wok.
Transfer the shrimps and the pumpkin seeds into a mixer/blender jar. Add the onions, garlic, cilnatro and green chillis. Sprinkle a few drops of mustard oil and salt. Give a quick buzz. ( Or you can do it the traditional way using a heavy mortar and pestle. )
Chingudi - Kakharu majee Checcha is ready .
Serve with pakhala/ rice .
Read on for the recipe -
Preparation Time : 10-15 mins
Ingredients -
- 1/2 cups baby shrimp ( chuna chingudi)
- 1/2 cup kakharu manjee (pumpkin seeds)
- 1/2 of a small tomato
- 2 garlic flakes
- 1 green chillis
- 2 tsp mustard oil
- 2 tsp chopped onion
- 2 tsp chopped cilantro
- Salt to taste
Preparation: Wash and clean the prawns.
Chop the onion, garlic and green chilli into small pieces.
Cooking: Heat 1 tsp of oil in a wok. Add the prawn and fry on low to medium flame till crispy.
Remove and keep aside.
Add 1 tsp oil in the same wok. Add the pumpkin seeds and toast for 3 mins.
Remove from the wok.
Transfer the shrimps and the pumpkin seeds into a mixer/blender jar. Add the onions, garlic, cilnatro and green chillis. Sprinkle a few drops of mustard oil and salt. Give a quick buzz. ( Or you can do it the traditional way using a heavy mortar and pestle. )
Chingudi - Kakharu majee Checcha is ready .
Serve with pakhala/ rice .