In this article, I share the famous foods that the Sundargarh locals love. Sundargarh is not only known for industrial purposes but also its tasty snack options. So, from the deepest heart of Sundargadis, below are the top 20 foods that are a must-try food that everyone craves. Whether it’s a snack, meal, breakfast, or other versatile options, Sundargarhians have our favorites in every category.
1.Thethri
Thethri is a Western Odisha snack loved by many. This crunchy and salty stick-like snack, made from wheat flour mixed with many ingredients and fried in oil, is famous among the Aghria people and others. It is made on different occasions and is a go-to snack for kids to take to the hostel.
2.Chaul Bara
Chaula bara, also called Chaul Bara, is another street food famous in Western Odisha. It is crunchy and paired with mainly two types of chutney. One is tetel jhol (tamarind chutney). Another is Patalghanta-Lasuna Chutney(Tomato Garlic Chutney). No Sundargadi can ever say no to these Chaul Bara. And trust me, they taste heavenly!
3.Kathi Nimki
Kathi Nimki is a snack that has ingredients such as maida, kalonji, ghee, or oil. We make a dough, spread it into a thick pancake, and then cut it into the desired shapes. Then we fry them in oil. Tada! Your salty and tasty nimkis are ready. Serve it as a snack for tea, or eat it for your small cravings. Put it in an air-tight container, and it will last for a month easily.
4.Sijhri
Sijhri is a traditional sweet dish from Sundargarh. The ingredients include refined flour, semolina, coconut, and khoa (dried evaporated milk solids). We make it during any occasion or pujas like Lakshmi Puja. Shape the dough in a bowl-like structure, add the coconut and khoya filling, and press the corners into moon-like shapes. During Nuakhai, people prepare this dish as it is a famous festival of Western Odisha.
5.Aghria Khaja
Made from boondi and melted Gud, it is a simple yet trendy sweet dish mostly made during the wedding seasons. During pujas, it is customary to offer this as an offering to God. Melted Gud is added to freshly made boondis till the mixture is sticky enough to bind together, and a big ball of khaja is ready.
6.Basi Pakhala
Pakhala is an odia food lightly fermented in water. We call it Basi Pakhala when the Pakhala is not eaten instantly after cooking but left throughout the night in the Torani(fermented rice water). Consumed during summer, it is one of the best ways to save you from sunstroke. Eat it with different side dishes like saag, badi, etc.
7.Babra Pitha
Babra Pitha, mostly known as Khapra Pitha, is a famous breakfast option in Western Odisha. During winter, Sundargadi people fire the mud chulha (mud stove) with firewood and make the pitha by spreading the batter on the preheated mud tawa. Pair it with coriander chutney and serve it hot. And warm up your hands from the hot chulha. It feels good!
8.Papdi Chaat
Papdi chaat is another loved food in the Sundargarh district. There is this famous stall, Prince Chaat, famous throughout Sundargarh. Different varieties are present there, like Ghuguni chaat, papdi chaat, dahi gupchup, etc. And trust me, you will love it. So when you visit Sundargarh, try not to miss this iconic chaat.
9.Amil Khata
Amil khata, a famous side dish or curry of western Odisha, is eaten with rice. We add Amchur, vegetables, tomatoes, tamarind, etc, and make it sour. Sour khata is a tradition of western Odisha. Every lunch is incomplete without it. No matter what other vegetable you add, sourness from amchur, tomato, and tamarind is compulsory. Serve it hot with rice and badi!
10.Chakuli Pitha
Chakuli Pitha is another breakfast option similar to Khapra Pitha. The difference is in the ratio and the consistency of the batter. We make it in hot iron tawa and serve it with different kinds of chutney. Patalghanta chutney(tomato chutney) or dhania chutney(coriander chutney) is mostly preferable. Serve it hot!
11.Saru Patra Tarkari
Saru Patra Tarkari is another khatta tarkari that is made in Sundargarh. We make a besan batter mixed with spices, spread it on the Saru Patra, roll them, and cut them into small pieces. Then we fry them in oil. The last step is to make the gravy and then add the fried saru patra pieces. That’s it! Serve it with hot rice!
12.Makhan Lada
Makhan Lada is a traditional food recipe from western Odisha. Makhan means pumpkin, and Lada means cake. The ingredients that we need for this are pumpkin, rice flour, peanut, coconut, etc. We bake it in fire. The batter takes the shape of whatever container you provide. Mostly in village areas, people make it in chakni(small bowls made from leaves). It can be served as breakfast or even as an evening snack.
13.Birhi Bara
No matter where you go, you’ll find bara and bara lovers everywhere in Odisha. Made from Urad dal, these baras can be eaten with dhaniya lassun chutney or with ghuguni. These are tasty, deep-fried snacks perfect after a tiring day or even as breakfast. Either way, you’ll love it. It is the best snack for your evening cravings.
14.Bhajia Ruti
Bhajia ruti or rasbara, it has many names. It is bara dipped in sugar syrup, making it another sweet dish of western Odisha. When the hot baras come out of the hot oil, it is immediately put into the sugar syrup so that they get soaked up properly. We make them at weddings, Nuakhai (a festival of Western Odisha), get-togethers, etc.
15.Badi
Badi is an odia fryum which is taken with rice mostly. These can be made once and stored for long periods. So whenever you need them, take them and fry them in oil. We can add them in different sabzi or even take them as fryums. There are different types of badis, like Kumbhda bari, bhaja bari, lai bari, etc. And it’s up to you whatever form you give it. Badi Chura is one of the most trendy forms of eating bari.
16.Dahi Bara
You must have heard of dahi bara aloo dum whenever you’ve heard of Odisha. But this time, this is just dahi bara. In Western Odisha, this style is more famous where we soak bara in dahi, pour some more dahi mixed with different spices on top, and present it with different toppings like sev and dhania for garnishing.
17.Kakra Pitha
Kakra pitha is another sweet dish offered to the deities and made for different auspicious occasions in Odisha. Also, this sweet fried cake serves as a snack in many local shops. Eat it just like that, or pair it up with ghuguni. It is mostly your preference. Many prefer it with ghuguni. When the sweet pitha and salty ghuguni enter your mouth, there is a blast of flavors.
18.Mudhi mixture
Talking about sundargadi food lovers and not including mudhi mixture on the list will not do a fair justice. Mudhi mixture, made with puffed rice mixed with namkeen mixture, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, chilies, etc, is the fastest food to make to cure your cravings. These are some of the common ingredients of it, and the rest is up to you. You can add anything to it. Starting from Kurkure to any sabzi, it’s your choice and preference.
19.Mudhi Mansa
We talked about mudhi above. Here is one famous form of the recipe. Mudhi Mansa is an odia food where we eat mudhi with mutton. This recipe is popular throughout Odisha. The nonveg lovers in Sundargarh are excited about it. Whenever the classes end, the students run for this. Next time you visit Odisha, do try it. Sprinkle some coriander, spices, and onions as per your liking.
20.Gupchup
Lastly, we have Gupchup, a crisp puri filled with mashed potato and eaten with sour tamarind water. If you ask the people of Sundargarh what they miss eating the most when they come out of the city for studies or work, most people will say gupchup. Whenever you visit Sundargarh, we sundargadis recommend you try gupchup from local vendors. You will love it.
