Jagdalpur is famous for its rich natural resources, beautiful waterfalls, lush green forests and temples. Apart from these, it is also famous for its food. Jagdalpuri food or Chhattisgarhi food mainly consists of rice, maize, jowar, cereals, lentils, vegetables, fruits and nuts. Here, we have discussed some of the popular dishes you must try in Jagdalpur:
1.Pakhal Bhat
Since the place is located close to Odisha, it has some Odia influence on the food as well. ‘Pakhal Bhat’ or as Odias call it ‘Pakhala bhata’, is basically fermented rice. The rice is cooked and soaked in water overnight. Then, it is flavored with yogurt, water, salt and green chillies. It is very beneficial to the body in summers as it prevents heat stroke. It can be eaten as it is. It can also be tempered with cumin seeds, red chillies and curry leaves.
2.Angakar Roti
It is roti made up of rice flour, boiled rice, salt and water. Sometimes, oil is also added to the dough. It is flattened using hands. Rolling pin is not used while making this dish. It is mostly eaten by the Jagdalpuris as breakfast. Cumin seeds, onions and coriander leaves can also be added to enhance the taste.
3.Bafauri
It is a good substitute to pakodas. It is made with chana daal, urad daal, water, salt, chillies, oil etc. After the dough is prepared, it is made into small balls and then steamed. It is tempered with mustard seeds, curry leaves and peanuts. This dish is low in calories but tastes amazing.
4.Chila
It is quite a common breakfast in Chhattisgarhi houses. It is made using rice flour, salt, green chillies and coriander leaves. It can be eaten with chutneys or even ketchup. It can also be made using besan or a combination of rice flour, besan and ragi. Vegetables can also be added for extra nutrition.
5.Dubki Kadhi
‘Dubki’ in Hindi means to dive. Dubki kadhi is a curd-based dish wherein small dumplings made from urad dal are added to the kadhi. These dumplings are not deep-fried as in Punjabi kadhi pakoda but are boiled in the kadhi itself. So, it is a great alternative for health-conscious people.
6.Khurmi
It is a traditional sweet of the state. It is prepared using wheat flour, jaggery, ghee, sesame seeds and oil. The dough is first prepared and then divided into small portions. These are then deep-fried. They are really tasty and easy to make as well.
7.Jalebi
Who hasn’t heard about jalebi? But khoya or mawa jalebi of Chhattisgarh is a must-try dish for all the foodies. It is made with maida, khoya, sugar, ghee, cardamom, saffron and milk. The prepared batter is deep-fried in spiral shape and then soaked in sugar syrup. The taste is just amazing. And what can be better than some ‘garma garam’ jalebis?
8.Khichdi
Khichdi is basically a dish made of rice and lentils. But in Chhattisgarh, it is mainly made of sabu dana. It is made using sabu dana, boiled potato, groundnuts, cumin seeds, green chillies and coriander leaves. It is a great option for breakfast and dinner.
9.Petha
Petha is a transparent, chewy and sweet dish made from white pumpkin. It can be eaten as it is or by dipping in sugar syrup. It takes a lot of time and effort to prepare petha at home but the taste is just worth it!
10.Moong Dal Halwa
It is an Indian dessert prepared by using moong dal, ghee, milk, water and sugar. It is topped with cardamom powder, pistachios and raisins. This halwa is usually made on festivals like Diwali and Holi. It is also made during some special occasions such as marriage.
11.Kaju Barfi
Kaju Barfi or Kaju Katli is an Indian dessert similar to barfi. It is made by powdered cashew and sugar syrup. It is made during festivals, special occasions or any celebrations. It is different from the normal milk barfi as it uses cashews as the main ingredient and is a lot more expensive.
12.Rakhia Badi
These are badis prepared from urad dal and white petha. Lots of spices such as cumin seeds, asafoetida, cinnamon, black pepper, cloves etc are used. A semi-thick batter is prepared and made into small badis. These badis are then kept out in the sun to dry. Once they are dried, they can be used in different curries using potato, brinjal, drumsticks etc.
13.Mahuwa
Mahuwa is actually a flower. It is found in areas of Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Using mahuwa, an alcoholic drink is prepared. It is mostly consumed by the local tribals. It can be flavored using ginger, ajwain or pomegranate to enhance the taste.
14.Pani Puri
Name a city where people do not love this spicy dish! Every place has its own variation of this lovely dish. In Jagdalpur, you can get basic pani puris, filled with a mixture of mashed potatoes, onions, chaat masala, chickpeas, meethi chutney and imli ka pani. It is a mouth-watering dish which everyone must try.
15.Bafla
This dish is similar to Rajasthan’s dal bati. Bafla is basically ghee-packed wheat dough balls. It is usually served with toor dal, but can also be eaten with urad dal, gate ki sabzi or kadhi.
16.Pakoras
You might have tasted the usual besan pakodas, but if you come to Jagdalpur, you can taste these delicious rice pakoras. These fritters are made using rice flour, onions, green chillies, yogurt, cumin powder and coriander leaves. A semi-thick batter is prepared and then it is divided into equal portions, then they are deep-fried. They taste amazing with both chutney as well as ketchup.
17.Fara
Fara or Phara are steamed dumplings made from rice flour, cooked rice, sesame seeds and salt. After getting steamed, they are tempered using whole red chillies, curry leaves, sesame seeds and coriander leaves. It is a simple yet delicious recipe to try.
18.Aamat
Aamat is a speciality of Chhattisgarh which is prepared using mixed vegetables with numerous spices. In some parts of the state, it is still prepared in the traditional way- in bamboo shoots. This is because the bamboo keeps the flavor intact. Traditionally-prepared Aamat prepared using the bamboo shoots is way tastier than the usual one. If you come to Jagdalpur, make sure you try this dish.
19.Aloo Tikki Chaat
Out of various street foods, this is the most famous one. Aloo tikki chaat basically consists of deep-fried potato patties, which are topped with sweet tamarind chutney and spicy green chutney. The base for the chaat usually consists of matar curry and yogurt. Some places also use sev for the extra crunch.
20.Muthia
Muthia is a Chhattisgarhi delicacy made of chickpea flour, methi, salt, turmeric, chilli powder, sugar and oil. The dough is divided into small portions and allowed to steam. They can be eaten just as they are or can also be deep-fried. They taste great both ways. They go great with any sweet or spicy chutney.
