Bhawanipatna, the district headquarters of Kalahandi, is located in Western Odisha. It has numerous beautiful places to visit such as Phurli Jharan Falls, Rabandhar Waterfall, Bhagirathi Park, Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary etc. Apart from these beautiful destinations, it is also famous for its food culture. It represents various dishes from the cuisines of Western Odisha. The next time you plan to visit Bhawanipatna, make sure you taste these delicious dishes:
1.Pakhala
Is it possible that you think of Odisha and pakhala doesn’t come into the picture? Pakhala is basically fermented rice. It is prepared by cooking rice and then soaking it in water overnight. It is combined with curd, salt and green chillies. A tempering of red chillies, cumin seeds and curry leaves can also be added for extra flavor.
2.Chaulbara
‘Chaula’ in Odia means rice. Chaulbara is a deep-fried Odia delicacy prepared from rice flour and, hence, the name. It is usually eaten as a snack. It can be found easily anywhere in Western Odisha. It is usually served with mircha chutney in plates made from leaves called ‘dana’.
3.Amil
Amil is basically mixed vegetable curry cooked in a tomato-based gravy. It is sweet and sour in taste. It is usually eaten with hot steamed rice. There are different ways of making it but the classic recipe uses a variety of vegetables in tomato-based gravy and a tempering of panchu phutan (panch phoran).
4.Chitau Pitha
It is a type of pancake made with rice flour. It has two variants- the salty and the sweet one. The classic dish, however, is the sweet one. The batter is made up of rice flour, water and a little bit of salt. Then pancakes are made out of it. While they are being cooked, sugar, ghee and grated coconut are added on the top. It just tastes amazing.
5.Dalma
Dalma is an Odia delicacy made using chickpea lentils along with a lot of vegetables. Typically, veggies such as eggplant, raw banana, raw papaya and pumpkins are used to make it. After cooking the veggies and daal together, a tempering of panch phoran and ghee is added. Adding jeera-lanka(cumin-red chilly) powder gives it an extra punch.
6.Limb Phool Bhaja
It is the Kalahandi name given to neem phool. The neem phool is cooked with other veggies such as potato, pumpkins, tomatoes and are spiced with red chilli powder, turmeric powder, salt and mustard seeds. It is a simple yet very healthy dish.
7.Chingudi Jhola
It is prawn cooked in a spicy gravy. First, the prawns are cleaned and fried in mustard oil. Then, the base of the curry is prepared using tomatoes. It uses several spices like bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamom powder, cloves, red chilli powder, turmeric powder and salt. The abundance of tomato in the dish gives it a nice reddish appearance which looks very appealing to the eye. If you are a sea-food lover, you must try this dish in Odisha.
8.Aloo Patala Rasa
It is a potato and pointed gourd curry. ‘Patala’ means pointed gourd and ‘rasa’ means gravy. Both potatoes and pointed gourds are first deep-fried until they are reddish-brown and then put in the curry base. The base mainly consists of tomatoes and onions. It is given this bright red color via sugar caramelization. It can be made using any oil but the authentic recipe uses mustard oil. If you are in Odisha, make sure you have this spicy dish full of flavors.
9.Tomato Khatta
It is a tomato and dates curry which tastes sweet and sour. First, the tomatoes are cooked along with all the basic spices. Then, dates are added to it. Once they are cooked, sugar and roasted cumin powder are added and allowed to simmer for a few minutes. This dish is prepared almost during every feast. It can be served along with rice or puri.
10.Mansa Kasa
It is a mutton curry cooked with numerous spices in an onion-tomato based gravy. The mutton is first allowed to marinate. Potatoes are cut into big chunks and deep-fried. Then the curry is prepared, preferably, with mustard oil. Mustard oil further enhances the taste. A semi-thick curry is prepared which goes well with rice, rotis or parathas.
11.Chandrakanti
It is one of the most popular Odia sweets. It is made from moong dal. The dal is first soaked and then blended into a paste. It is then combined with sugar and grated coconut. The mixture is then deep-fried in the form of small diamond-shaped cakes. It is usually made during pujas, specifically, during Gurubara puja.
12.Hendua
It refers to sundried or pickled bamboo shoot. It can be eaten fresh as well as can be stored in the form of pickle. It is usually eaten with roasted or fried tomatoes. When fermented, it also acts as a liquor which can be used to garnish certain dishes.
13.Rasbara
It is a sweet prepared using khoya and moong dal. The moong dal is soaked and then ground into a thick paste. Small balls are made out of khoya and coated with moong dal paste. These are then deep-fried. These baras are then dipped in sugar syrup. And boom! Delicious rasbaras are ready to be eaten. These are also made during the margasira puja.
14.Besara
It is an authentic Odia dish which uses mustard paste as its base. It is a very delicious and easy-to-make dish. Besara can be made with different ingredients- pariba (vegetable) besara, saga (saag) besara, machha (fish) besara etc. Pariba besara is served to Lord Jagannath in Puri mandir. It is one of the Chhappan Bhog dishes.
15.Dahi Bhendi
It is sauteed okra cooked in a yogurt-based gravy. First, the okra is cut into pieces and pan-fried using only salt. Then, the yogurt or curd is whisked properly until a smooth consistency is obtained. Then a tempering of cumin seeds, onions, red chillies, curry leaves and turmeric powder is added to it. To this spiced yogurt, fried okra is added. And tadaa! Easy and tasty Odia style dahi bhendi is ready.
16.Santula
It is a typical Odia dish which translates to boiled vegetable curry. Different types of vegetables such as pumpkin, raw papaya, potatoes, eggplants, banana, beans and okra are first boiled or pressure-cooked until done. Then, the tempering is prepared and the veggies are added to it. It is allowed to cook for a while. It is a very easy yet healthy dish. If you come to Odisha, you must try this less spicy and healthy dish.
17.Kosala Saga
It is basically a delicacy prepared from amaranth leaves. It is cooked along with veggies like pumpkin, raw banana, arbi, pointed gourd and flat beans. Badi is also added to it to enhance the flavor further. It is a yummy and healthy dish you should try.
18.Patra Poda Macha
This is fish cooked in banana leaf. It is an extremely famous and delicious Odia food. The fish is first washed, cleaned and marinated using numerous spices. Once it is marinated, it is wrapped in banana leaves. It is then cut into small pieces and tied with a thread so that the fish doesn’t come out. It is then charred on live burning coal. The fish is crispy outside and juicy inside. The flavor of the banana leaves and the smell of coal infused in every bite is just mind-blowing. Make sure you try out this dish.
19.Momo
Although not an Odia dish, it has made its way into the hearts of people of Bhawanipatna. Momo stalls can be easily found anywhere in the town. Different types are available like Veg momo, Manchurian momo, Paneer momo, Mushroom momo, Chicken momo etc. It is served along with spicy garlic chutney, peanut chutney and mayo.
20.Peda
It is a sweet delicacy made from milk and milk powder. It is flavored with sugar, cardamom powder and small bits of cashews. It tastes really amazing. There is a place near Bhwanipatna called Ampani, which is very famous for peda. Do make sure you go there and try these amazing, mouth-watering pedas.
