Odia Desserts To Delight Your Taste Buds

Odia Desserts To Delight Your Taste Buds

It is said that a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Well, the saying certainly holds true for us, Odias! Every Odia is a food connoisseur and when it comes to sweet meats, we leave everyone else far, far behind. Be it our beloved ‘Chhena Poda’, the ever-popular ‘Khaja’ and ‘Chhena Gaja’ as well as the varied types of ‘Rasagola’, they are the gems of our cuisine.

We look at some of the less mainstream confections that are an absolute delight to relish while will making you long for more!

Arisa Pitha

Picture Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons 

One of the more traditional delicacies of Odisha, this scrumptious pancake-like dish, with its crispy, crackling skin is simply mouth-watering! It is quite often found in our households, generally prepared during the “Margashira masa” of the Hindu calendar on the occasion of Manabasa Lakshmi Puja. Made from rice flour, jaggery, and other earthy spices, it’s usually sprinkled with sesame seeds and tastes divine!

Chhena Jhili

Picture Courtesy: pearlsofeast.com

‘Chhena’ is the key ingredient of many of Odisha’s delish sweets! And this syrupy delight is nothing short of wondrous. Born in Nimapada, this dish is a flavourful work of art, fried ‘chhena’ dunked in a slightly spiced sugar syrup. It may not be as popular as its cousins in the ‘chhena’ family, but definitely makes for a super tasty dessert!

Khira Gaja

This underrated gem of a sweet is made by deep-frying a sweet khoya mixture. It’sthe best of both worlds – crunchy on the outside, moist and flaky inside! Served warm as well as cold, it can last for an extended period of time if stored properly.

Rasabali

Picture Courtesy: Veg Food Recipes

 Originating in the Baladev Jew temple of Kendrapara, this yummy dessert is also one of the ‘chapana bhoga’ presented in the Jagannath temple. Patties of chhena are deep fried, and soaked in thickened, lightly seasoned and sweetened milk, which results in an astounding dish!

Kora Khai

This is one of the more popular items on our list! Prepared by caramelising ‘khai’ with the addition of coconut and other light seasonings, it is mainly used as ‘bhog’, especially in the Lingaraj temple. It is considered to be a favourite of Lord Lingaraj, and has traditionally been prepared by generations of confectioners in the Old Town area, assigned to do the task.