10 Must Try Famous Food of Odisha

A main food of Odisha, khicede is surely going to make you salivate with its aromatic flavour and relishing taste. Imagine a delicacy made from the perfect blend of rice and lentils cooked in ghee. Mouth-watering indeed! This is exactly how Khicede is made. It is served as the main bhog or offering to Lord Jagannath at the famous Puri Temple of Odisha. This Odisha all district famous food is also very nutritious! Here’s how to best enjoy eating! Club khichdi with papad and eat it with your hands!

A prawn curry embellished with coconut milk and flavourful spices. That sums up the definition of chundi malai. Irresistible. Isn’t it? Well, you can taste it in almost all restaurants and hotels in Odisha that serve its staple cuisine. This delicacy is authentic to Odisha and is mostly cooked during special occasions at home. The conglomeration of aromatic spices elevates the taste of prawns manyfold. Don’t miss this delectable creation of Odisha when you visit the state. Team it up with fine Basmati rice and get lost in the creaminess of this mouth-watering famous dish of Odisha.

Macha (or fish) is in the heart and soul of every Odia. So, how can we talk about Odisha food without mentioning fish! Macha ghanta is a thick curry made with a fried head of fish, vegetables and an array of spices. The flavour profile created by a mixture of ingredients like cumin, cinnamon, garlic, ginger and bay leaf will boggle your mind. The ghanta’s second main component is flavour-induced potato! Taste this dish and you will know what pleasure a potato can add to any food, especially curries. To balance the richness of the macha ghanta, you can have it with plain rice. Pro tip! If possible, try to have this famous food in Odisha at a traditional Odia home, instead of a restaurant for the most authentic version of it.

If you are a vegetarian, this is the dish for you. Probably you have eaten bananas, but have you ever thought about how a banana stem tastes? If not, then try this lip-smacking delicacy made with banana stems. Stir-fried and seasoned with spices, this dish is surely going to be on your list of favourite dishes once you try it. Spices like cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, red chilli and cumin induce flavour to the banana stem and make it flavoursome. A mouthful of it with rice will leave you craving for more and more! In case you prefer non-vegetarian food, you can just create your own fusion version of this dish by adding fish or meat to it. For an authentic kadalai manja rai, the street-side food stalls and hotels are the best places to visit.

This famous street food is called by various names like golgappa, pani puri and puchka. You got it, right? We were sure you would! This favourite quick snack of India is nicknamed as gupchup in Odisha. A quick look at the recipe! Gupchup consists of small crispy dollops of joy made with atta, suji and maida, and are served with mashed potato chaat and tamarind water. Also, the mashed potato is clubbed with chana masala, chhola, coriander leaves and green chillies to bring out the perfect spicy flavour. Where to find it? Well, this food treasure needs no hectic treasure hunt. Just walk around in Odisha and you can spot stalls selling gupchups in almost every nook and corner of the state.

A doppelganger of dosha, chakuli pitha is an unique state food of Odisha. Flaunting its uniqueness, this dish is softer and thicker than a typical South Indian dosa. While the flavour-rich curries overwhelm your tummy, this can be your comfort dish in Odisha. You can’t imagine how soothing an amalgamation of lentils and fermented rice can taste until you taste this pitha. Also, it is gluten-free (if anyone is wondering). For the best experience, have it with liquid jaggery.

You must devour this Odisha traditional food if you have a soft spot for cheese. Cheesecake can be a foreign creation, but this version of cheesecake is Odisha’s own invention. The rustic texture of fried cottage cheese and semolina and the gooeyness of caramelised sugar syrup will surely linger on your palate for long. Do you know it is the favourite sweet of Lord Jagannath? It deserves to be! Have chhena poda at any roadside sweet shop in Odisha and you will agree with us. If you are a food enthusiast, you can check out how this rare sweet dish is made by baking for several hours to bring its flawless taste.

Originating from Kendrapara district of Odisha, this sweet dish has made its way to become one of the 56 dishes (popularly known as Chhapan bhog) served to Lord Jagannath. These deep-fried patties of chhena soaked in thick sweetened milk will quench your craving for a luscious dessert. Mostly sold at affordable prices in local sweet shops, you can also spot this sweet in a traditional restaurant in Odisha as well.

One of the popular Odisha dishes, pilaf is Indian pulao. You can smell its irresistible aroma from the time it gets cooked. The rice aroma is enhanced with a mixture of a number of spices like cloves and bay leaf. The light flavour of the rice will not overpower your side dish, nor will it feel bland like a bowl of normal rice. Pair this flavourful sauteed rice with a flavour-rich chicken or mutton curry. We see you salivating already!

Khaja is a very popular food of Odisha and is the typical prasad served to pilgrims visiting the Jagannath Temple. You will be intrigued by its complicated shape and texture. The varying shape of each khaja flaunts the perfection in imperfection. Imagine a crispy chip coated in sugar syrup. Sounds yummy? It tastes yummier! The crispiness of the fried outer layers and chewiness of the sugar-drenched inner layers is bound to leave you craving for more! Oh, wait! You thought it is only served in the temple? No! This favourite food of Odisha is sold in numerous local shops as well.

Now that you know what not to miss in Odisha, don’t keep your palette craving. Odisha delicacies are waiting for you!