Arisha pitha(ଆରିସା ପିଠା) ...

Arisha Pitha is a desert, prepared with rice flour kneaded with jaggery and fried in ghee/oil along with Seasoning of sesame seeds.

INGREDIENTS:

• Rice-1 cup.
• Sesame seeds-1/4 cup.
• Jaggery-1/2kg.
• Ghee/refined oil-200 gm.

PREPARATION:

Arisha pitha

• Soak the rice in water for about 1-2 hours.Wash it in water & then drain it & dry the rice for 10-15 min.Grind the rice to make it semi rough powder.
• Heat 1/2 cup of water in a pan,add jaggery & make it a syrup,then slowly add the rice powder & simultaneously stir it constantly to make it dough.
• Switch off the flame & let it cool,then take the dough in small portions & flatten it with your palms & give it small puri shape,but it should thick & small.
• Sprinkle little sesame seeds on the top of it & press it,so that it would stick on it.now fry these in oil till they become brown in color.take them out.
• "Arisha pitha" is ready to serve,enjoy it hot.

          * u can enjoy it also in room temperature & preserved it in a air tight jar & store it 15-20 days. 

Oats & Sprouts pancakes...

INGREDIENTS:

• Oats-2 tbsp.
• Sprouts moong dal(green gram) paste-2 tbsp.
• Red chili powder-1/2 tsp.
• Turmeric powder-1/4 tsp.
• Green chilies-1/2 tsp.
• Garam masala powder-a pinch.
• Coriander leaves-1 tsp.
• Chopped Onion-1 tsp.
• Chopped tomato-1 tsp.
• Salt to taste.

PREPARATION:

Oats & Sprouts pancakes

• Mix all the ingredients for the batter together.keep aside.
• Heat a non stick pan & place 1+1/2 tbsp batter in the pan & flatten with spoon to create a thin pancake,flip it over once it turns golden.
• After 10 sec on medium flame,flip back over.
• "Oats & Sprouts pancakes" is ready to serve,garnish with chopped tomato & coriander leaves.Serve these with coriander chutney.

Methi (Fenugreek) Puri....

INGREDIENTS:

• Wheat flour-2 cup.
• Methi leave-1 cup.
• coriander leave-1/2 cup.

• Sesame seeds(til)- 1 tsp.

• Green chili-1
• Salt to taste.
• Refined oil for deep frying.

PREPARATION:

Methi puri

• Wash methi leaves,coriander leaves & drain the water.
• Grind methi leaves,coriander leaves,green chili (don't make fine paste).
• Pour this mixture into a bowl & add wheat flour,salt,1 tsp oil,

  Sesame seeds(til)

   & some water  to make a soft dough,keep aside 30 min.
• Now make equal sized ball out of it & roll the ball to make puri.
• Heat sufficient oil in a pan & put the roll  on it,after few second,slightly press the puri with the slotted ladle & flicker hot oil on the top of it,this will help the puri to puff up nicely & flip it over to the other side,fry till golden brown in color.
• Remove with slotted ladle & place it on the absorbent paper to drain excess oil.
• "Methi puri" is ready to serve....Serve it with aloo dum or any other side dish in your choice.

Lau poda pitha(ଲାଉ ପୋଡ଼ ପିଠା)...

 "ଲାଉ ପୋଡ଼ ପିଠା" is a unique dish preparation from my mom's kitchen..its a different verity of normal poda pitha..but gives superb taste...

INGREDIENTS:

• Rice-300 gm.
• Lau(bottle gourd)-1.
• Thin coconut slices-10-15.
• Ghee-2 tsp.
• Cardamom powder-2 tsp.
• Sugar/jaggery-100 gm.
• Broken cashew nut-2 tsp.
• Baking powder-1 tsp.(optional)
• Grated carrot-1.(optional)
• Pinch of salt.

PREPARATION:

• Soak the rice for about 4 hours.wash it thoroughly & grind it,don't make it fine batter. 
• Cut the bottle gourd into large pieces,pressure cook it into 2 whistle.drain excess water if any & grind it to make fine paste.
•  Take a bowl,add rice batter,bottle gourd paste,cardamom powder,coconut slices,ghee,sugar,broken cashew nut,baking powder,grated carrot,pinch of salt,mix well.
•  Preheat the pressure cooker,Grease the inner side of pressure cooker with ghee,pour the batter in it & sprinkle some ghee on the top of the batter & close the lid(without mounting the whistle).
• Place the pressure cooker in simmer flame for about 45-50 min.Now your poda pitha is ready,when the cooker comes to normal temperature,take out the pitha carefully & cut it into your desired shape & serve.
• Delicious "ଲାଉ ପୋଡ଼ ପିଠା" is ready to serve.

                       *instead of pressure cooker u can also use oven.   

Chenna manda pitha(ଛେନା ମଣ୍ଡା ପିଠା)...

"ଛେନା ମଣ୍ଡା ପିଠା" is a sweet dish made of rice flour stuffed with curd cheese and sugar/jaggery,black pepper.It is a steamed pitha which is prepared in all parts of odisha during festival...

INGREDIENTS:

• Crushed rice(chaula chuna)-2 cup.
• Curd cheese(dahi chenna)-1 cup.
• Sugar/jaggery-1/3 cup.
• Black pepper-1/2 tsp.
• Crushed small cardamom-5-6.
• Salt to taste.

PREPARATION:

Chenna manda pitha

Stuffing:

Mix finely crushed curd cheese & sugar/jaggery in a hetaed frying pan.add cardamom powder & black pepper powder & mix thoroughly,switch off the flame.

Pitha:

• Heat water,add salt,prepare dough by adding crushed rice powder to boiled water,stir it continuously until u got smooth dough,switch off the flame,keep the dough in room temperature,knead it to make it soft.
• Divide this dough into 8-10 balls & flatten it by using your palms to give it a round shape & place the stuffing in it.Close the flattened ball after putting the stuffing & carefully give them again a round shape.Steam the stuffed ball 5-10 min in a steamer.
• "Chenna manda pitha" is ready to serve.

              *u may also prepare another variety of manda pitha by using semolina(sooji) instead of crushed rice powder.This is known as sooji manda.  

Palak(Spinach)(ପlଳଙ୍ଗ ପରଟା) paratha.....

Spinach Paratha is an Indian unleavened bread made from whole wheat flour and spinach.I had some left over palak after I made palak curry,it was too little to make palak paneer or anything else.So ended up in making palak paratha. Had it with onion tomato chutney/curd/pickle,the best combo I would say!

INGREDIENTS:

• Wheat flour(atta)-1 cup.
• Palak(spinach)(washed & chopped)-1 cup.
• Cumin seeds-1 tsp.
• Roasted Red chili powder-1 tsp.
• Oil-2 tsp for seasoning+oil for frying parathas.
• Salt to taste.
• Water as needed.

PREPARATION:

• Wash the spinach & tear the thick stem in the leaf & chop them roughly.

• Heat oil in a pan,add cumin seeds,when it start spluttering,add chopped spinach,fry few min in low flame without changing its beautiful green color & keep aside.

• Take a bowl,add wheat flour,cooked palak,red chili powder,salt & needed water & make a soft dough,the dough should not be sticky.

• Divide the prepared dough equally & make ball out of it & then roll out little thicker parathas,dust it while rolling,whenever necessary.

• Heat a pan,put the roll out parathas on it,when bubbles appear,spread oil on it,flip it over to the other side,spread oil again,cook the paratha in medium flame, until the golden brown spot appears.

• "Palak paratha" is ready to serve..Serve hot with onion tomato chutney...

Saru chakuli(ସରୁ ଚକୁଳି)...

"ସରୁ ଚକୁଳି"  is an Odia flat, rice-based fried cake,traditionally made in the state of odisha.This is thin pancake-like dosa. A hot favorite among children...    

INGREDIENTS:

• Skinless urad dal-1/2 cup.
• Rice-1+1/2 cup.
• Salt to taste.
• Refined Oil- 2 tsp.

PREPARATION:

• Wash & soak the urad dal & rice separately 3-4 hours.Drain & mix it & grind it to make fine paste..Leave this batter 4-5 hr or overnight for fermentation.

                            *u can also add eno fruit salt/soda to make it instantly without leaving 4-5 hr or overnight for formation...

• Then add salt & little water to get a semi liquid batter & mix well.
• Heat a nonstick pan,spread little oil in the pan with the help of tea spoon,lower the flame.
• Take a batter in a tablespoon & spread it on the pan like "dosa".Sprinkle some oil in the surrounding of this pitha...
• Turn the pitha upside down after 1 min.when it cooked,remove it from pan.
• "ସରୁ ଚକୁଳି" is ready to serve.Serve hot with ଆଳୁ ଭଜା,ଆଳୁ ଦମ,ଆଳୁ ମଟର ତରକାରୀ,ଆଳୁ ଫୁଲକୋବି ଭଜା,ଡାଲମା,ରସଗୋଲା....

                                                                                                                                

Vegetable idli

INGREDIENTS:

• Skinless urad dal-1/2 cup.
• Rice-1 cup.
• Grated carrot-1 medium size.
• Chopped beans-4 to 5.
• Grated cabbage or cauliflower-1/4 cup.
• Chopped coriander leaves-2 tsp.
• Green peas-3 to 4(optional).
• Black pepper powder-1 tsp.
• Eno fruit salt-1 tsp.
• Salt to taste.
• Refined Oil- 2 tsp.

PREPARATION:

Vegetable idli

• Wash & soak the urad dal & rice separately 3-4 hours.Drain & mix it & grind it to make fine paste using very little water(in-case you find that batter is thin ,then you can add sooji to make it thick ).Leave this batter 4-5 hr or overnight for fermentation.
• Add all the vegetables,coriander leaves,black pepper powder,salt,eno into the batter & mix well.
• Grease the idli moulds with refined oil.Pour the spoonful of batter into each moulds.
• Place the idli moulds into the steamer by adding some water in steamer.steam this mixture 10-12 min or till done.Insert a knife,if it come out clean then it done.Keep it 5 min to cool down.
• "Vegetable idli" is ready to serve......Serve hot with coconut chutney. :)

Methi (Fenugreek) paratha.

INGREDIENTS:

• Wheat flour-2 cup
• Methi leave-1 cup
• coriander leave-1/2 cup
• Green chili-1
• Salt to taste.
• Refined oil to make paratha.

PREPARATION:

• Wash methi leaves,coriander leaves & drain the water.
• Grind methi leaves,coriander leaves,green chili (don't make fine paste).
• Pour this mixture into a bowl & add wheat flour,salt,1 tsp oil & some water  to make a soft dough,keep aside 30 min.
• Now make equal sized ball out of it & roll the ball to make paratha.
• Heat the pan & put the roll paratha on it,when u see tiny bubbles rise on it,apply little oil & flip it over to the other side.
• Let the other side also get cooked.
• The paratha is done,when the both side is crispy & golden brown.
• Serve it with aloo dum or any other side dish in your choice.
• You can also make puri by using this dough.