The Orissa cuisine varying from hot and spice to sweet
and wholesome represents the spirit of the place. The state is a land of
delicious delicacies. The food preparation is simple, economic and
hygienic.
Though some people prefer Chapati, cooked Rice with Dal and Curry is the
common menu for most of the people. There is also a widely prevalent
practice of taking cooked Rice soaked in water overnight called Pakhal
as an alternative to a warm rice meal. Majority of Oriya people are
non-vegetarian. The widows of the upper caste Hindu and the devotees are
by choice vegetarian.
Fish, prawns, Lobsters - all the bounty of the seas, rivers and ponds of
Orissa -- constitute a major item of everyday cooking. Between meat and
fish, the latter is the common ingredient of the everyday non-vegetarian
meal. Delicious curries are prepared with different vegetables or fish,
meat and eggs by adding different masalas.
The people use both sun-dried and par-boiled Rice, the former especially
on festive occasions. Kanika or Khechudi and Payas are prepared from
sun-dried Rice.
Cake is prepared from Rice Powder and Gram Dal. The various types of
Cakes are Chakuli, Chitau, Manda, Arisa, Kakara and Podapitha. Besides,
the people are very fond of Rasgulla, Rasmalai, Chhenapoda, Peda,
Rasabali, Kora, Muana, etc.
In addition to Rice and Dal the items are Bhaji (fry), Ghanta (mixed
vegetable curry), Besara or Mahura (spiced curry), Ambila, Sakara, etc.
The
Oriya food which finds a place of honour is "Mahaprasad". It
is available in the Lord’s Temple and is for public in the Temple
premises - Anandabazar. The dishes have a variety of items, such as Rice
(Anna), Ghee Rice, Lemon Rice, Sweet Rice, etc., and the currey are "Besara,
Mahura, Saga, Dalma, Dal (Sweet/Plain), etc. The number of variety is
many more.
In the general hotels one can find Indian as well as Chinese dishes. The
vegetarian people can find many vegetarian restaurants on the Grand Road
and V.I.P. Road. Almost all seaside hotels provide Chinese and Indian
dishes.
In addition, at Puri you can find the sweet dishes like Cheese Cake,
Chhenapoda, Rasagolla, Jilabi, Khaja, Kheera, etc. One can also find a
variety of sweet dishes offered to God which are available in the Ananda
Bazar, inside the temple premises.
