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Orissa Cuisine
With a
simple yet delicious cuisine, Orissa follows a food
pattern that is somewhat similar to the neighboring
states. Rice, the staple food is paired with vegetables.
Due to their deeply religious culture, most of Oriya
people practice vegetarianism. But a significant
proportion of population yet relishes fish and other sea
food delicacies like prawns, crabs and lobsters that are
found in plenty at the vast coastline of the state.
Cooked with little or absolutely no oil, Oriya food has
a less calorific value.
Along with curd and coconut milk, people are very
fond of sweets as well. The curd here is rich and creamy
and gives the succulent flesh an additional flavor. Not
only the seafood but yams, brinjals and pumpkins are
also liberally used in curd with mustard seeds giving
the whole preparation that extra zing. Pithas are also
very popular food items here. These are small cakes both
sweet and savory in taste. Chhenapodapitha, the
caramelized custard-like dessert is also very popular
not only with the locals but with the tourists also.
While at Orissa, one must manage to have a traditional
must, the tasting of 'Mahaprasad' or the sacred food
offered as 'Bhog' to Lord Jagannath. The temple has the
world's largest kitchen with 400 cooks and 200m hearths
that feed 10,000 people daily. |
