Bhubaneswar: Since three-day Raja festival has already commenced, what is better than celebrating this festival with delectable signature pithas of Odisha that one can easily make at home?
Have you ever thought of celebrating Raja without Pitha? Raja festival sounds incomplete without pithas or cakes.
Various kinds of pithas such as ‘Poda Pitha’, ‘Manda’, ‘Kakara’, ‘Arisha’, ‘Chakuli’ and ‘Chandrakala’ are made at home as part of the festival. That apart, these pithas are sold in kiosks to mark the festival.
But among the cakes, women make sure to bake Poda Pitha which is the essence of the festival. Else, the festival seems tasteless and colourless without it. Different variants of the pitha like ‘Janta Poda Pitha’, ‘Lau Poda Pitha’, ‘Biri Poda Pitha’ and ‘Savoury Poda Pitha’ are baked to mark the festival.
It’s time of the year when every household across the state is adorned with swings. It is impossible to think of this festival of happiness without mentioning some indulgent delicacies that have been a quintessential part of our culinary culture.
Talking about the food, Raja festival is incomplete without pithas. Let’s have a look at some authentic pithas made during Raja.
Traditionally Poda Pitha was used to be baked the whole night in an earthen vessel and served the next morning. These days, homemakers make it in ovens or pressure cooker in just two hours.
Easy availability of the delicacy has also ruined the tradition surrounding it. While a few women don’t think it wise to make Poda Pitha at home because they are easily available in the market.
It’s a festival of sweets and cakes. Let’s take a look at the recipe of Poda Pitha
Ingredients:
- 2 cups rice flour
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup jaggery
- 1/2 cup fried cashew and raisins
- 1 /2 cup grated coconut
- 1 /2 cup sliced coconut
- 1/2 tablespoon black pepper powder
- 1 teaspoon green cardamom powder
- 1 teaspoon black cardamom powder
- 2 bay leaf
- 2 tablespoon ghee
- Salt a pinch
Method:
* In a deep bottom pan take water and boil. Add jaggery to it and let it melt.
* When the jaggery powder is completely dissolved, add bay leaves, black pepper powder, both the green and black cardamom powder, salt and grated coconut and let it come to boil.
* Now add the rice flour in batches with constantly stirring so that no lumps are there. Mix it thoroughly.
* Now add the sliced coconut, fried cashew and raisins and keep cooking till the mixture thickens into a dough form.
* Switch off the flame and let the mixture cool down a little.
* Pre-heat oven at 180 for 10 minutes and grease it with the remaining ghee.
* When the dough is still warm knead it for a couple of minutes and transfer to the baking pan.
* Decorate the top with some sliced coconuts and bake for 60 minutes.
* Let the Poda Pitha cool down. Slice and serve.
