Poda Pitha [Odisha's Most Aunthentic Cuisine-Rajjo Special]

'Rajjo' (Swing festival) is one of the most important and unique festival of ODISHA. It is celebrated for 3 days continuously. Celebration of Rajjo festival is one of the oldest tradition of Odisha. The festival is also associated with the Odiya delicacy of "pitha" (dough cake) which is prepared in almost all household..So here is presenting most typical and traditional Odiya pitha:- Poda Pitha (using Rice powder)

Ingredients :-

Chaula chuna (Rice powder) - 2 cups

Guda (Jaggery) - a big piece or as your taste

Cardamom - 4-5 nos.

Bay leaves - 2 pcs

Ajwain (Juani) - 1/2 tsp

Small chunks of Coconut 

Cashew nuts - 3-4 tsp

Fennel seeds (pan mahuri) - 1/2 tsp

Ghee - 2 tsp (I've used here Olive oil)

Salt to taste

Water as required

Banana leaves - 2-3 pcs

Method :-

Put water in a kadhai or in a wide pan. Add jaggery to it, when it start to melt add all the ingredients except ghee and let it to boil for 2 mins. Add rice powder slowly and stir it continuously. Make a little thick (neither watery nor tight) batter and cook it in low flame. Now remove it from flame.

Grease another kadhai or pressure cooker with little ghee/oil, put a banana leaf and spread the batter, make it round shape with spatula or hand. Cover the lid and cook it in low-medium flame for 1 hr without whistle.

OR if you make it in kadhai, grease little ghee, put the batter on a banana leaf and cover it with another banana leaf. Cover with a lid n cook it in low flame.Turn the lower part after 50-60 mins and let it be more 35 mins for the upper part to roast. I've roast both the sides to cook it properly. Check it with a knife or toothpick and switch off the flame. Serve when it will cool at room temp. (Or you can bake it in microwave also.)