Six Odia Sweets To Dig In This Diwali

Six Odia Sweets To Dig In This Diwali

Odisha is a rich storehouse of sweet delicacies, with Odias having an age-old fascination with sweets made with cottage cheese. The platter gets more savory during festive occasions like Diwali. Here, MCL brings to you some of the lip-smacking authentic sweets of Odisha that you must have:

Chhena Poda

Chhena or cottage cheese is the principal ingredient in most Odia sweets. One of the most famous of these is Chhena Poda, which is made of cottage cheese, sugar or jaggery, rice flour or semolina, butter, milk, and dry fruits. The flavor is enhanced by using ‘sal’ leaves, which are traditionally used in Odia kitchens for baking. Though the baking methods have changed with modern times, the traditional taste remains to rule. What’s more, Chhena Poda is also considered as the favorite sweet dish of Lord Jagannath.

Chhena Jhili

While speaking of cottage cheese, who can miss mentioning Chhena Jhili? This rich sweet prepared with cottage cheese, cardamom powder, sugar, and ghee is commonly found in every sweet shop across the state. Interestingly, the sweet owes its origin to Arta Sahoo of Shyam Sunderpur village in Nimapara many years ago. The recipe has been kept a secret by his successors to date.

Chhena Jalebi

Exactly a lookalike of Jalebi, Chhena Jalebi is prepared with cottage cheese, sugar, ghee, and the all-purpose flour. The dough is rolled as a rope, coiled, and then deep-fried.

Rasagola

One of the top favorites, Odisha’s Rasagola recently received the GI tag. The Rasagola is made of small balls of cottage cheese and semolina dough. These are mildly cooked and soaked in sugary syrup before being served. Rasagola is also offered to Lord Jagannath and his sibling deities during their homecoming to Sri Mandir in Puri after Rath Yatra.

Rasabali

The name itself gives a hint about the dish. Cottage cheese balls are flattened and deep-fried till they turn brownish in colour. Then they are soaked in thick, sweet cooked milk 'rabri' and are softened with its syrup. They are garnished with cardamom, pistachios, and almonds, making for an inviting taste.

Khirasagar

The name means “the ocean of milk”. Tiny, marble-sized cheese dumplings are mildly cooked and soaked in sweet, condensed milk topped with pistachios, almond pieces, and saffron. The dish has a resemblance to another sweet dish Rasmalai. The only difference is that the milk base is thicker in Khirasagar.