Manda Pitha: Make This Odia Delicacy At Home To Satisfy Your Hunger Pangs

Be it Manabasa Gurubar or Sudasa Brata, Odia households zing with the aroma of fragrant steamed rice cakes. Being one of the vital elements of Odia cuisine, Pithas come in different shapes, fillings, and ingredients. From Chakuli Pitha to Kakara Pitha, Odisha has a plethora of Pitha dishes to offer. One of these delicious Pithas is Manda Pitha which is made with rice covering, a coconut, and jaggery filling. The scrumptious rice cover with the sweet and decadent filling manages to make your palate sing with delicious flavours. Specially made on Puja days, Manda Pitha is mandatory comfort food for every Odia. Do you also want to try this Odia delicacy at home? We have fetched an easy and amazing recipe for you. Check it out. 

Preparation time- 20 minutes 

Total time- 60 minutes

Servings- 4

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup rice flour
• 1 cup desiccated coconut 
• ½ cup jaggery
• 1 tbsp black pepper powder 
• 2 tbsp ghee 
• 1 tbsp grated ginger 
• ¼ cup chhena
• 1 tsp cardamom powder 
• ½ cup milk 
• A pinch of salt

METHOD

1. Heat a heavy-bottomed pan and add salt and cardamom powder. Now, add milk and water in equal portions and bring them to a boil. 
2. Next, add the rice flour in portions along with stirring it continuously to avoid lumps.
3. Keep stirring the mixture till it attains the consistency of a dough. 
4. Cool the rice flour mixture slightly. Brush some ghee on your palm and divide the dough into medium-sized balls. 
5. In a pan, heat some ghee and add coconut, chhena, pepper powder, ginger and jaggery for about 7-8 minutes. 
6. Now, apply some ghee to your palm and reshape the dough ball into discs. Hold them like a cup and fill the centers with coconut filling. Press the edges towards the center to close the opening. 
7. Steam the Pithas for 10-15 minutes and serve. 

You can serve these Pithas for Prasad on any Puja day or have them for breakfast with cold milk too. Make them at home to taste the flavours of Odisha.