Mudhi Mansa: Baripada’s Iconic Puffed Rice And Mutton Dish 

Often regarded as the ‘classic breakfast of warriors’, Mudhi Mansa is a typical dish of  Baripada - a developing town in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district. The term mudhi means puffed rice, while mansa translates to meat. Mudhi is a staple food of the state, and is predominantly consumed by the residents of Baripada. People here add different ingredients to the mudhi, while its most popular accompaniment is mansa tarkari. Puffed rice with mutton curry garnished with chopped onion, green chilli, coriander, curd and pickle is an absolute delight. This dish is an integral part of Mayurbhanj’s food culture, and the people have a deep emotional connection with it. You can find restaurants in the town that still dedicatedly sell mudhi mansa, while the dish is also served in other states and during national food festivals. 

• 250 gms of mutton

Method:

•    Marinate the mutton with 3 tsp mustard oil, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and salt and keep it overnight or for about 4-5 hours at least.

•    Take a tiny amount of mustard oil in a pressure cooker and increase the flame until the smell of mustard goes off.

•    Fry the potatoes for some time and keep them aside.

•    In the same oil, add sugar and let it caramelise.

•    Add cardamom, bay leaf, cinnamon and cloves.

•    After that, add the onions and tomatoes until they turn soft.

•    For the next step, add the marinated meat and some salt for taste.

•    Add a cup of water and pressure cook for six whistles.

•    Then, open the cooker and add garam masala and chopped coriander.

•    Serve the prepared mutton curry with puffed rice and garnish it with chopped onions, green chill, curd and pickle. You can also use improvised ingredients according to your preference.

Prepare this recipe and enjoy your bowl of Baripada’s famous Mudhi Mansa for breakfast and snack time.