Odia/Odisha Manda Pitha
Introduction: Manda Pitha is a traditional delicacy prepared in Odia homes especially on the occasion of festivals. It finds prominence in the Manabasa Gurubar Puja held in the holy month of Margashir. The traditional variety uses steamed rice flour for outer covering and coconut and jaggery for the stuffing. Gradually, with the passage of time, certain modified variants have also come up where rice flour is replaced with semolina and jaggery with sugar. A truly typical Odia delicacy. Ingredients: Crushed rice (chaula chuna) in two cups Milk (khira) in three cups One cup of finely grated coconut (nadia kora) The amount of sugar (chini) should be 3/4 cup. Five to six small cardamoms (aleicha) One teaspoon of black pepper powder (gol maricha) A pinch of salt (luna) should be added. Making Procedure: In a heated frying pan, combine finely grated coconut with sugar. Mix thoroughly with cardamom and black pepper powder. The milk should be heated. The milk should be salted also. A...