A soft, savory rice and lentil pancake from Odisha. This traditional breakfast staple is slightly thicker and softer than a dosa, pairing perfectly with dalma or ghuguni. Note: This recipe requires 6-8 hours of soaking and 8-12 hours of fermentation time.
Prep20 min
Cook30 min
Soak360 min
Ferment600 min
Servings4
Serving size: 2 pieces
269cal
7gprotein
29gcarbs
Ingredients
1.5 cup Parboiled Rice (Known as 'Ukuda Chaula' in Odia)
0.5 cup Urad Dal (Skinned black gram lentils)
0.5 tsp Fenugreek Seeds (Also known as Methi)
2 cup Water (For grinding, plus more for soaking and adjusting consistency)
1.25 tsp Salt (Or to taste)
4 tbsp Oil (For cooking the pithas)
Instructions
1
Soak Rice and Lentils (6-8 hours)
In a large bowl, combine the parboiled rice and urad dal. Rinse them together under running water 4-5 times until the water runs clear.
Baby potatoes are simmered in a rich, aromatic gravy made with yogurt, cashews, and fragrant spices. This classic Mughlai dish is slow-cooked to perfection, allowing the potatoes to soak up all the delicious flavors.
Soft Chakuli Pitha with perfectly spiced Aloo Dum – an energy-giving comfort food that kids love too!
This odia dish is perfect for breakfast or lunch. With 641.73 calories and 14.129999999999999g of protein per serving, it's a nutritious choice for your meal plan.
15gfat
Pour in enough fresh water to cover the rice and dal by at least 3 inches.
Cover the bowl and let it soak for a minimum of 6 hours, or preferably overnight.
2
Grind the Batter (15-20 minutes)
Drain all the soaking water from the rice and dal mixture.
Transfer the mixture to a wet grinder or a high-speed blender.
Add about 1 cup of fresh, cold water and start grinding. Using cold water prevents the blender from overheating and affecting fermentation.
Grind into a smooth, flowing batter, adding more water tablespoon by tablespoon as needed. The final consistency should be smooth and pourable, but not watery. It should coat the back of a spoon.
Transfer the batter to a large, deep container, ensuring it's only filled halfway to allow room for fermentation.
3
Ferment the Batter (8-12 hours)
Whisk the batter with your clean hands for 2-3 minutes. The warmth and natural yeast from your hands aid in the fermentation process.
Cover the container with a lid (do not seal it tightly) and place it in a warm, draft-free place for 8 to 12 hours, or until it has risen, looks frothy, and has a pleasant sour aroma.
In colder climates, you can place the container inside a turned-off oven with the light on.
4
Prepare for Cooking (5 minutes)
Once fermented, add salt to the batter and stir it gently. Do not overmix, as this will deflate the air pockets.
Check the consistency. If it's too thick, add a tablespoon or two of water to reach a pourable pancake batter consistency, slightly thicker than a regular dosa batter.
5
Cook the Chakuli Pitha (25-30 minutes)
Heat a cast-iron tawa or a non-stick pan over medium heat. To check if it's ready, sprinkle a few drops of water; they should sizzle and evaporate immediately.
Grease the tawa lightly with about 1/2 teaspoon of oil using a paper towel or a slice of onion.
Pour a ladleful of batter (about 1/3 cup) onto the center of the hot tawa.
Using the back of the ladle, gently spread the batter in a circular motion to form a pancake about 6-7 inches in diameter. Keep it slightly thick.
Drizzle a little oil around the edges and on top of the pitha.
Cover with a lid and cook for 1.5 to 2 minutes on medium-low heat, until the top surface looks cooked and small pores appear.
Uncover and flip the pitha. Cook the other side for another minute until it's cooked through and has light golden spots.
Remove the pitha from the tawa and repeat the process with the remaining batter, greasing the tawa lightly before each pitha.
6
Serve
Serve hot Chakuli Pitha immediately with traditional Odia accompaniments like Dalma, Ghuguni, or a simple coconut-mustard chutney.
4
Serving size: 1 cup
373cal
7gprotein
38gcarbs
23gfat
Ingredients
500 g Baby Potatoes (About 20-25 potatoes)
1 tbsp Salt (For boiling potatoes)
1 cup Vegetable Oil (For deep frying potatoes and onions)
1 tbsp Ghee (For the gravy)
220 g Onion (About 2 medium, thinly sliced)
350 g Tomato (About 3 medium, pureed)
15 g Cashew Nuts (About 12-15 cashews, soaked in warm water)
0.5 cup Curd (Whisked until smooth, at room temperature)
1.5 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
1 pc Bay Leaf
1 inch Cinnamon Stick
4 pcs Cloves
3 pcs Green Cardamom (Slightly crushed)
1.5 tsp Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder
0.5 tsp Turmeric Powder
1.5 tsp Coriander Powder
1 tsp Cumin Powder
0.75 tsp Garam Masala
0.5 tsp Sugar (To balance flavors)
1 tbsp Kasuri Methi (Crushed between palms)
2 tbsp Fresh Cream (For garnish)
2 tbsp Coriander Leaves (Chopped, for garnish)
1.5 cup Water (Warm, adjust as needed)
Instructions
1
Prepare the Potatoes
Wash the baby potatoes. Boil them in water with 1 tbsp of salt until just cooked but still firm (a knife should go in with slight resistance), about 10-12 minutes. Alternatively, pressure cook for 1 whistle.
Drain the potatoes, let them cool slightly, and then peel the skin off.
Using a fork or skewer, prick each potato deeply all over. This is crucial for absorbing the gravy.
2
Fry Potatoes and Prepare Pastes
Heat 1 cup of oil in a kadai over medium-high heat. Carefully add the pricked potatoes and fry for 6-8 minutes, until they are golden brown with a slightly crisp outer layer. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside on a paper towel.
In the same hot oil, fry the thinly sliced onions until they turn deep golden brown and crisp (this is called 'birista'). Remove and drain on a paper towel. Once cool, grind them into a coarse paste without adding water.
Drain the soaked cashews and grind them with 2-3 tablespoons of water to a very smooth, fine paste. Set aside.
3
Cook the Gravy Base
In a heavy-bottomed pan or handi, heat 1 tbsp ghee and 2 tbsp of the leftover oil from frying. Add the whole spices: bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cloves, and green cardamom. Sauté for 30-40 seconds until fragrant.
Add the ginger-garlic paste and cook for 1 minute until the raw aroma disappears.
Stir in the ground onion paste (birista paste) and cook for 2 minutes.
Add the tomato puree. Cook on medium heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens and you see oil separating from the sides.
Add all the spice powders: Kashmiri red chilli, turmeric, coriander, and cumin powder. Mix well and cook for another minute until the spices are aromatic.
4
Combine and 'Dum' Cook
Reduce the heat to the absolute minimum. Add the whisked, room-temperature yogurt, stirring continuously and vigorously for 2-3 minutes to prevent it from curdling.
Once the yogurt is incorporated, stir in the smooth cashew paste and cook for another 2 minutes.
Add the fried potatoes, salt, and sugar. Gently mix to coat the potatoes evenly with the masala.
Pour in 1.5 cups of warm water and bring the gravy to a gentle simmer. Adjust water for your desired consistency.
Sprinkle the garam masala and crushed kasuri methi over the top. Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid. For a traditional 'dum', you can seal the edges of the lid with dough.
Cook on the lowest possible heat for 15-20 minutes. This slow-cooking process allows the potatoes to absorb all the rich flavors of the gravy.
5
Garnish and Serve
Turn off the heat. Let the curry rest, covered, for at least 10 minutes before opening the lid. This helps the flavors to meld and the oil to surface.
Gently stir, then garnish with fresh cream and chopped coriander leaves.
