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A traditional Odia sweet and sour chutney featuring tender elephant apple simmered in a jaggery-infused, spiced gravy. This unique delicacy, with its complex flavors, is a festive favorite in Odisha, often served alongside rice and dalma.
Prepare the Elephant Apple (Ouu)
Cook the Ouu
Prepare the Tempering (Tadka)
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A traditional Odia sweet and sour chutney featuring tender elephant apple simmered in a jaggery-infused, spiced gravy. This unique delicacy, with its complex flavors, is a festive favorite in Odisha, often served alongside rice and dalma.
This odia recipe takes 50 minutes to prepare and yields 4 servings. At 235.58 calories per serving with 0.84g of protein, it's a moderately challenging recipe perfect for side or lunch or dinner.
Simmer the Khatta
Finish and Serve
For added texture and protein, add 1/4 cup of soaked and boiled chana dal or black chickpeas (kala chana) along with the cooked ouu in Step 4.
Add 1/4 teaspoon of red chili powder along with the turmeric powder while cooking the ouu for extra heat.
You can replace half of the jaggery with date paste for a different flavor profile and added fiber.
For a more traditional and pungent flavor, use mustard oil instead of ghee for the tempering. Heat it until it just starts to smoke before adding the spices.
Elephant apple is traditionally known for its digestive properties. It is rich in dietary fiber, which helps regulate bowel movements and supports overall gut health.
The spices used, such as turmeric and ginger, along with the elephant apple itself, are packed with antioxidants that help combat oxidative stress and inflammation in the body.
Using jaggery instead of refined white sugar provides essential minerals like iron, magnesium, and potassium, contributing to better overall health.
Ingredients like ginger and turmeric have potent anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that can help strengthen the immune system.
Ouu, or Elephant Apple (Dillenia indica), is a sour fruit native to Southeast Asia. It has a hard green shell and fleshy, petal-like segments inside. You can typically find it in local markets in Eastern India, especially Odisha, or in some specialty Asian grocery stores abroad during its season (winter).
Ouu Khatta can be a part of a healthy diet in moderation. Elephant apple itself is rich in fiber and vitamin C. The use of unrefined jaggery provides minerals like iron and magnesium. However, it is high in sugar due to the jaggery, so it should be consumed as a side dish in small portions.
Based on the ingredients used, one serving (about 1/2 cup) of Ouu Khatta contains approximately 250-280 calories, primarily from the jaggery and ghee.
Yes, absolutely. You can boil the elephant apple pieces in a regular pot with a lid. It will take longer, about 20-25 minutes, for the pieces to become tender. Ensure you add enough water to prevent it from drying out.
While jaggery provides the authentic flavor, you can substitute it with brown sugar, coconut sugar, or date syrup. The taste and color will vary slightly. Adjust the quantity based on your preferred sweetness level.
Ouu Khatta stores well. You can keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. The flavors actually improve and deepen after a day or two.