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A savory rice and lentil pancake packed with fresh spinach and mild spices. This wholesome Odia classic is a perfect breakfast or snack, offering a soft, fluffy texture with an earthy flavor from the greens. Fermented for better taste and digestion, it's a nutritious and authentic taste of Odisha.
Soak the Rice and Dal
Grind the Batter
Ferment the Batter
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A savory rice and lentil pancake packed with fresh spinach and mild spices. This wholesome Odia classic is a perfect breakfast or snack, offering a soft, fluffy texture with an earthy flavor from the greens. Fermented for better taste and digestion, it's a nutritious and authentic taste of Odisha.
This odia recipe takes 50 minutes to prepare and yields 4 servings. At 258.69 calories per serving with 7.42g of protein, it's a moderately challenging recipe perfect for breakfast or brunch or snack.
Prepare the Pitha Mixture
Cook the Saga Pithas
Serve
Incorporate finely chopped onions, grated carrots, or sweet corn into the batter along with the spinach for extra flavor and nutrition.
Substitute spinach with other traditional Odia greens like amaranth leaves (khada saga) or fenugreek leaves (methi saga).
Add 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder for color and 1/2 teaspoon of crushed black pepper for a bit more heat.
If you are short on time, you can add 1/2 teaspoon of Eno fruit salt or baking soda to the batter just before cooking to get a quick, soft pitha. However, the authentic flavor comes from fermentation.
Urad dal is an excellent source of plant-based protein and essential amino acids, which are vital for muscle repair, growth, and overall body function.
Spinach is packed with iron, which is crucial for forming hemoglobin and preventing anemia. It's also high in Vitamin K, essential for bone health and blood clotting.
The fermentation process breaks down complex starches and proteins, making the pitha easier to digest. It also introduces beneficial probiotics that promote a healthy gut microbiome.
The combination of rice and lentils provides complex carbohydrates and fiber, which leads to a slow and steady release of energy, keeping you full and energized for longer.
Yes, Saga Pitha is very healthy. It's a balanced dish with complex carbohydrates from rice, plant-based protein from urad dal, and essential vitamins and iron from spinach. The fermentation process also makes it easy to digest and beneficial for gut health.
One serving, which consists of two pithas, contains approximately 280-320 calories. The exact count can vary based on the amount of oil used for cooking.
This recipe is naturally gluten-free, as it is made from rice and urad dal, neither of which contains gluten.
Store cooked pithas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To reheat, warm them on a tawa with a touch of oil or in a microwave. The batter can also be refrigerated for 2-3 days before use.
The most common reasons for poor fermentation are cold temperatures or old dal. Ensure your kitchen is warm (around 75-85°F or 24-29°C). If it's cold, use the oven light trick mentioned in the tips. Also, make sure your urad dal is not too old, as its natural yeasts are crucial for fermentation.