Indian Curry Families - Orissa

One Page Cookbooks Orissa Curry Families – A Primer All recipes copyrighted. No reproduction / commercial use without permission. Siramki@Gmail.com
1.: Dahi (Raw yogurt Curries) Sample Recipe :: Dahi Nadia Take a cup of yogurt. Mix in half a handful of grated coconut, a chopped green chili, two pinches of salt and a small bit of chopped ginger. Heat a spoon of oil. Add two pinches of punch phutana ( see sidebar) and fry. Add a pinch of curry leaves. Add to yogurt. (Can mix in raw salad vegetables / grilled / boiled vegetables. Very similar to a Raita)	Key Starches : Rice, wheat Typical breakfast Poori / Luchi, paratha, Upma, Chakuli, Khechedi, Pakhal Lunch : Rice served with dal, vegetable curries, fish curry , pickle and a dessert.. Key Flavourings: Panch phutana, turmeric, ginger, garlic, coriander seeds, cumin, Garam masala (a readymade powdered mix of roasted cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves, star anise and coriander seeds) . Panch Phutana. Equal quantities of Mustard, Cumin, Nigella, Fennel, & Fenugreek seeds mixed together. Curry Bases : Mustard paste, yogurt, tomato, coconut Preferred fats : Mustard oil, Ghee, Protein Source: Lentils ( Masoor dal, Mung dal, Channa Dal, Tuvar dal), freshwater & sea fish, seafood, Chicken, Mutton & Eggs. Beef & Pork are uncommon. Common Vegetables: Orissa is the second largest producer and largest per capita consumer of vegetables among Indian states. Eggplant, Potato, Squash, Ridge gourd, Drumstick, Spinach, papaya, raw banana, yam, colocasia Pumpkin, Bitter gourd are all common. Building blocks Rice, Wheat, Vegetables, Lentils, Coconut, Yogurt. Souring agents : Green mangoes, dried mango powder, Tamarind, yogurt, tomatoes. Desserts : Sweets from cooked down milk ( Kheer, Kalakhand), Crepes ( pitha) , Sweets from milk solids (Rasmalai, Rasgolla , Chhena poda (probably the only Indian baked dessert) , Malpua ( pancakes in syrup) Shopping List 250 gms (, Potato, Okra Eggplant, Tomato, Onion, Spinach, yogurt, Maida, gram flour, rava, Coconut) Mung dal, Rice) 50 gms (Green chilies Salt, sugar, mustard, ginger garlic paste, cumin powder, turmeric powder, chili powder , ginger, coriander leaves, Badi)
2.: Chura (Dry Powdery curries) Sample Recipe:: Badi Chura Microwave half a handful of badi. ( Or deep fry) Crush / blend to a powder. (Optionally mix in a finely chopped garlic clove, green chili and onion). Mix in salt as needed. A variety of Badis / fried & ground prawns can also be mixed in. ( Similar to Tamil Podi)
3.: Chakata (Mashed curries). Sample Recipe:: Aloo Chakata : Take a handful of boiled potatoes. Mix in a pinch of chopped ginger, green chilies, a dash of mustard oil, half a handful of finely chopped onion and a pinch each of salt, cumin powder and chili powder. Use a variety of boiled vegetables in place of potato. Use fried/ grilled and mashed veggies and chakata becomes bharta.
4.: Bhaja (Stir-fried curries). Sample Recipe:: Bhendi Bhaja Heat four spoons of oil. Add two handful of okra cut into thick slices. Stir and cook for 5 minutes. Mix in a bit of ginger garlic paste, two pinches of salt, chili powder and a pinch of turmeric powder. Stir and cook till dry. Use a variety of boiled vegetables in place of okra.
5.: Khatta (Sweet & Sour curries) Sample Recipe :: Tomato Khatta Heat a spoon of oil. Add two pinches of punch phutan and fry. Add a half a handful of chopped onion. Stir and cook for 2 minutes. Add a chopped green chilli. Add a handful of chopped tomato, a pinch of turmeric powder, two pinches of sugar and three pinches of salt. Stir and cook for five minutes. Mix in some water if needed. Use tamarind / mango/ sour fruits in place of tomato.
6.: Saaga (Spinach curries) Sample Recipe :: Muli Saaga Heat a spoon of oil. Add two pinches of punch phutana and fry. Add two dry red chilies and a half a handful of chopped onion. Stir and cook for two minutes. Add half a handful each of chopped and boiled potato and eggplant. Sprinkle a handful of water and cook for 2 minutes. Add two handfuls of chopped radish greens ( or any spinach) and three pinches of salt. Stir and cook till vegetables are done.
7.: Santula (Mixed vegetable Curries) Sample Recipe :: Sijha Santula Heat half a spoon of oil. Add a pinch of panch phutana. Add half a handful of chopped onions. Stir for a minute. Add a bit of ginger garlic paste, a chopped green chili, half a cup of water / milk, two pinches of salt and a handful of chopped and boiled mixed vegetables ( (banana, eggplant, potato, ridge gourd, raw papaya etc). (Optionally mix in half a spoon of oil). Omit the water / milk, cook it into a dry curry and it becomes Bhaja Santula.
8.:. Besara (Mustard paste based curries) Sample Recipe :: Badi Besara : Heat a spoon of oil. Add two pinches of punch phutan and fry. Add two crushed garlic cloves, two chopped tomatoes, a chopped green chili, a pinch of turmeric and three pinches of salt. Stir and cook for 5 minutes. Add a cup of water. Mix in four pinches of mustard powder in a spoon of water. Add half a handful of fried badis ( sun dried lentil paste). Cook for a minute. Mix in chopped cilantro & serve. Use fish / prawns/ veggies in place of badis.
9.: Dali (Lentil Curries) Sample Recipe :: Channa Dali :: Soak a handful of chana dal in a cup ( 200 ml) water for an hour. Add a pinch of turmeric and two pinches of salt.In a pressure cooker with the lid open, heat a spoon of ghee. Add two pinches of panch phutana. Add a small bit of cinnamon, a clove, and half a handful of grated coconut. Add the soaked dal and three pinches of pepper powder. Close and pressure cook for three whistles. (Can use Mung dal / Tuar dal / Horse gram/ a mix of dals in place of chana dal)
10.: Dalma (Lentil & Vegetable curry) Sample Recipe :: Muga Dalma In a pressure cooker with the lid open, heat a spoon of oil. Add two pinches of panch phutana. Add a handful of chopped mixed vegetables (potato, squash, eggplant, raw banana). Add half a handful of mung dal, a bit of ginger garlic paste, a pinch each of turmeric powder, sugar, two pinches each of cumin powder, chili powder & 3 pinches of salt. Add a cup ( 200 ml) of water. Close cooker and pressure cook for three whistles. (Can use tuvar dal, chana dal, horse gram or a mix of dals)