Odisha is located beside the Bay of Bengal and is famous for its long coastline and temples. Apart from its scenic beauty and majestic monuments, this eastern Indian state is also known for the variety of delicacies it offers. Here are five dishes from Odisha every foodie must try:

Khichdi

Khichdi is a very comforting food and it’s very popular in Odisha. A very little amount of spices are used, making it a very comforting dish for the stomach.

Khichdi is probably the most common food item you will find in almost all the households in Odisha. It is an easy-to-prepare dish made up of rice, lentils, and ghee. It has got many variants and is a favorable choice of offering in the temples. Extra spices and vegetables are used sometimes to enhance the taste of Khichdi.

Macha Ghanta

Fishes form a very important part of Odisha cuisine and are relished in almost all households of the state. Macha Ghanta is one of the most famous dishes made from fish in Odisha.

Macha Ghanta is a famous dish in Odisha prepared with fish, potatoes, garlic, onions and a variety of spices. It is a very important dish in Odisha and is served to Goddess Durga during Dussehra. It is usually served with hot rice and some salad and is a favorite non-vegetarian dish in Odisha.

Dalma

Dal is one of the most common dishes in India which is eaten with rice. Dalma is a unique variety of dal prepared in Odisha using vegetables.

Dalma is a type of dal but with a unique twist as it doesn’t use the regulars like garlic and onions while preparing it. It is a flavored dish that is prepared using roasted moong dal and vegetables like pumpkin, potato, brinjal and other seasonal veggies giving it a taste similar to the sambhar of south India. Along with being tasty, Dalma is high on nutritious value also and is served mostly with rice.

Rasabali

Rasabali is a famous sweet dish from Odisha and is prepared using flavored milk. It is very popular with people having sweet teeth.

Rasabali was originated from the Kendrapara district of Odisha and is prepared using deep-fried compressed reddish-brown patties of chhena that are soaked in flavored milk. Later Cardamom flavor is added to enhance its taste. It is one of the 56 dishes of chappanbhog, offered to Lord Jagannath.

Gupchup

Gupchup is also known as paanipuri or puchka and visiting Odisha is incomplete without tasting those tasty and tangy snacks.

Gupchup is a quick snack prepared using sooji or maida that is deep-fried resulting in small and crisp puris. Then the puri is filled with a spicy mixture of potatoes, peas and other stuffing. It is eaten after filling the puri with tangy and flavored water made of pudina and chat masala. It is a light, cheap and easy-to-eat dish that is quite famous in Odisha.