Odisha is well known for culture, architecture and historical significance. Odisha’s cuisine is also known as Odia cuisine and has a melange of varied items and practices. Odisha’s food is majorly influenced by the food of Bengal, Assam, and North India. The staple food of Odisha is rice cooked with mustard oil. The state is known for its distinctive cuisine, which is heavily influenced by the coastal environment. You will find yoghurt in the majority of dishes in Odisha. This article will explore some of the popular Odia dishes and give an overview of the cuisine. It will also provide some tips on how to prepare and serve these dishes.

The sweet delicacy is soaked in thick flavour milk and topped with cardamoms. Chapana bhogas, a meal served in the Lord Jagannath temple, have their roots in the Kendrapara area of Odisha. It is made with cottage cheese (chenna) balls soaked in thickened, sweetened milk (rabri). The chenna balls are fried in ghee and then placed in the rabri. It is usually served cold and garnished with chopped dry fruits.&nbsp;

The list of 56 items in Lord Jagannath's "Chappan Bhog" includes a dish consisting of sweet pulao that is customarily served in Orissa. Before biriyani, Kanika was the preferred Odiya meal, and then fried rice replaced it. The flavorful basmati rice can be used in place of the customary raw rice used to make Kanika. The Kanika rice is an essential food in Orissa, where it is typically produced as a gift for temples. It goes best with a delicious chicken or mutton curry.

Pilaf, also known as pilau or pilav, is a rice-based dish made with aromatic spices, vegetables, and/or meat. It is popular throughout South Asia, the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Balkans. Pilaf is typically cooked in a pot with a seasoned broth and can be topped with a variety of ingredients such as nuts, fried onions, dried fruits, and herbs. It is usually served with a dollop of yoghurt and a handful of roasted peanuts, cashews or raisins. The dish is cooked with ghee or clarified butter and is a popular dish during festivals and special occasions.

Santula is a classic Oriya dish and it had fried or boiled vegetable curry. It is made up of raw papaya, potato, tomato, and brinjal making the dish a healthy one. There is less use of spices and more green vegetables. It is a commonly eaten healthy diet. The dish may be mildly sauteed with milk and spices for an extra taste. Enjoy the dish while being in Odisha.

Also known as Chaatu Besara, it is a nutritious vegetable dish. The ingredients used in the dish enrich its taste and the use of turmeric powder and tomato along with mushrooms cooked in a delicious mustard paste. This is how it’s made. It is made with cooked vegetables such as potatoes, brinjals, onions, and green chillies and is seasoned with mustard oil and cumin seeds. It is usually served with rice and is an essential part of Odia cuisine. It is prepared to celebrate festivities and special occasions. Chaatu Rai is a dish that is also made in other places in India.

Did you know about the delicacy of this dish? Aloo Potala Rasa is a dish made with a pointed gourd and potato. It is also known as Parwal in North India and is offered to God at the Puri Jagannath temple. Cashew paste or onion/ ginger paste adds to the delicacy of the dish. It is a curry-like dish made with potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and spices cooked in a thick sauce made from poppy seeds and coconut. The potatoes are usually boiled and then chopped into small cubes and cooked in the sauce. The onions, tomatoes, and spices give the dish a unique flavour.&nbsp;

Have you enjoyed a dish made with banana stem curry? If not, here it is Kadali Manja Rai, a dish of banana stem curry made with garlic cloves, cardamom, coriander, cinnamon along with red chillies. Further, it is made with fine rice flour and dal, tempered with mustard and curry leaves, and served with spicy tomato chutney.The banana stem is stir-fried and the coriander leaves are used as seasoning that brings joy to the dish making it savoury. It is usually served as a snack or as an accompaniment to a meal.

Odisha is the land of temples. But you would not like to miss enjoying the delicious and popular dishes of Odisha. Along with visiting places, and sacred destinations, there are several other things recommended to be done in Odisha and one of those is to taste the Odisha food items. Relish these food items and enjoy your beautiful escape from the usual hustle and bustle of the city while being in Odisha.

Also known as Khichdi, it is a wholesome meal in some states. It is a dish made using rice and lentils, cooked together, and is usually served with a variety of accompaniments. It is usually accompanied by a spicy vegetable curry, pickles, and papadum. Odisha Khicede is offered as the main prasad to Lord Jagannath at the Puri Temple along with other eatables. The meal is comforting and provides greater nutrition. There is the use of little spices in it.

As the name directs, Chungdi Malai is a dish of delicious creamy prawn curry. The creamy part of the dish is made up of coconut milk. It is a type of pitha (a traditional Indian sweet dish), made with a mixture of rice flour, coconut, jaggery, and cardamom. The dish is known for its richness and silky feature due to the light and mild spices that are added to this. The way it is made adds uniqueness to the dish. It is a delightful, mouth-watering dish and also flavoursome. It is served with steamed basmati rice, relish it.&nbsp;

It is a fish curry, relished in almost every household in Odisha. It is offered to Durga maa on Dussehra and the curry contains the fried head of fish. The dish is served with hot steamed rice and salad. It is a rich blend of potatoes, onions, garlic, and spices. However, vegetarians do not add fish and enjoy ‘Ghanta’ without fish. You will find this dish to be relished throughout regions of Odisha. It is considered a comfort food and is often served during special occasions and festivals.

It is a staple food with a distinctive taste in Odisha. The major ingredient is roasted moong dal and there is no onion or garlic. There are just a few spices with a cup of veggies in the lip-smacking flavour. These common veggies simply pumpkin, plantain, yam, and papaya which are also good for overall human health. The dish is then spiced with a variety of spices such as turmeric, red chilli powder, and garam masala. It is then cooked in a pan with oil and ghee until it thickens. It is usually served with steamed rice and is often garnished with freshly chopped coriander leaves.

It is a dish enjoyed mostly during lunch in almost every household in Odisha, especially during summer. It is made by soaking cooked rice in water and sour curd, spices, and other ingredients such as coriander leaves, mint leaves, and water. This dish is also the delight of Lord Jagannath as per the beliefs of the people. The dish is usually served with roasted vegetables like - potato, brinjal, etc; and people admiringly relish the combo. There is also a special day dedicated to it known as Pakhala Dibasa or Universal Pakhala Day on the 20th of March of every year. The meal is a must-try for all.

It is also known as Panipuri in western India, Puchka in Bengal, and Golgappa in the North. It is considered a quick snack and has become a staple throughout the nation. This popular street food has small and crisp puris made out of dough of suji, maida, and atta. It is served along with chana masala and khatta jal jeera. A street food, relished by almost all types of people from all age groups.&nbsp;

Dahi vada is a popular Indian dish made with deep-fried lentil cakes (vada) soaked in a yoghurt-based sauce (dahi). It is typically served with accompaniments such as green chutney, tamarind chutney, and sweet chutney. It is a popular street food, particularly in North India, but is also found in Odisha. In Odisha, the dish is served in a combo with aloo dum which is made with potato-based recipes. The two are served together with a proper balance of the hot and the cold. The potato Vadas are then soaked in a yoghurt-based sauce and served with accompaniments like green chutney, tamarind chutney, and sweet chutney.

It is made from chhena (an Indian cottage cheese), semolina, and sugar, baked for several hours until it becomes brown and caramelized. It is considered the signature dessert of Odisha. Chhena Poda is prepared by heating chhena (a type of fresh curd cheese) with sugar until it is reduced to a thick paste. The paste is then spread in a shallow baking dish and baked for several hours until the top layer is brown and caramelized. The dish is often served with a garnish of dry fruits and nuts. Chhena Poda is a popular dessert in Odisha and is served during special occasions like weddings and festivals. It is also a popular sweet snack in Odisha, often sold in small shops and roadside stalls.

15 Dishes of Odisha That You Must Try

India > Odisha

8 May 2026

Explore in Odisha

Table of Content