Suji Kakara Pitha - Odiya Delicacy for Puja Days

Whenever I think about my childhood and the festive occasions gone by...what strongly comes to my mind is the amazing food that Ma would cook for us. I would hang around the Kitchen to steal from the first batch of food cooked, and gobble it down the minute it was out..all pipping hot..tears flowing from my eye, but a big smile beaming across my face.... the food Ma cooked was heavenly.

Job..marriage..all happened and I moved out of my parents home...what I miss most is my Mom's food.. whatever she would make was always soooo good, that it would just make your day. I remember my Mom cooked some of the best dishes when she cooked in a hurry..juggling work...running around in mayhem..and then emerge with a platter full of heavenly bites...ohhh boy old days :-)

I think the passion I have for cooking comes from her...from Ma's family..well I'll spill the beans on them some other time.. Today I am going to share a fantastic recipe of one of my Mom's chosen festive dish - Suji Kakara Pitha

Recipe -

500 gms Suji

6 Tablespoons sugar

Salt to Taste

1 Shredded Coconut

1 Tsp Cardamom Powder

Oil to Fry

2 Tablespoon Ghee

1. Boil 1 Litre water (as a rule: boil water equal to double the amount of Suji taken)in a deep pan (Kadhai)

2. Once water is boiling add 3 Tablespoons of Sugar and Salt and mix well.

3. Reduce the flame, and add the Suji slowly..mixing with other hand through-out. Ensure no lumps are made.

4. Once the mixture is ready..close the flame and let it cool.

5. In another pan, heat the shredded coconut but mixing it with 3 Tablespoons of Sugar and Cardamom powder. Once mixed, close the flame and keep it aside to cool.

6. Once the Suji dough is cooled...kneed the dough with Ghee to make it softer.

7. Make small round balls from the dough. Flatten them and fill the coconut mixture in them. Close it to make a ball again and flatten a bit by pressing from both sides.

8. Keep some flattened balls plain..with no filling.

9. Heat Oil in a deep pan (Kadhai) and fry the flattened balls till they turn golden brown on both sides.

10. Enjoy once done :-)