If you are looking for a dish that cools the body from within during the scorching summer months, Pakhala Bhat from Odisha is the answer. This traditional Odia recipe is prepared by soaking cooked rice in water and curd and leaving it to ferment overnight, resulting in a mildly tangy and deeply nourishing meal. Across Odisha, this dish is a staple enjoyed with great enthusiasm, and it is most often served alongside Aloo Chokha, a flavour-packed spiced mashed potato preparation. Here is a complete step-by-step guide to making this beloved dish at home.
Ingredients for Pakhala Bhat
To prepare Pakhala Bhat, you will need: 2 cups of boiled rice, half a cup of curd, water, salt to taste, 1 inch of ginger, 1 cup of onion, 1 green chilli, 2 tablespoons of oil, 3 to 4 dried red chillies, and 2 tablespoons of finely chopped coriander.
Ingredients for Aloo Chokha
For the Aloo Chokha, gather: 4 tablespoons of oil, 13 to 14 garlic cloves, half a cup of onion, 7 to 8 dried red chillies, 2 boiled potatoes, salt to taste, and half a cup of coriander.
Step-by-Step Method
- Step 1: Take 2 cups of leftover cooked rice in a large bowl. Pour in two glasses of water and add half a cup of curd, mixing everything together well. Cover the bowl and set it aside overnight so the mixture ferments properly.
- Step 2: The next morning, add salt to the fermented rice and grate in the ginger, stirring well to combine. Mix in 1 cup of finely chopped onion and 1 finely chopped green chilli and stir again. Then add 2 tablespoons of oil, drop in 3 to 4 dried red chillies, and scatter over the finely chopped coriander, giving everything one thorough final mix.
- Step 3: For the Aloo Chokha, heat oil in a pan and add 13 to 14 garlic cloves. Let them cook until they turn golden. Add half a cup of onion and 7 to 8 dried red chillies and cook the mixture until everything reaches a deep golden colour. Tip this aromatic mixture into 2 mashed boiled potatoes and combine well. Season with salt, add half a cup of coriander, and mix once more. Spoon the Aloo Chokha alongside the Pakhala Bhat and serve the dish hot.
Why Pakhala Bhat Is Good for Your Health
Beyond its refreshing flavour, Pakhala Bhat offers several genuine health advantages. It works to reduce internal body heat, making it a natural cooling food that is especially valuable during summer. It also helps keep the body hydrated throughout the day, which is crucial in hot weather.
What makes this dish particularly beneficial is the fermentation process itself. As the rice ferments overnight, good bacteria multiply within it. These beneficial microbes improve gut health and strengthen the digestive system. Another notable benefit is that eating Pakhala Bhat keeps you feeling full for an extended period of time, reducing frequent hunger pangs and helping to keep body weight in check.
