A Aadi Anna series of Odisha Millet Mission offers a healthier and tastier food preparations based on ancient millets. The article based on Odia delicacy Kakra Pitha consumed during festivities. But with a bit of twist, this Kakra pitha made of ragi and suji or even atta.
Ingredients
Mandia flour- 400gm
Suji- 600gm
Sugar/ jaggery- 400gm( more or less as per taste)
Salt- as per requirement
Oil- as required
Green cardamom powder- 2 gm
Cow ghee- 25 gm
Fennel seed/ saunf- 3 gm
Grated coconut-400gm
Black pepper powder/ coarsely crushed -2 gm
Directions
Dough making for kakara
Sieve Ragi (mandia) flour and mix with suji and keep aside.
In a pan/ kadhai boil water with the salt, sugar,fennel seeds and cow ghee.
Bring the water to a boil in a medium flame. once the sugar melts in water , add Ragi and suji mix.
Stir continuously for 4-5 minutes over a low flame.
Cook till all the suji ragi mix is swollen and the mixture starts coming together like a ball.
Once the mix thickens like halwa, turn off the flame.
Remove the mixture on a plate and allow it to cool down for about 8-10 minutes.
Grease your palms with a little ghee and knead the mixture to form a smooth dough and keep aside with a cover.
Stuffing preparation
Heat another pan.
Add grated coconut and sugar/ jaggery , cook for 3-4 minutes till the sugar/ jaggery melts.
Once the sugar/ jaggery melts completely, add cardamom powder and black pepper.
Mix and roast everything for half a minute, switch off the flame and keep aside.
Kakra making
- Check the dough after 15 minutes. Apply a little ghee on hands and knead the dough to make it smooth.
- Divide the dough into 35 equal portions. Apply a little ghee on your hands and pick a portion of the dough.
- Roll it between your palms. Use your fingers to give it a shallow bowl shape.
Fill the dough with stuffing and close the mouth of the dough by collecting the corners and pinching it at the top. - Press the ball between your palms to flatten it. Press the ends slightly. Similarly, stuff and prepare all the Pithas.
- Heat the oil ,Keep the flame medium-high. Once oil turns heat then reduce the flame to medium low.
- Drop the Pithas in the oil and fry them for 1 mins from one side. After 1minutes, turn them upside down and fry Pithas from both sides till golden brown.
- Once they turn golden brown, pick them up with a slotted spoon. Tilt the spoon at the corner of the pot. This will discard the extra oil back in the pot.
- Take the Pithas out on a plate and serve them warm.
- Fry all the Pithas similarly; each batch will take around 6-7 mins to fry up.
- Mandia Kakara Pitha is ready to be serve.
For more Mandia Recipe https://milletsodisha.com/recipe
Watch the Mandia Kakra Pitha Preparation Video
