Chhunka Chakuli

This delicious flat rice based pancake traditionally made in the state of Odisha, India, is a  treat to the taste buds. You can decide when to have it.  Mostly a breakfast item , this can surely be at the dinner table equally.  This could be a vegan alternative to traditional pancakes in the western countries, but may be not that instant to prepare

• Ingredients: 

• Black gram (skinless) -100 gm,  Rice -200gm,  pinch of salt and, Oil to grease

• Steps:

• Soak the skinless black gram dal and rice in water for two hours, then grind to make a fine paste. Add salt and water to make a batter. Whip well and keep it for an hour. (Optional: splutter a teaspoon of mustard in a bit of oil and pour into the batter, add some chopped ginger and mix well)

• Heat the pan on a medium flame, spread a little oil , take the batter in a tablespoon and spread it on the pan. decorate with  tomato, spinach or ( traditionally with flower petals of butternut squash, Malabar spinach). 
• Turn the pancake upside down after a minute.   
• Serve  with a  traditional  Bengal gram preparation with butternut sqaush and patato  (Buta daali dalma) and chutney. 

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Odia delicacy for Makara Sankranti 

Makar Chaula is offered during the worshipping of the Sun God, during Makar Sankranti that marks the solar event of shifting of the sun towards the ring of cancer from the ring of capricon (makar kranti). This is also a sign of thanks giving post completion of harvesting.

You need:

White raw rice (newly harvested), soaked and crushed, Fruits cut in to small pieces (banana, apple, pomegranate), freshly grated coconut, Skinned and small pieces of sugarcane and Jicama(Kesara aloo/ sakara aloo), Indian cottage cheese (Chhena), grated ginger, jaggery, Roasted sesame seeds, milk

Preparation:

In a mixing bowl, add all the ingredients and mix well.  Add the coarsely crushed rice, sesame seeds and milk. Tasty Makar Chaula is ready to be served.

Enjoy this as a  nutritious variation of fruit salad.