Muan Pitha – A Steamed Odia Pitha with Sweet Filling
Muan Pitha is a traditional steamed Odia delicacy made from a rice–urad dal batter with a sweet coconut-jaggery filling.
Ingredients
For the Batter:
- 2 cups rice preferably raw rice
- 1 cup urad dal
- Salt to taste
For the Sweet Stuffing:
- 1 cup grated coconut fresh
- ¾ cup jaggery adjust to taste
- ½ tsp cardamom powder
- ½ tsp black pepper powder
- 1 tbsp ghee
Instructions
Preparing the Batter
- Wash and soak rice and urad dal separately for 4–5 hours.
- Grind them together into a smooth, thick batter using minimal water.
- Add salt and let the batter fement overnight for atleast for 4-5 hours.
Making the Stuffing
- Heat ghee in a pan.
- Add grated coconut and jaggery. Stir until the jaggery melts and blends with coconut.
- Cook on low flame until the mixture thickens slightly.
- Sprinkle cardamom powder, black pepper powder and mix everything. Let it cool.
Assembling the Pitha
- Grease a kadhai or steamer plate with a little oil/ghee.
- Pour a layer of batter to cover the base.
- Spread the coconut-jaggery stuffing evenly over it.
- Cover with another thin layer of batter.
- Steam on low-medium flame for 20–25 minutes, or until firm and cooked through.
Serving
- Once done, let the pitha cool slightly before cutting into slices.
- Serve warm as breakfast, a snack, or as part of a festive spread.
Notes
- For added aroma, line the kadhai with turmeric or banana leaves.
- Roast the coconut lightly before adding jaggery for a nutty flavor.
- Don’t overload with stuffing to avoid breaking.