Arisa pitha facts for kids
Arisa Pitha being served on a plate.
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| Alternative names | "ଘି' ପିଠା" Ghi' pitha |
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| Course | Dessert |
| Region or state | Odisha |
| Main ingredients | Rice, Sugar, Cinnamon |
Arisa pitha (Odia: ଆରିସା ପିଠା) is a yummy, traditional sweet pancake from India. Imagine a treat that's crispy on the outside and soft and sweet on the inside! It's a popular dessert, especially in the Indian state of Odisha.
This special sweet is known by different names in other parts of India. In places like Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, people might call it 'Hilsa'. If you travel to Coastal Andhra in Andhra Pradesh, you'll find a similar sweet known as 'Ariselu'. No matter the name, it's a delicious part of Indian food culture.
What is Arisa Pitha?
Arisa pitha is a type of fried sweet cake. It's made from a dough of rice flour and a sweetener. The outside gets golden brown and crunchy. Inside, it stays soft and chewy. It's often enjoyed during festivals and special family gatherings.
Main Ingredients
To make Arisa pitha, you need a few simple ingredients. The main ones are:
- Rice flour: This is the base of the pancake.
- Jaggery: This is a type of unrefined sugar. It gives the pitha its sweet taste and a rich, golden color. Sometimes, regular sugar is used instead.
- Cinnamon: A little bit of powdered cinnamon adds a lovely aroma and flavor.
- Oil or Ghee: These are used for frying the pancakes until they are perfectly crispy.
- Sesame seeds: These are often added for extra flavor and crunch.
How is it Made?
Making Arisa pitha involves a few steps to get that perfect texture.
- First, a thick mixture is prepared. This mixture is made from rice flour and either sugar or jaggery.
- This dough is then shaped into small, flat, round cakes.
- Finally, these cakes are carefully fried. They are cooked in hot ghee (a type of clarified butter) or oil.
- The frying continues until the cakes turn a beautiful golden brown color. This process makes the outside crispy while keeping the inside soft.
