Rourkela: Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar, known for her love of food and vibrant travel escapades, recently touched down in Rourkela, Odisha, for a delightful culinary journey.
The self-proclaimed foodie sampled a range of traditional Odia dishes, showcasing everything from gut-friendly fermented preparations to sweet treats, as part of her popular social media series “Bhukhi Bhumi,” dedicated to her cheat-day indulgences across India.
The actress kicked off her culinary tourby sampling Pakhala Bhata, an iconic Odia comfort food consisting of cooked rice submerged in water and left to lightly ferment. Delighted by its tangy profile, Pednekar praised the dish as “outstanding,” noting its high fiber content and excellent prebiotic properties for gut health. To elevate the traditional fermented rice, she paired it with an array of classic accompaniments, including crispy karela (bitter gourd) chips, okra, pumpkin blossoms, eggplant curry, leafy greens, and padwal.
Among the sides, she particularly enjoyed Badi Chura, a textures-heavy, crunchy specialty made from crushed fried lentil dumplings tossed with onions, garlic, green chilies, and a drizzle of pungent mustard oil.
Pednekar then dove into the state’s vibrant street food and snack culture, indulging in a steaming bowl of Ghugni, a spicy and aromatic legume curry featuring dried yellow and white field peas simmered in a savory onion-tomato gravy. For a touch of sweetness, the actress treated herself to Kakara Pitha, often described as Odisha’s unique answer to the Maharashtrian modak. This beloved sweet treat features a crispy exterior made from rice flour, which gives way to a soft, rich stuffing of grated coconut and jaggery. The treat left her in “absolute heaven”.
The culinary exploration culminated in a wholesome, traditional Odia thali for lunch, centered around the state’s staple dish, Dalma. A nutritious hybrid of lentils and fresh seasonal vegetables, Dalma is elevated with a tempering of pure ghee and aromatic local spices. Following local advice to “mix it all together” for the ultimate flavor profile, Pednekar paired the lentil dish with smoked baingan bharta, aloo bhujia, moringa, and a tangy tomato chutney. Wrapping up her memorable food tour on a sweet note, she finished her elaborate feast with a unique pineapple sandesh, cementing Odisha as a must-visit destination for food lovers across the country.
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Bhumi’s enthusiasm for regional Indian cuisines is well-known. Whether on work assignments or leisure trips, she makes it a point to immerse herself in local flavours.
