Harsh Goenka Praises Odia Cuisine For Its Freshness; Enjoys Dahibara Aloodum, Chakuli Pitha & More

Harsh Goenka, the chairman of RPG Enterprises, does not shy away from expressing his honest take on food on social media. Be it a specific dish or a cuisine, he clearly knows what he likes. Recently, he put the spotlight on Odia cuisine and talked about how it deserves a much bigger place on the table. And honestly, we agree. Here’s why.

Harsh Goenka Praises Odia Cuisine For Its Simplicity

Indian cuisine conversations often revolve around Punjabi, South Indian or Bengali food. Odiya cuisine deserves a much bigger place on that table.
What struck me most was its restraint. No overload of cream, butter or chillies. Just balance, mustard, fermentation, texture and… pic.twitter.com/uaf18cV6AW

— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) May 10, 2026

When we talk about food, mostly Punjabi food, South Indian food, or Bengali food gets all the attention. But according to billionaire Harsh Goenka, Odia cuisine also deserves a much bigger place on the table. He recently took to his official X account to share that Odia cuisine is restrained, with no overuse of cream, butter, or chillies. But still, the Odia dishes taste amazing! 

There is just balance, mustard, fermentation, texture, and freshness. And honestly, we agree with what he said because Odia cuisine is known for its minimal use of oil. It prioritises authentic, rustic flavours rather than heavy spices or creamy gravies. There is a lot more focus on the natural taste of ingredients such as fresh vegetables, local greens, and more.

Also Read: Odisha Picks Chef Ranveer Brar As Brand Ambassador For Odia Cuisine; Here’s What It Means

Famous Odia Dishes Enjoyed By The Billionaire 

Harsh Goenka also posted several images of famous Odia dishes that were all made at home. It included Dahibara Aloodum, a popular street food from Odisha, Drumstick-Brinjal Besara, Chhena Tarkari, Chakuli Pitha, which is a dosa-like dish, and Aloo Patra Besara.

Among these dishes, he mentioned Dahibara Aloodum, which is one of Odisha’s most iconic street foods. It has tangy lentil baras paired with hot and spicy potato curry and yellow pea curry. It is often garnished with onions, sev, and chutney. The Chhena Tarkai is a traditional Odia curry made with fresh cottage cheese. 

Chakuli Pitha, which is often compared to dosa, is a dish made from fermented rice and lentils. It has a pancake-like appearance and is often served with curries. Lastly, the Besara dishes are known for their signature mustard-based flavours.

Also Read: What Is Pakhala, Odisha’s Gut-Friendly Superfood With A Guinness World Record?

Have you ever tried Odia cuisine? What do you think about it?

Cover Image Courtesy: Harsh Goenka/ Instagram