Pakhala or Fermented Rice Platter

Name: Pakhala or Fermented Rice Platter
Total time: 2400 s
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 2 cups cooked rice soaked in 2 cups water overnight; 1 Tbsp mustard oil; 1 sprig curry leaves; 2 green chillies; 1 whole red chilli; 1 Tbsp Dahi; 1/2 tsp salt; 50 gms shrimps; 1 tsp red chilli powder; 1/2 tsp turmeric powder; 1/8 tsp salt; 2 Tbsp mustard oil; 1 small onion sliced; 2 medium size Aubergines; 1/4 tsp salt; 1 small size tomato; 1/4 tsp salt; 3-4 okra; 1 Tbsp mustard oil; 1/8 tsp salt; 1 large potato boiled, mashed; 1 whole red chilli; 2 green chillies; 3-4 garlic cloves; 1 Tbsp mustard oil; 1/2 tsp cumin seeds; 1/4 tsp salt

Madhumita Bishnu @Madhubish27

Kolkata

#CA26
Pakhala, a very popular Odia cuisine is one of my favourite from Odisha state. Fermented rice is enjoyed by people of Eastern India and Assam from Northeast India each has its own style to cook. It’s healthy and nutritious and keeps the body cool during severe summer months.

My neighbours from childhood would bring Pakhala for my family and I and I have very fond memories. Today I am recreating Pakhala with non vegetable and vegetable side dishes

Madhumita Bishnu @Madhubish27

Kolkata

My neighbours from childhood would bring Pakhala for my family and I and I have very fond memories. Today I am recreating Pakhala with non vegetable and vegetable side dishes

Saved

Ingredients

Soak-24h, Prep-15min, Cook-15min, Assemble-10min

2 servings

Pakhala
2 cupscooked rice soaked in 2 cups water overnight
1 Tbspmustard oil
1 sprigcurry leaves
2green chillies
1whole red chilli
1 TbspDahi
1/2 tspsalt
Side Dishes - Shrimps
50 gmsshrimps
1 tspred chilli powder
1/2 tspturmeric powder
1/8 tspsalt
2 Tbspmustard oil
1small onion sliced
Aubergine
2medium size Aubergines
1/4 tspsalt
Tomato
1small size tomato
1/4 tspsalt
Okra
3-4okra
1 Tbspmustard oil
1/8 tspsalt
Potato
1large potato boiled, mashed
1whole red chilli
2green chillies
3-4garlic cloves
1 Tbspmustard oil
1/2 tspcumin seeds
1/4 tspsalt

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Steps

Soak-24h, Prep-15min, Cook-15min, Assemble-10min

1

Pakhala - in a large bowl, add salt to the soaked rice and mix well. The consistency should be semi watery and not full watery.
2

Okra - wash and slit in the center. In a pan heat oil, add the Aubergine and fry on medium flame for 2-3 mins, add some curry leaves, chillies and fry, set aside. Okra is a side dish
3

Tomato and Aubergine - roast and mash, add salt, and mix well. Tomato and Aubergine are side dishes
4

Potato - boil, cool, peel, mash. In a pan heat oil, add cumin seeds, whole red chilli, green chilli, add garlic cloves, fry for 1 min, add to mashed potatoes, mix well.
5

Shrimps - in a bowl smear the shrimps with turmeric powder, red chilli powder, salt.
6

In a pan heat oil, add half sliced onion, shrimps, fry on medium flame for 1 min, add 1/4 tsp red chilli powder, salt and mix, fry for 1 min, add half to a mortar and make a coarse paste. Add both together and set aside.
7

Assemble - to the Pakhala add Dahi, mustard oil, fried curry leaves, fried whole red chilli, a green chilli, a lime wedge. On the earthen plate add mashed tomato, mashed Aubergine, fried okra, mashed potato, and shrimp on side

Tips

Soaking rice overnight is the key

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Cooksnaps

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Madhumita Bishnu @Madhubish27

on June 08, 2026 02:54

Kolkata

I’m a Home Chef and love cooking different recipes from all across the world. I enjoy sharing and learning from foodies like me. Follow me on my blog madhubish27.com and IG @madhubishskitchen, @madhubish. Thank you