food

Rice is the main grain (cereal) eaten across Chhatisgarh, and Chhattisgarhi cuisine comprises of many dishes use rice in different forms like rice grains or rice flour, along with vegetables (more of green leafy vegetables), pulses like urad dal (white lentil) spices and curd (yogurt).

Some lip-smacking food items that are eaten regularly in Chhattisgarhi households are:

• Aamat (a thin soup like dish - similar to sambar of south India – made with vegetables, spices and ginger and garlic paste).
• Chilla/Cheela (a pancake made with unfermented batter of rice flour or chickpea flour and spices; sometimes vegetables may also be added to the batter).
• Iddhar – A dish made with Colocasia leaves and urad dal (white lentil) batter layered alternately, rolled and steamed, after which it is added to a gravy of curd and spices.
• Hatphodva – steamed mini-cakes made of rice batter and white lentil paste – similar to idli of south India but – this could have both savory or sweet options (the sweet ones are usually served with milk, while savory ones are served with chutneys).