Beyond Dalma: A Holistic Foray Into Odia Food

The food on our plates has always been inextricably linked to the agricultural cycle. The numerous festivals and rituals that crop up on the Odia calendar (or Panji) with unfailing regularity, inevitably extend clues to eat what's best in the season. This book takes one through the never-ending cycle of pray, eat and repeat while delving into the intricacies of the interrelationships between the agrarian calendar, the festivals observed in the various parts of the state of Odisha and the changing seasons.

Beyond Dalma attempts to focus on the similarities rather than the diversities of the Odia cuisine which itself is an interesting amalgamation of various micro-cuisines that have evolved independently, shaped by diverse stimuli for the better part of history. At the same time, one cannot discount that dynamic exchanges among various micro-culinary traditions have always occurred due to a multitude of reasons ranging from trade to migrations to even marriages. The resulting culinary legacy is one that can be best described as a curious interplay between heterogeneity and homogeneity. The recipes are carefully selected keeping the focus on the seasonal aspects of the cuisine rather than emphasizing the regional aspects. However, a mild proclivity towards Western Odisha may be discernible at times as the author has spent a substantial part of her life in that region.

The recipes are curated based on local and seasonal produce, and designed to help one adhere to a sustainable, low-carbon footprint lifestyle that is harmoniously aligned with mother nature's basket rather than the supermarket shelves.