Food of Chhattisgarh

Food of Chhattisgarh

There is to be found as much diversity in the cuisine of this state as there is in the culture and among the tribal groups. Having its backbone the agricultural products, Chhattisgarh has emerged to be an eminent agricultural state of the nation. The staple food of the state is wheat, maize and jowar. However, the state also has the potential to cultivate plenty of paddy. People are very fond of rice thereby rendering the title of ‘rice bowl’ to the central portion of the state. Besides this, people also opt for pulses, grains and fruits.

Each specific occasion or festival is accompanied with a special cuisine different from the other. These cuisines include the Salphi, which is a sap of fish leaf and sago palm, Mahua (a local drink) and Landa(rice beer). The tribal people are also fond of red ant chutney, a speciality not to be found anywhere else in the nation. Besides, the tribes are fond of eating any moving creature such as rats, squirrels, mushrooms, flying ants and meat. Their daily meal is incomplete without pork and fish. They prefer to consume the local water bodies’ fish as they are healthy than the rest. Interestingly, some of the festive occasions have to be accompanied with the sacrificial pig. The people also use a variety of spices to increase the flavour and aroma of the dishes.