Pala Chattu Bara also called "mushroom chop" is an Oriya dish which is savoured as a snack. This recipe is very nutritious and healthy for people as mushroom is high in water content and is considered as one of the best substitutes for red meat. Also this snack is a delight for the weight conscious people as mushrooms help to reduce weight.


Ingredients of Pala Chhatu Bara

•500 gm mushroom
•100 gm rice
•1 teaspoon cumin seeds
•1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
•1 teaspoon chilli powder
•2 tablespoon mustard oil
•3 garlic cloves
•1 big size onion sliced
•Salt to taste

Method of Preparing Pala Chhatu Bara

•Prepare a rice paste by soaking the rice in water for an hour. Then grind it along with the garlic and cumin seeds. This is called the pithau.
•Cut the mushrooms into small pieces.
•Mix the mushrooms with the rice paste, onion slices, turmeric powder and chilli powder.
•In a frying pan, heat the mustard oil.
•Make kofta shaped baras from the paste.
•Fry these in the oil.
•Serve hot.

Another method of preparing Pala Chhatu Bara with slight change in the ingredients:

Ingredients of Pala Chhatu Bara

•500 gm mushroom
•1 large boiled potato
•1 large onion
•3-4 green chillies
•5-6 garlic flakes
•3 tbs chopped coriander leaves
•1 tbs roasted cumin-chilli powder
•2 tsp turmeric powder
•Salt to taste
•Oil for frying

Method of Preparing Pala Chhatu Bara
•Take water in a large vessel. Dissolve 1 1/2 tsp turmeric in it. Add the mushrooms and allow soaking for 30 minutes.
•Drain off the water and chop into small pieces. Do not throw away stem as it is also edible.
•Chop the onion into small pieces. Crush the garlic flakes.
•Heat 2 tbs of oil in a frying pan. Add the chopped mushroom along with remaining turmeric powder and 1/2 tsp salt, and stir fry on high flame till all the excess water evaporates. Remove and allow cooling down.
•Transfer the mushroom to a mixing bowl. Add the boiled potato, chopped onion, green chilli, cumin-chilli powder, coriander leaves, crushed garlic flakes and salt to taste. Mix well.
•Pinch some part of the above mixture and shape into flat circles of about 1/2 inch thickness.
•Heat a frying pan. Drizzle generously with oil. Place the baras over the pan and cook on both sides till they turn brown colour.
•Serve hot.

This mouth-watering Pala Chhatu Bara can be consumed as a starter by teaming up with tomato sauce. It can also be eaten with steamed rice as a side dish.