Odiya Kitchen Setup - Part 5 - Primary Kitchen Utensils

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How can an Odiya kitchen be complete without all the utensils/non-food items that we use to make, store & eat the food? If you are setting up something first time or are in a new city & need the Day-1 list of items for your kitchen to start making your meals yourself, I hope this list will come in handy for you. 
The typical Odiya kitchen is not very complex to setup. There are a few utensils that you will need to get started & then you can keep adding on top of that as & when you get comfortable with cooking your own food & are ready to start exploring different cuisines. 

To start with, let's talk about the basic cookware : 
  • A Pressure Cooker 
    • Is a MUST in an Odiya kitchen
    • 3 Lit. for family of 4 ; 5 Lit. for family for 6 or more ; Bigger size for bigger families
    • Ideal for Daali, Alu Sijha, Dalma, Khechudi or even quick plain rice or pulao
  • A Kadai or Deep Bottom Pan
    • A medium size one - 10 inches diameter will come in handy.
    • For all curries & fries & also serve as a deep frying utensil when you are ready to fry some puri or pakudi)
  • A Tava or Flat Pan
    • For ruti & parata
  • A small deep sauce pan preferably with a spout
    • Fo rmaking tea or coffee
    • For boiling milk
    • For making plain rice for 1 or 2 persons if starting afresh in a new home
  • Wooden spatulas for Non-stick cookware
    • They usually come in a set of 5-6 pieces ideal for a first time kitchen setup
  • Stainless steel spatulas for regular cookware like cast iron or stainless steel
  • Jhudi or Colander
    • Used to discard water after boiling rice for making plain rice
    • Used to wash fruits & vegetables or greens
  • Belana Pidha (Rolling surface usually made of wood) + Belana Kathi (Rolling pin) + Ruti Seka (An iron stand on which you roast the roti on fire by which it puffs up)
    • Trio is needed if you intend to make rotis at home

Other kitchen essentials are non-cookwares like
  • Spoons & Forks + Plates & bowls + Glasses & Cups
  • Knives & Chopping board
  • Tea strainer (If you make tea)
  • Bottle opener (You'll find yourself needing this more than you know.. trust me !!) 
  • Lighter (In case using a gas stove). Replace with matchsticks if preferable. 


Comments

  1. TanbinMarch 23, 2025 at 9:25 PM

    absolutely loved reading about your Odia kitchen setup! The attention to detail and the cultural elements you’ve incorporated are both inspiring and educational. It’s wonderful to see how tradition and functionality come together in your space, creating an environment that’s both practical and full of character. Your passion for preserving authentic cooking styles really shines through. For those looking to create a kitchen that reflects both tradition and modern needs, working with professionals like R for Remodelers can be an excellent way to bring that vision to life. Thank you for sharing this meaningful setup!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Artiqulate LifestyleApril 1, 2025 at 6:46 AM

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  3. Artiqulate LifestyleApril 1, 2025 at 6:47 AM

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