DISH NAME : KANJI (KERALA RICE GRUEL)

Preparation Time : 20 minutes

Cooking Time : 20 minutes

Description

Kanji is comfort food of Kerala. Kanji is rice gruel and it is had hot with green gram curry and papad (lentil crackers). It is easily digestible hence is recommended food during sickness or stomach upset. In the state of Kerala, Kanji is considered as a main course particularly for dinner by majority. There is another version to kanji called known as Paal kanji where milk is substituted for water base. During the Malayalam month of Karkkidakam, a medicinal kanji is made using Ayurvedic herbs known as Karkkidaka kanji.
Kerala red rice also known as matta or rose matta is parboiled rice. It is not the same as brown rice. Matta takes longer time to cook. Original matta is a good source of b complex as it is not polished. But now a days red color is given to polished, cheap rice to make it look like red matta. Matta is crushed to make it smaller tiny bits & is known as 'podi ari/ nurukku ari'.

Ayurvedic Note

1) Rice gruel is lighter than rice.
2) Helps in quenching thirst.
3) Reduces general tiredness.
4) Improves digestive fire and helps in the digestion of indigested food.
5) Good to take while having fever, intestinal ulcer, loosemotion and vomitting.
Note:-
1) To stop loose motions have a thicker version(less water) of kanji.
2) In case of fever, very light kanji (more watery) is recommended.

Note

1) I have used broken red rice. Some people use whole red rice. Broken rice is easily digestible compared to whole grain.
2) I cooked in a pressure cooker. But if cooking in a normal vessel longer cooking time & more water is required.
3) The output after cooking from different brands of rice is different. The brand i used had enough to feed two people.

Method

1) Boil the said quantity water in a cooker with required salt.
2) Wash rice and add to boiling water.
3) Put on the lid of the pressure cooker with the gasket.
4) Let the steam come out lightly from the vent on the lid. Then put the weight of the pressure cooker & let it cook for 5 whistles.
5) Put off fire. Allow the steam to subside. Open the cooker and serve.

Serving Suggestions

Serve hot. Usually in Kerala house holds kanji is served with green gram & roasted pappad.