Rice Green Gram Kanji / Porridge

A wholesome meal always should have carbohydrates, protien and other nutrients. We have a misconception that cooked rice or chappathis and the likes have these kind of nutrients, but I have personally found Kanji's fulfilling and also have all the necessary nutrients needed. Especially if it is made with rice rawa. 

Ingredients:

Jeeraga Chamba Rice - 1 cup

Green gram - 1 cup

Shallots - 12 nos

Grated coconut - 1/2 cup

Red Chilly - 3 nos

Green Chilly - 2 nos

Salt to taste

Ghee - 1 tbsp

Method:

Wash and soak rice for about 1/2 an hour. Soak green gram for 1 hour. Mix them together and pressure cook along with finely chopped shallots, slit green chillies. Pressure cook for 5 whistles.

Grind coconut and red chillies together along with a little salt to a coarse paste with less water. Mix it to the cooked gruel and boil it for another few minutes.

(If it is served for diabetics, the coconut can be avoided. While serving the kids, the number of chillies can be altered. While giving it for pregnant women and kids, the porridge have to be thick and less spicy)

Add little ghee on top before serving.

Methi Porridge - Venthaya Kanji

A Kanji or Porridge that can be taken by all age groups, This can be given with milk and little sugar when some one is ill. 

Ingredients:

Methi seeds - 2 tbsp

Boiled rice - 4 tbsp

To add:

Salt  to taste

Butter milk - 1 cup

or 

Sugar - 1 tbsp

Milk - 1 cup

Method:

Soak methi seeds for about 6 hours or over night. Soak boiled rice for 30 mins.  Grind methi seeds to a paste. Grind the boiled rice coarsely. In a pressure cooker place a vessel and add the ground ingredients with 1 cup of water and a pinch of salt. Pressure cook it for 3 whistles. Let pressure settle, remove from flame and add either salt and buttermilk (Add little hing too) or sugar and milk. 

Nutrient-Rich Brown Rice Cereal Porridge: Ideal First Food for Babies

Introducing solid foods to your baby's diet is an important milestone, and homemade cereal porridge made from brown rice is an excellent choice for their first food. Packed with essential nutrients and gentle on your baby's delicate stomach, this wholesome porridge will support their growth and development. Follow this simple recipe to prepare a nourishing brown rice cereal porridge for your little one.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 kg brown rice

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Brown Rice Powder:

   • In a dry pan, fry the brown rice grains until they are lightly toasted and fragrant. Ensure they are fried evenly.
   • Once cooled, transfer the fried brown rice to a blender or food processor and grind it into a fine powder.

2. Sieve the Powder:

   • Sieve the ground brown rice powder through a fine sieve to remove any larger particles. Ensure that you have a smooth and fine powder without any lumps.

3. Make the Cereal Porridge:

   • In a saucepan, bring 1 cup of water to a boil over medium heat.
   • Gradually add 1/4 cup of the brown rice powder to the boiling water, stirring continuously to prevent lumps from forming.
   • Lower the heat and simmer the mixture, stirring constantly, until the porridge thickens to the desired consistency. This usually takes about 5-7 minutes.

4. Enhance with Additions:

   • To enhance the nutritional value and flavor of the porridge, you can mix in breast milk or formula milk according to your baby's preference.
   • Additionally, you can add fruit purees or vegetable purees to the porridge for added nutrients and variety. A pinch of salt or sugar can also be added, depending on your baby's taste preferences.

5. Serve to Your Baby:

   • Allow the cereal porridge to cool down to a lukewarm temperature before feeding it to your baby.
   • Start with small spoonfuls and gradually increase the quantity as your baby gets used to the taste and texture.

Tips:

• Storage: Any leftover brown rice powder can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for future use.
• Consistency: Adjust the consistency of the porridge by adding more or less water during cooking, based on your baby's preference.
• Variations: Experiment with different fruit or vegetable purees to introduce new flavors and textures to your baby's diet.

Nourishing Start to Solid Foods:

With its smooth texture and wholesome goodness, homemade brown rice cereal porridge is an ideal first food for babies. Rich in essential nutrients and easy to digest, this porridge will provide your baby with the nourishment they need for healthy growth and development.

Rice green gram porridge - a healthy gruel recipe

Ingredients:
Jeeraga Chamba Rice - 1 cup
Green gram - 1 cup
Shallots - 12 nos
Grated coconut - 1/2 cup
Red Chilly - 3 nos
Green Chilly - 2 nos
Salt to taste
Ghee - 1 tbsp

Method:
Wash and soak rice for about 1/2 an hour. Soak green gram for 1 hour. Mix them together and pressure cook along with finely chopped shallots, slit green chillies. Pressure cook for 5 whistles.

Grind coconut and red chillies together along with a little salt to a coarse paste with less water. Mix it to the cooked gruel and boil it for another few minutes.

(If it is served for diabetics, the coconut can be avoided. While serving the kids, the number of chillies can be altered. While giving it for pregnant women and kids, the porridge have to be thick and less spicy)

Add little ghee on top before serving.

Methi Porridge|Vendaya Kanji

Ingredients:
Methi seeds - 2 tbsp
Boiled rice - 4 tbsp
Salt  to taste
Butter milk - 1 cup

Method:
Soak methi seeds and boiled rice for about 6 hours or over night. Grind both together to a fine paste. Pressure cook it in 1 cup of water or cook over flame stirring constantly so that it doesnot settle in bottom. Remove from flame and let it cool; add salt and butter milk.

Nutritious Dalia Porridge with Dates: A Satisfying Meal for Babies and Kids

Dalia, also known as broken wheat, is a wholesome and nutritious grain that serves as an excellent base for porridge. When combined with sweet and nutritious dates, it becomes a delightful meal option for babies and older kids alike. Follow this simple recipe to prepare a nourishing Dalia Porridge that will keep your little ones satisfied and energized.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp dalia (broken wheat)
• 2 dates, deseeded and finely chopped
• 1 cup milk
• Water, as needed

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Dalia and Dates:

   • Thoroughly wash the dalia under running water to remove any impurities. Drain excess water.
   • Deseed the dates and finely chop them into small pieces.

2. Cook the Dalia and Dates:

   • In a pressure cooker, combine the washed dalia and chopped dates with 1/2 cup of water.
   • Close the pressure cooker lid and cook on medium heat for 3 whistles, or until the dalia is soft and cooked through.

3. Blend into a Fine Paste:

   • Once the dalia and dates are cooked, allow them to cool slightly. Transfer them to a blender or food processor.
   • Add 1/2 cup of milk to the blender and blend the mixture into a smooth paste. Ensure there are no lumps.

4. Mix with Milk:

   • In a separate hard-bottomed vessel, heat the remaining 1/2 cup of milk over medium heat.
   • Once the milk is warm, add the ground dalia-date paste to the vessel.
   • Mix well to combine, ensuring that no lumps are formed. Cook for a few minutes until the porridge reaches the desired consistency.

5. Serve Warm:

   • Serve the Dalia Porridge warm to babies, adjusting the consistency as needed with additional water or milk.
   • For older kids and teens, you can serve the porridge warm or chilled, depending on their preference.

Tips:

• Water Intake: Ensure babies are given sufficient water intake after consuming the porridge to maintain hydration.
• Variations: You can add a pinch of cardamom powder or cinnamon for added flavor, or even incorporate mashed fruits like banana or apple for extra nutrition.
• Texture: Adjust the thickness of the porridge by adding more or less milk according to preference.

Enjoy a Nourishing Meal:

With the wholesome goodness of dalia and the natural sweetness of dates, this Dalia Porridge is a perfect meal option for babies and kids. Packed with essential nutrients, it will keep them full and satisfied while supporting their growth and development.

Neer Aagaram - long forgotten healthy breakfast

For a country like India which is in tropical region, having something  healthy early in the morning for breakfast helps in maintaining good health. And so came a lot of porridges and food made of left food. The previous day's cooked rice is converted into a healthy breakfast named Neeraagaram - means water based food. Though it is not a trend now a days, still to beat the scorching summer heat, one can try this out.

Ingredients:
Left over rice - 1 cup (had to be the rice that is cooked the previous evening or night)
Rock salt to taste
Butter milk - 2 cups

Method:
Add two cups of water to the rice the previous night before going to bed. Early in the morning add rock salt and butter milk. Chill it and serve.

The best side dish - uppu manga, more milagai or shallots.

Mixed grains Porridge

Ingredients:
Boiled rice - 1 cup
Peanut - 1 cup
Moong dal - 1 cup
Ragi - 1 cup
Processed channa dal - 1 cup
Dalia - 1 cup

Method:
Fry each ingredient in a hot pan separately. Mix everything and grind it toether in flour mill. Keep the mixture in air tight container.

While making porridge take 2 spoon of the powder and mix with warm water. Mix well thoroughly without forming any lumps. Keep it on stove and stir constantly without forming any lumps. Cook it well.

Add either milk and sugar or buttermilk and salt.

Recipe for Urad Dal Kanji

A kanji that is good for the hip bones of women and for the heart of men, this Urad Dal Kanji helps in easy delivery for pregnant women.

Ingredients:
Urad Dal - 1/4 kg
Palm Jaggery - 1/2 kg
Cardamom - 1 or 2 nos
Dried Ginger - 1/2 inch
Coconut - 1 big.

Method:
Grate the coconut and grind it and take coconut milk (full thick and 2nd milk). Fry the Urad dal till it becomes golden brown in colour. Set aside and let it cool. Soak in water for about 1/2 an hour. Mash the palm jaggery and dissolve it in 1/2 litre hot water. Grind urad dal in grinder and when it becomes soft add ground cardomom powder and dried ginger powder.

Add another 1/2 litre of water and keep stirring it in low flame till it starts boiling. Strain the palm jaggery and add it to the urad dal. Keep stirring till it becomes thick. Add the 2nd extract coconut milk and a pinch of salt.

Add the first, thick extract of coconut milk to it and remove it before it starts boiling.

Note:
Keep stirring constantly when the kanji is in flame.

Dalia Kanji or Conjee recipe for weight loss after pregnancy.

Many women find it very very hard to loose the excess weight gained during pregnancy. Dalia porridge helps in reducing the weight slowly and steadily. It is easily digestive and can be had by lactating mothers without much fear. It is also a very healthy recipe.

Ingredients:
Dalia  or broken wheat - 1/4 cup
Low fat butter - 2 tbsp
Oats - 2 tbsp
Low fat milk - 1 1/2 cups
Powdered sugar - 1 1/2 tbsp
Cinnamon powder - 1/2 tsp
Apple - 1 nos
Banana - 2 nos

Method:
Wash and clean the broken wheat. In a pressure pan heat the butter and when it melts add the broken wheat and saute it in medium flame for about 3 mins. Add the oats to it and mix well and saute it again for about 2 mins. Add milk and 1 cup of water and mix thoroughly without forming any lumps. Pressure cook on a medium flame for 2 whistles. When cold add sugar and cinnamon powder and mix well. Refrigerate it.

Before eating cut the apples into thin slices and bananas into thin rounds. Garnish the porridge with these slices and serve in room temperature.

Raw Rice Rawa, Lemon and Ginger Kanji - Recipe to loose weight

Ingredients:
Broken Rice Rawa- 1/2 cup
Salt to taste
Lemon - 1/2
Ginger Juice - 1 tsp

Method:
Cook rice rawa either in open pan or pressure cook it. Remove and mash it. Add ginger juice, lemon juice and salt and serve.

This kanji helps in reducing body weight if taken 2 glasses daily in the morning

Barley-Horsegram Porridge to reduce weight

This recipe is a very good weight reducer if taken regularly.

Ingredients:
Barley - 1/2 cup
Horse gram - 1/2 cup
Dried ginger powder - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Butter milk - 1 cup
Water - 1 cup
Green chilly - 1
Lemon - 1/2

Method:
Clean barley and horsegram and grind it to a fine powder in flour mill (it is a bit hard to grind it in mixer at home). Take 3 tsp of the powder and fry it in a dry pan ensuring it didnot burn out. Add 1/4 cup of water and make it to a fine paste without forming any lumps. Mash any if formed and beat it thoroughly. Add remaining water and cook it. Keep stirring so that it does not burn and also not to form lumps.

When cooked remove from flame, add dried ginger powder, green chillies and salt. Add buttermilk and squeeze out the lemon juice.

Note: If milk, sugar and elaichi is added to the cooked mixture and drank regularly then it helps in regaining the weight that is reduced due to dieting and heavy exercising.

Recipe for Raagi Kanji

 During summer, due to the heat, lots of stomach disorders occour. This Kanji cools the body and helps in removing all kind of stomach disorders.

Ingredients:
Ragi flour - 2 cups
Butter milk Chilly (More Milagai) - 4 nos
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Asafodeita - 1/4 tsp
salt to taste
oil - 1 tsp
Butter milk - 3 cups
Curry Leaves - few
Coriander leaves - 1/4 cup finely chopped

Method:
Mix ragi flour with 1 cup of buttermilk, salt and asafodeita thoroughly. Ensure that no lumps are formed. Add oil in a pan, when hot add the mustard seeds and let it splutter. When done add the buttermilk chilly and fry it. When done add the mixed ragi flour to it slowly stirring constantly in low flame. The entire mixture should become a paste form when cooked fully. Decorate it with curry leaves and coriander leaves.

When the entire mixture is not sticky remove from flame. Serve warm by adding the remaining buttermilk. The whole cooking process will take 20 to 30 mins and the quantity is good to serve about 3 to 4 people.

Kanji to reduce excess water during the third trimester of pregnancy

This is commonly known as Vaditha Kanji in Tamil which means, the whole Kanji is made using the water that is drained after the rice is cooked in open vessel. (Pressure cooked rice wont have any water remaining in it). This recipe is good for pregnant women to reduce the excess water that gains in the legs. It also helps in easy urinating during pregnancy especially in the 3rd trimester.

Ingredients:

Rice - 1 cup

Water - 5 cups

Butter - 1 spoon

Salt -  to taste

Palm Jaggery - 2 tbsp

Method:

Wash and clean rice. Add water to it and cook it. When it is done drain the excess water. Add salt, butter, palm jaggery to it and mix well. Drink warm. 

Note: It is a must that only palm jaggery is used.

Recipe for Milagu Jeeraga Kanji

Ingredients: Par boiled rice - 1 cup Pepper - 1 tbsp Jeera (Cumin seeds) - 2 tbsp Tomato - 2 nos Tamrind  - small lemon sized Ghee - 1 tbsp Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp Curry Leaves - 1/4 cup Coriander Leaves - 1/2 cup Method: Grind rice to a rawa consistency. Pressure cook it and let it cool. Grind pepper, jeera, tomato, curry leaves and coriander leaves to a very fine paste.  Make 3 cups of tamrind water from the tamrind. Boil it along with salt and turmeric seeds and ground paste. When it bubbles and boils remove from flame and add it to the cooked rice.  In a tadka laddle add ghee and mustard seeds and when it splutters add it to the kanji. Serve hot. This is a good breakfast recipe which can be had by any one.

Summer cooler Ragi Kanji recipe

Ingredients:

Ragi powder - 1/2 cups (now a days it is readily available in the market)

Sago - 1/4 cup

Salt to taste

Butter milk - 2 cups

Green chilly - 1 no

Ginger - 1/2 inch piece

Curry Leaves - 1/4 cup

Coriander Leaves - 1/4 cup

Mango - 1/4 (optional)

Water - 2 cups

Method:

Mix Ragi powder in water and bring it to a dosa batter paste consistency. Ensure that no lumps are formed. Soak sago in water for about 30 mins till they are soft. In a hard bottom vessel add 1 cup of water and soaked sago. Stir well and when the water starts boiling add the Ragi batter and keep stirring. Ensure that no lumps is formed. To check whether the ragi is cooked, take a little of the mixture in spoon and touch it with wet hand. If the mixture doesnot stick to hand it is cooked well. Remove from flame. 

Cut mango into thin pieces, dice ginger into fine pieces, cut chilly into half. Cook all of them in 1/4 cup of water and a pinch of salt. When the mango pieces turn soft add it to the ragi mixture. Add the butter milk and the required salt and mix well. Decorate it with curry leaves and coriander leaves. 

If 2 glasses of this is taken in the morning, it is very refreshing and gives a filling feeling. It cools the body too.

Oats and Fruits Kanji for Breakfast

Ingredients:

Oats - 1/2 cup

Milk - 1 cup

Apple - 1/4 cup

Orange - 1 no.

Grapes - 1/4 cup

Banana - 1 medium sized

Sugar - 1 tsp

Method:

Add sugar to milk and boil it. Cook Oats separately in 1 cup of water till soft and tender. Add milk to it. Add the fruits to the mixture and serve it in bowl.

This will be in the consistency of porridge and it is a very apt breakfast recipe.

Horse gram Porridge - Healthy recipe for women

This is a summer drink, which helps in easy digestion and keeps the body cool. Those who want to diet also can add horse gram in their daily routine which will help in reduction of extra fat.

Ingredients
Horse Gram - 1/4 cup
Boiled Rice - 3/4 cup
Water - 3 cups
Salt to taste
Butter milk - 2 cups

Method
Fry the horse gram in a dry pan and grind it coarsely. Fry the boiled rice also and grind it coarsely. Pressure cook horse gram powder and boiled rice using 2 cups of water.

When cooked mash it using a laddle. Add salt, remaining cup of water and butter milk to it.

This serves two people.

Note: Ginger, coriander, curry leaves can be ground into a fine paste and added to this porridge to give a different taste.

This powder can be made in larger quantities and stored. It can be used whenever needed.

Pregnant Women, can have it as a breakfast especially in the end of 2nd trimester and the whole of 3rd trimester as it gives a lot of energy.

Lactating Women can have this to reduce weight after delivery. But this have to be taken after a month of delivery or when they start exercising as per the doctor's advice.

Recipe for Semiya Rawa Kanji

Ingredients:
Semiya Rawa Powder - 2 spoons
Coriander Leaves - 1/4 cup (finely chopped)
Curry Leaves - 1/4 cup (Finely chopped)
Green Chilly - 1 no
Ginger - 1/4 inch (Finely chopped or grated)
Salt - To taste
Butter Milk - 1 cup
Water - 1/2 cup

Method:
 Heat water and mix the semiya rawa powder to it and let it get cooked. Add salt, green chilly, coriander leaves and curry leaves to butter milk and mix it with the cooked powder.

This makes a great breakfast. Quick to make too.

Note:
Alternatively grind coriander leaves, curry leaves, green chilly, ginger and salt and can be mixed to butter milk.

Recipe for Poondu Kanji

A special Kanji which is to be taken once in a month to solve gastric troubles. This is a dish from Tirunelveli District.

Ingredients:
Boiled Rice - 1 cup
Garlic - 3 to 4 depending upon the size
Methi seeds - 1 tsp
Saarana root powder - 2 tsps
(This you can get it from siddha or naatu marunthu stores. Blend it in a mixer and store in freezer. If you dont get this powder, you can leave it too)
Raw milk - 1/2 cup
Water - 3 cups
Murungai leaves - handful (optional)

Method:
In a pressure cooker, take rice, garlic and methi seeds. In a muslin cloth take the Saranaa powder, make it a bag and add it to the rice in cooker. Add 3 cups of water and cook it for 2 whistles. In a separate vessel, pressure cook the murungai leaves too. When cool remove the bag and mash the rice well.

Add the cooked murungai leaves (dont throw away the water, but add it too to the rice). Add milk and cook for 5 mins in low flame. This can be served with Coconut Thuvaiyal.
 
Note: The whole day after taking this Kanji, tamrind is to be avoided and if at all needed, tomato is to be added.