Thursday, April 09, 2009

Vishu Kanji/Vishu Katta Kerala style


Vishu is celebrated on a grand way by malayalis in Kerala and across the globe. Most of these traditions are based on a belief that Vishu must be celebrated well as the good things of the first day of the New Year determines the fortune of the year. Vishu becomes all the more important for the Malayalees regardless of their religion or sect. This occasion signifies the Sun's transit to the zodiac - Mesha Raasi (first zodiac sign) as per Indian astrological calculations. Vishu is also considered as the harvest festival of Kerala and thus the importance of this day to all Malayalees. In Assam this day is called Bihu, in Punjab Baisakhi (originally Vaishakhi) and in Tamil Nadu Tamil Puthandu or Vishu punyakalam.The word "Vishu" in Sanskrit means "equal". Therefore Vishu is more probably denoting one of the equinox days.
Vishu Kanji/Vishu Katta Kerala Traditional style
Here i am sharing the recipe of our traditional Vishu kanji …Some people call it as Vishu kanji and some parts of Kerala as Vishu katta…Malayalee can’t celebrate vishu without vishu kanji and vishu kani…In the day of vishu after seeing the vishu kani early in the morning we used to have vishu katta as breakfast ….So Enjoy a great vishu
Ingredients
Raw Rice -2 1/2cup( unakkalari,the rice which we used to make palpayasam) if u don’t get unakkalari u can use raw rice (pacha ari which we used to make idly)
Grated Coconut-4
Salt-to taste
cumin seeds-1/2tsp
Cooking Time-1/2hour

Method
Take a blender and grind the grated coconut along with water …. Extract coconut milk(thick onnam palu) and filter it (3 cup).
Take the cumin seeds in hand and just rub the seeds with the fingers and add this to the coconut milk d keep it aside …Now add some more water and grind again and extract thin coconut milk(6 1/2cup).
Wash the rice properly and keep it aside..Heat the uruli or big thick bottomed vessel(if u have nonstick kadai its best) ….Then add the 2nd coconut milk and bring it to boil.Stir occasionally for not to curdling the milk .
When it began to boil, pour the rice into it,close the vessel with a lid and cook well.
When its 1/2 cooked add the salt …Don`t forget to stir occasionally. ..So when the rice is 3/4th cooked then add the 1st extract of milk with cumin seeds.
..Stir continuously till the rice is cooked and become a thick gravy .Stir carefully coz the water in the milk began to crackle .By this time the oil is begin to come out from vishu katta So when its done take it from the kadai or uruli and pour into steel plate or banana leaves and fill it fully (if u have banana leaves use that only ..(the vishu katta will be more tastier )…With a banana leaf or a spatula wipe the top portion and make it even...When cool cut into pieces..Serve with jaggery syrup(sharkara paani)By Veena