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Galho
Naga rice and vegetable porridge with greens, ginger and fermented soybean
Galho is Nagaland's comfort food, a soft, loose rice porridge cooked with seasonal vegetables, greens, ginger and chilli, sometimes thickened with a spoon of fermented soybean (axone). In Kohima homes it is the dish for cold evenings and for anyone unwell, and in restaurants it is often made with pork; this vegetarian version uses mushrooms and axone for savour. It sits somewhere between khichdi and congee, thick but spoonable. Chef's tip: stir only occasionally; galho should be soupy with distinct grains, not a smooth paste.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 5 ½ oz sticky or short-grain ricewashed
- 1.2 litres water
- 1 ⅝ in gingercrushed
- 4 garlic clovescrushed
- 5 ½ oz mushroomssliced
- 5 ½ oz pumpkinsmall cubes
- 2 ⅞ oz green beanschopped
- 5 ½ oz mustard greens or spinachchopped
- 2 tbsp axone (fermented soybean) or natto (optional)
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 spring onionschopped
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Bring 1.2 litres water to the boil with 5 ½ oz sticky or short-grain rice, 1 ⅝ in ginger, 4 garlic cloves, 2 green chillies or a piece of raja mircha and 1 tsp salt. Simmer over a medium-low heat, half covered, for 15 minutes, stirring now and then.
15 minStep 2: Add 5 ½ oz pumpkin, 2 ⅞ oz green beans, 5 ½ oz mushrooms and 2 tbsp axone (fermented soybean) or natto if using, and cook 10 minutes more until the rice has broken down a little and the pumpkin is soft.
10 minStep 3: Stir in 5 ½ oz mustard greens or spinach and cook 3–4 minutes until wilted and tender. Add hot water if it is thicker than a loose porridge. Common mistake: letting it boil down thick like risotto; galho should run slightly on the plate.
4 minStep 4: Scatter with 3 spring onions and serve hot in bowls.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 200 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 40 g
- Fat
- 1 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does galho take?
- About 50 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sticky or short-grain rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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