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Tharikanji
Semolina milk porridge
Tharikanji: Malabar semolina milk porridge to break the fast
In Mappila homes along the Malabar coast of Kerala, the first thing many people sip after the dates at iftar is a small glass of tharikanji. Semolina is toasted and simmered in milk until it just coats a spoon, then poured over shallots, cashews and raisins fried in ghee, so it is sweet, gently savoury and soothing on an empty stomach. Chef's tip: keep it thin, like a drinking porridge, because it thickens as it cools.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp fine semolina (rava)
- 2 ½ cups whole milk
- ¾ cup water
- 3 tbsp sugar
- ¼ tsp ground cardamom
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tbsp ghee
- 3 shallotsthinly sliced
- 12 cashews
- 1 tbsp raisins
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Toast the 3 tbsp fine semolina (rava) in a dry pan over a low heat, stirring, for 3–4 minutes until it smells nutty but is still pale.
4 minStep 2: Pour in the 2 ½ cups whole milk and ¾ cup water and whisk as it comes to the boil. Simmer on low for 6–8 minutes, stirring, until the semolina is soft and the kanji coats the back of a spoon. A common mistake is adding the semolina to hot milk without whisking, which makes lumps.
8 minStep 3: Stir in the 3 tbsp sugar, ¼ tsp ground cardamom and 1 pinch salt.
1 minStep 5: Pour the hot kanji into glasses or bowls and spoon the ghee, shallots and nuts on top. Serve warm.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 280 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 33 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tharikanji take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 15 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 vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of whole milk?
- Semi-skimmed milk with 1 tbsp cream per 240ml (1 cup).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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