Kanji (Oriya Dish)

Kanji is an authentic Oriya dish that is quite popular in Southern part of Orissa. It is basically a soupy based dish like Dal with a unique sour taste. Normally Kanji is cooked during summer. Since the Curd with lots of vegetables are being used as main ingredients, this seems quite a healthy dish by nature.

Ingredients:

·         Curd (Dahi) – 1 Cup (Curd must be little sour)

·         Besan (Gram Flour) – 3 tbsp

·         Pumpkin – 1(Small piece)

·         Radish – 1(Medium)

·         Lady’s Finger(Bhindi) – 7 pieces

·         Raw Papaya – 1(Small piece)

·         Green Chilly – 1

·         Garlic Cloves – 6

·         Turmeric Powder – 1 tsp

·         Mustard Seeds(Sarson) – ½  tsp

·         Cumin Seeds (Jeera)  – ½  tsp

·         Fenugreek Seeds(Methi) – ½  tsp

·         Fennel Seeds(Saunf) – ½  tsp

·         Red Chilly (Whole) – 3

·         Asafoetida (Hing) – ¼ tsp

·         Curry Leaves – 5

·         Cooking Oil – 2 tbsp

·         Water -  3 ½ Cup

Preparation Method:

Ø  Take a bowl and beat the curd.

Ø  Add Salt, Water, Besan, Turmeric Powder in curd and mix properly so that it doesn’t get any lumps.

Ø  Cut Pumpkin and Papaya in dice shape.

Ø  Cut Radish in round shape.

Ø  Wash and drain the cut vegetables.

Ø  Wipe Bhindi in damp towel and cut it in two pieces.

Ø  Cut Green Chilly in lengthwise.

Ø  Take a pan and heat 1tbsp of Oil and fry the Bhindi & Radish for 5 mins in low flame.

Ø  Take a heavy bottom pan & add the curd mixture with Green Chilly and boil it for 7 mins.

Ø  Add all the vegetables except Bhindi and boil for 5-7 mins.

Ø  Now add Bhindi and again boil till all the vegetables gets tender.

Ø  Take the pan out from heat and keep aside.

For Tadka:

Ø  Heat another 1 tbsp of Oil in a Frying Pan.

Ø  Add Mustard Seeds; Cumin Seeds; Fenugreek Seeds; Fennel Seeds; Asfoetida and fry till it crackles.

Ø  Add Red Chilly Whole; Curry Leaves; Garlic and fry for 1 min.

Ø  Add this Tadka in the vegetable pan and mix it well.

Ø  Now “Kanji” is ready.

“Kanji” is well served with Steamed Rice.