Kanika Bhaat / Sweet Rice - Odisha Festive Cuisine

Name: Kanika Bhaat / Sweet Rice - Odisha Festive Cuisine
Total time: 1500 s
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 1/2 cup rice, soaked for 1/2 hour; 2 tbsp. + 1 tsp. ghee; 1 inch cinnamon stick; 2 green cardamoms; 1 big cardamom; 4 cloves; 2 bay leaves; 1/2 tsp. whole peppercorns; 1 star anise; 1/2 mace; 1/3 cup cashew nuts; 1/4 cup raisins; 1/4 cup coconut, sliced; pinch turmeric powder; pinch salt; 1/4 cup sugar; pinch nutmeg powder

Bethica Das @kitchen_flavours

Sharjah (UAE)

#CA26 - Kanika Bhaat is a traditional Odisha sweet rice, which is a part of the prasad / offering served in Puri Jagannath Temple. This popular festive dish is also prepared during special occasions and festivals. It is prepared in ghee and garnished with fried nuts to enhance the flavor of this divine dish. It is purely a satvik dish with no onion or garlic.

Kanika Bhaat is generally prepared with basmati rice or Govindobhog rice (a small grain rice). This dish is a part of the Chappan bhog / 56 divine offerings that is offered to Lord Jagannath. A pinch of turmeric powder is added for a slight golden color and the rice is tempered in few whole spices. Sugar or jaggery can be added to sweeten the rice. A pinch pf nutmeg and some extra ghee is added to the final dish for a lingering aroma.

Bethica Das @kitchen_flavours

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Ingredients

20-25 minutes

2 servings

1/2 cuprice, soaked for 1/2 hour
2 tbsp.+ 1 tsp. ghee
1 inchcinnamon stick
2green cardamoms
1big cardamom
4cloves
2bay leaves
1/2 tsp.whole peppercorns
1star anise
1/2mace
1/3 cupcashew nuts
1/4 cupraisins
1/4 cupcoconut, sliced
pinchturmeric powder
pinchsalt
1/4 cupsugar
pinchnutmeg powder

Saved

Steps

20-25 minutes

1

Rinse the rice well and soak in enough water for 30 minutes. Then drain and keep aside. Heat 2 tbsp. ghee in a pan and stir fry the cashew nuts, raisins and sliced coconut till they turn light brown in color. Drain and keep aside.
2

Temper the same ghee with the bay leaves, green cardamoms, cloves, cinnamon, mace, peppercorns, big cardamom & star anise. Sauté for a few seconds.
3

Then add the soaked rice, pinch of salt & turmeric powder. Sauté for 2-3 minutes.
4

Add 1 & 1/4 cup water cook, covered, on a low flame for 4-5 minutes.
5

Add the sugar & the fried nuts. Continue to cook till all the water has been absorbed and the rice is done.
6

Add the nutmeg powder & the remaining 1 tsp. ghee. Give it a stir & keep it covered for 4-5 minutes.
7

Fluff it up with a fork & serve with dalma and / or any veg. curry for a divine experience.