NOMBU KANJI WITHOUT MINCED MEAT/ VEGETARIAN NOMBU KANJI

The holy month of Ramadan has just started and so I thought of sharing recipe of Nombu kanji or Ramadan special porridge without minced meat. Usually Ramadan special porridge is made using rice, moong dal and minced meat along with a number of spices and ingredients. But this recipe is for vegetarians and hence I have not added minced meat in the recipe.

Ramadan special porridge or Roze ki ganji is a healthy and nutritious drink that is very popular in South India. In most households here, this is an essential and main dish that is served at Iftar along with Dal ka bade/Bengal gram fritters, Samosa, fruits, juices and milkshakes.

Ingredients Required for making Vegetarian Nombu Kanji/ Roze ki ganji

1/2 cup raw rice 

3 tbsp moong dal

3 tbsp oil
1 onion sliced
2 cinnamon
2 cardamom

2 tsp ginger garlic paste
2 tomatoes deseeded and finely chopped
2 green chillies slit and seeds removed
handful of chopped coriander leaves
1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1/4 tsp red chilli powder
2 tsp salt (or to taste)
6 to 8 cups water (as per your choice)

Method

• Wash the rice with water, then remove water and coarsely grind the rice using a mixer to get broken rice. Add 1 cup drinking water to the rice and let it soak for 10 minutes.
• Wash and soak the moong dal in water for about 15 minutes.
• Now heat oil in a pressure cooker, add cardamom, cinnamon and onions and saute for a minute.
• When onions turn golden, add salt, ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw smell goes.
• Then add turmeric powder, red chilli powder and mix well.
• Next add green chillies slit, coriander leaves and tomatoes and cook till oil starts separating.
• Now remove water from the moong dal and add it to the cooker.
• Mix well and then add the soaked broken rice.
• Cook for a couple of minutes.
• Finally add 6 cups water and close the lid of the cooker and pressure cook for 8 to 10 whistles. 
• When the steam has come out, open the lid and transfer the kanji to serving bowls.
• Serve hot with Ulundu vadai or Dal vadai/Bengal gram fritters.

I am participating Blogchatter's A to Z challenge and today's alphabet is N. Stay tuned for another recipe coming tomorrow starting with the letter O.