ODISHA SPECIAL MITHA KANIKA / SWEET RICE RECIPE
Mitha Kanika or Sweet Rice is a very famous and popular rice recipe in Odia cuisine. Mitha Kanika is generally prepared during festivals like Rath Yatra or Diwali or Durga Puja etc. or during any special occasion / party. This sweet rice which is called Kanika is prepared by marinating the rice with aromatic spices, ghee and turmeric powder and then cooked like pulao. When the rice is cooked then sugar is added as per the desired sweetness. It is generally eaten with some spicy curry to balance the flavors.
ODISHA SPECIAL KANIKA / SWEET RICE RECIPE (STEP BY STEP)
- Take one and half cup of raw rice in a mixing bowl. The popular varieties of raw rice used for making Kanika are Gobindobhog rice or Ambemohar rice. These rice varieties are aromatic and sweeter in taste when cooked. Wash the rice with sufficient water and discard the water completely.
2. Now, spread the washed rice on a plate and allow it to dry completely. It will take around 1 hour and will dry in 30 to 40 minutes if placed under fan. I am showing the traditional way of making Kanika but in case you are in hurry, you may skip this step and continue the recipe from the next step.
3. Take the dried rice in a mixing bowl and add the below mentioned ingredients one by one :
- 5 Green Cardamom
- 3 Cloves
- 3 Bay Leaves
- 2 inch Cinnamon Stick
- 1 tbsp of Ginger paste
- 1/2 tsp of Turmeric powder
- 2 tbsp of Cow Ghee
Mix all the ingredients with the rice and marinate the rice for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
4. Heat 2 tbsp of cow ghee or clarified butter in a cooking pan or kadai. Fry 1/4th cup of cashew nuts till light brown in color. In the remaining ghee, fry 1/4th cup of raisins till plump.
5. In the existing ghee, add one black cardamom and one tsp of black peppercorns. Add the marinated rice and keep frying on low flame till the rice gets a glass like texture as shown in the image.
6. Now, add 1 tsp of Salt and the fried nuts and raisins to the rice. Nicely, give a mix and add 3 cups of warm water. The quantity of water should be twice the quantity of rice (1.5 cups of rice x 2 = 3 cups of water). Once the water comes to boil, then cover the rice with a lid and cook on low flame for 15 minutes.
7. Open the lid after 15 minutes and add 3 tsp of Sugar or as much as sweetness you desire. The specified quantity of sugar will make the kanika moderately sweet. Add 2 whole green chillies which will add a nice aroma to the rice. Mix the sugar gently with the rice. Cover with a lid and cook on low flame for another 3 minutes. Then switch off the gas. Odisha special Kanika or sweet rice is ready. Its very delicious and cooked during special occasions and festivals.
