Why Kanji?
Breakfasts…Even if we have time to prepare them, who has time to sit down and eat them?
For many people, given the insane juggling of duties in morning, the drive to work serves as a perfect time to chug down some breakfast. A smoothie serves as a perfect meal delivery method with one hand on the wheel at all times.
Problem with Smoothies:
- We are inundated with the sweet kind. Sweetened with sugar or already sweetened milk or naturally with fruits, dates, honey, etc – it all still the SWEET kind!! This is not good for people with diabetes. Also, the sweeter it is, the sooner it makes you hungry.
- Since it all puree anyway, we seldom slow down to chew it. Thus, we always feel “cheated” out of a meal.
Healthier Version
This is really a back-to-roots approach. Kanji is not a new concept. It has existed for centuries in Indian cultures, and many of my wise aunts and uncles drink it to this day. We are going to take this age-old concept and literally package it in a new bottle.
A savory smoothie, huh…What should I expect, you ask? Well, the savory smoothie has a comforting taste and the convenience of a meal wrapped in one. If you are an Indian and tasted Kanji/ neer moru before, you will not surprised by the taste. If you have not tasted Kanji before, expect a base flavor of a salted lassi (tang from the yogurt) layered with crunch from popped seeds and spice from green chilies. The grains and veggies add fiber and fullness to the smoothie.
Steps
Take some instant oats and yogurt. Add water liberally and blend. I have used instant oats here, you can also add cooked rice from the previous day or any other cooked cereal (ragi, millet, barley etc).
Get tadka items ready
Finely chop cucumber and grate carrots and have them ready. Yes, you could blend them in. But, having tried the pureed version, I really like having the crunch of the veggies with every sip of the smoothie.
Layer your smoothie
First, finely shredded carrots…
Finely diced cucumbers..
Pour in the yumminess…
Add the crunchy and spicy tadka:
To-go smoothie ready:
Just for fun…
Honey, don’t forget your keys, your wallet!!
Ok!!
What about your cell phone? Did you take your cell phone?
Stop badgering me!!!
Grrr…!!
Here’s your Kanji!!
AAwww….
Recipe
A cold, delicious, savory smoothie with a tang from the yogurt and crunch and spices from veggies and fried lentils and chilies
- 1/2 cup Yogurt
- 1/2 cup Instant Oats (Can also use cooked rice)
- Salt (As needed)
- 2-3 tbsp Finely Chopped Cucumber
- 2-3 tbsp Finely Shredded Carrot
- 1 tbsp Oil
- 1/4 tsp Mustard Seeds
- 1/4 tsp Split Urad Dal
- 1 Green Chili (finely chopped)
- 4-5 Curry Leaves (Finely Minced)
- 1 pinch Hing
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Blend all ingredients under "Main smoothie" category.
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Chop and shred all the raw veggies you wish to add. Ensure the size of each veggie piece is smaller than the diameter of the straw. Typical veggies include cucumber, carrot. Some people add small amounts of raw onion too.
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Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and wait for it to pop. Add the urad dal, green chillies and curry leaves and stir them for about a minute.
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Layer all the smoothie ingredients and serve. Just give it a stir and slurp away....
Hi Swetha, For hot summer I make it like this. Soak a little of left over rice in drinking water and leave in room temperature over night. Grind coarsely. Rest of the procedure is the same. Normally I add a little hing in tadka. Rest is the same. We take with little pieces of kichilikai. We call it narthangai in our parts. It is supposed to be good for acid reflex also.
Agreed Bhanu!! That’s the original version, but I wanted to give it a twist to make it more convenient. The fermentation technique you mentioned is superior and healthier. Thanks for sharing!!