This is a menu very special to the people of Kerala. It was a great favourite in our household too. Grandma made it once a week.
We would all sit around her and consume it holding between our fingers, a spoon devised from the Jack Fruit leaf, folded like a cone. She would relate stories from the Puranas. Sometimes, the stories would be about the famous Tenali Raman. Grandma was a walking, talking, library !
Later, my Mom also used to prepare it once a week or once in ten days. The recipe remained unchanged. But the stories now included the Brer Rabbit series , Hans Anderson’s fairy Tales ,Grim’s Fairy Tales and Alice In Wonderland.
Wonderful hand -pound unpolished rice was available in plenty those days and it would be lovely to have this hot gruel or kanji flavoured with home made ghee with the side-dish made of Full Green Moong Dal and raw bananas laced with coconuts.
It is packed with vitamins and protein. Easily digestible, it is a very good post-illness food item The Dal also cools the system.
There were no takers for this in my husband’s place. Kanji was a term associated with fever. And mind you, fever would invariably demand ‘Rasam Rice.’And the Art of Gruel & Puzhukku Making made a slow exit from my life to be revived after thirty years, when my parents moved in with us at Delhi. The ‘Kanji once a week’ routine started and my son loved the Puzhukku and his Mallu friend enjoyed both the Kanji and Puzhukku.
The summer is on and let’s have this item on our table at least three days a week to cool our system to cope with the GRUELling heat !
KANJI or GRUEL:
Rice …………………………………………………….Two table spoons.
Ghee ……………………………………………………..Two Teaspoons.
(You can buy the hand-pound unpolished variety if available)
PUZHUKKU
Green unbroken Moong Dal (Pachappayiru or Payathamparuppu)……1 cup.
Raw Banana……………………………………………………………..2
Green Chilli………………………………………………………………1( long )
Curry Leaves.
Salt to taste.
Turmeric Powder.
Grated coconut………………………………………..1 cup.
METHOD:
KANJI
Boil the rice in four glasses of water till the rice is completely done and disintegrates. Add a little salt and keep aside. Add one more glass of water if it is thick.
PUZHUKKU
In a kadai, place the dal and fry on a low fire for a few minutes. Add water and turmeric powder. Slice the banana into half-inch pieces and mix into the boiling dal. Slit the green chilli and slide it into the mixture. After the dal and the vegetable get cooked a little, add the salt. When everything is cooked well, add the grated coconut and curry leaves and garnish with mustard seeds in coconut oil…this garnishing being optional.( Garnishing adds flavour to the dish and mustard seeds are supposed to add warmth to the body. In the rainy season, it would do good to garnish).
There you are! The items are ready!
Take Kanji in a bowl and add a couple of spoons of ghee. In a small bowl take a few spoons of the Puzhukku. Now go ahead and enjoy .
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Hi Melody So THAT's the name is it ? Did'nt know !! Thank you.
Okay Meera Shall do it soon.
A big NOOOOOOO.SOUMYA ( Don't think of Eli Puzhukkai !! Ha Ha Ha ! Hi Hi Hi ! I know this is what is bothering you! SIGH!! Okay...Call it what you want..A rose is a Rose....).
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Usha
Came back to say, a spoon devised from the Jack Fruit leaf, folded like a cone.
Will read your new post shortly.Isn't that the 'kumbilu kuthal'?
Mel
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Thanks Usha,


Yeah both- paal adai and vellai adai... ummm umm yumm Thanks!!!!
Cheers
Meera
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Sounds yummy Usha, but can we change the name please?
Puzhukku sounds odd. I will run away before our mallu friends here come after me.
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Hi Usha,

Looks simple and uncomplicated.....must try it out.
Tell me something...can I skip ghee part ?
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Hi,
Thanks for the recipe! Will surely try it out!
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Thank you Usha for the valuable tip. Uma
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Thank you for dropping by --Meera. Adai Pradaman ? Yeah I shall post it. There are two varieties....one The Paladai Pradhaman made of pure milk and sugar & the One with Coconut milk and jaggery. Shall post both. Thank you..
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Hi Usha,
I. Please

Ah! This recipie seems to be really yummy! Thanks for sharing.... Also, do post a recepie of
"adai pradhaman" I have been looking round for it.... but in vain
Cheers
Meera
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Hi Maya...nice to hear the word Kaipunniam ! Start making it again,,and if there are no takers in the family..just keep it for yourself & enjoy !
good Luck
usha patti
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