Tharikkanji/ Thari kachiyathu

                  

                  Ramadan is coming to an end and I haven’t posted an ifthar dish this season yet. Time is so scarce nowadays.. Hardly affordable. Still it would be a shame if I didn’t post the recipe of tharikkanji atleast. If you are a northern Keralite you would need no second introduction to this ifthar beverage.

                  The memories with this hot beverage drink at ifthars goes way back to the first Ifthar I can ever remember. It was a delightful accompaniment to almost all Ifthar evenings, back home. The comfort food which may not make you delirious with joy, but always was a food for thought. Something which could really change the dull forlorn ifthars into everything homely. I am not a maudlin of all persons but certain foods can affect you in a way that you think is really sentimental. Some pushes you into a euphoria and some turns out quite a fag.

                    I am not certain of to which category I would add this beverage to. Certainly the tag ‘comfort drink’, clicks right in place. After a long day at fasting, it would no doubt refresh you and energize you and keep you in fine fettle. The recipe is too simple; nothing to cudgel your brains and that made me make it the other day too..

Coming to the recipe..


Things you need:


(makes 4 cups)

Rava or fine semolina - ½ cup

Milk - 2 cups

Coconut milk - ½ cup

Water - 1 cup

Sugar - ½ cup / acc. to taste

Salt - a pinch

Ghee/ clarified butter - 2 tbsp

Shallots, sliced - 2 or 3

Cashew nuts - 50 g

Raisins - 50 g

Cardamom powder - ½ tsp

Method:

Mix the milk and water in a sauce pan and bring to boil. Add the sugar and dissolve completely. Add the rava and cook in low heat, stirring continuously. When the semolina is well cooked add the coconut milk and salt. Remove from heat when the mixture starts to boil. Heat ghee in a pan and sauté the shallots until brown. Add cashews and raisins and sauté . Pour this to the beverage along with ghee and stir. Add the cardamom powder and serve hot. The drink should not be very thick. If so, adjust the thickness by adding adequate hot water. Enjoy!