Kavuni Arisi (Black Rice) Sweet Gruel

Ingredients

• ½ cup black rice (kavuni arisi), washed, soaked in 2 cups water for 2-3 hours
• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup coconut milk
• ¼ cup coconut, grated
• 2 tsp ghee
• 5 raisins
• 10 cashews
• 2 pinches green cardamom powder
• Sugar to taste

Method

1. Cook the rice along with 3 cups of water in a pressure cooker.
2. After the first whistle, lower heat and cook for about 10-15 minutes more. Remove from heat and allow it to cool. (After this step, you can change the consistency as per preference. For a drinkable porridge, make it thin by adding milk, coconut milk or water. For a thick, halwa-like consistency, drain the water first before adding the other ingredients.)
3. Stir the rice and gently mash.
4. Add the sugar and grated coconut. Mix well.
5. Heat the ghee in a small pan, lightly sauté the raisins and cashews until golden. Remove.
6. Add to the rice along with green cardamom powder; mix well. Serve.

Source note: Adapted from Isha Foundation’s A Taste of Well-Being (Harper Element, 2016).