Kanji Water Delight – Transform Leftover Rice Water into a Nourishing Treat

Kanji Water Delight is a delightful and wholesome way to make the most of leftover rice water — a simple, traditional ingredient that often goes unused. With a touch of jaggery, aromatic spices, and a hint of organic ghee, this recipe turns humble ingredients into a tasty comfort dish that can be enjoyed warm or chilled.

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🥣 Why You’ll Love This Dish

• ♻️ Zero waste → delicious result: Uses leftover rice water you’d otherwise discard
• 🍯 Balanced sweet and spicy notes from jaggery, cardamom, and cumin
• 🥥 Rich texture from ghee and scraped coconut
  -🍲 Quick and nourishing — ready in just minutes

This recipe is not just tasty but also a creative way to turn simple ingredients into a wholesome dish.

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🧺 Ingredients

• 2 cups thick kanji water (rice water leftover from cooking rice)
• 2 tablespoons melted jaggery
• ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder
• ¼ teaspoon cumin seed powder
• 1–2 tablespoons pure organic ghee
• 2 tablespoons scraped coconut
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 tablespoon cashew nuts (optional)

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👩‍🍳 Preparation Method

1. In a bowl, combine the kanji water and scraped coconut. Mix thoroughly.
2. Add melted jaggery, pure organic ghee, and a pinch of salt. Stir well to incorporate the flavours.
3. Transfer the mixture to a non-stick pan and bring it to a gentle boil.
4. Once boiling, reduce the heat and stir continuously until the mixture thickens slightly and begins to leave the sides of the pan.
5. Add roasted cashew nuts, cherry, almonds, cumin seed powder, and cardamom powder. Mix well.
6. Remove from heat and serve warm — or chill if you prefer a refreshing variation.

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🍽️ Serving Suggestions

• Serve as a warm comfort dish on cool mornings
• Enjoy chilled as a light dessert or snack
• Pair with fruit or light tea for a balanced meal

Kanji Water Delight can be enjoyed any time of day — sweet, satisfying, and surprisingly nourishing.

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📝 Tips & Variations

✔ You can adjust jaggery to make it more or less sweet.
✔ Use fresh rice water for the best aroma.
✔ Add a few raisins or almonds for extra texture.
✔ If you prefer richer flavour, increase the ghee slightly.

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🌿 Nutrition & Tradition

Kanji vellam— also known as rice water or congee — has been part of traditional diets for centuries. In many cultures, rice porridge and rice water are considered gentle on the stomach, nourishing during recovery, and full of hydration. In Kerala, kanji is a staple comfort food often paired with simple sides like chutney and pappadam.