Digestion20 min
Soft rice gruel with cumin, ginger and a few drops of ghee
Overcooked rice, loose like a porridge, with cumin, ginger and a few drops of ghee is the plain bowl many homes already trust when a regular meal feels like too much.
Rice cooked past soft
This is not a firm plate of rice. The grains are cooked until they lose their edge, in more water than a normal pot, with cumin and ginger for smell. A few drops of ghee at the end make it comforting without turning it into a rich payasam.
When agni feels tired, Ayurveda favours warm, soft, slightly oily food over cold salads and heavy fried plates. This gruel may soothe that tired belly. It is not a substitute for a doctor if you cannot keep food down or if pain continues.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons rice
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- A small piece of ginger
- A few drops of ghee
How to prepare
- Rinse the rice and simmer it in plenty of water with cumin and crushed ginger until the grains are very soft.
- Mash lightly, thin it to a porridge, and finish with a few drops of ghee.
How to use
- Eat a small warm bowl as the meal when the stomach feels tired.
- Salt it lightly and leave out chilli.
- Eat it fresh. Dried, reheated rice is harder to digest than this soft pot.
Helpful habits
- Use everyday raw rice. Leftover fridge rice, fried again, is not this gruel.
- The ghee is a few drops, not a spoon that pools on top.
Precautions
- If vomiting continues or the person is very weak, see a doctor rather than pushing more food.
- Keep spice to cumin and ginger. A tadka of chilli changes the bowl.
- Supportive food only, not a substitute for a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as kanji or peja?
- It is that family of thin rice porridge. The version here stays soft, with cumin, ginger and a few drops of ghee.
Can I add vegetables?
- A little well-cooked carrot can join if it still stays a gruel. Do not turn it into a spicy biryani pot.
How much ghee?
- A few drops on a small bowl. More ghee makes a light gruel heavy.
