Puzhungal Arisi Oma Kanji - Poor Man's Meal

Broken Par-boiled Rice Kanji:

Conjee – is a staple comfort food in India, which has a long history. In a tropical climate like south India, semi-solid liquid food is the most preferred form of diet among rural folks. There are various versions of congee prepared both cold and warm, using wide range of grains. The basic conjee is prepared using rice, which is boiled in many times its weight of water for a long time until the rice breaks down and becomes a fairly viscous white porridge. Seeds like tymol and cumins are added as flavoring agents. It is served warm along with stir-fried vegetables or grilled fish or with just plain sliced onions and green chilies.

However the best kanji is usually made with 'noi arisi' ( broken parboiled rice)...when rice is manually hulled, it results in wastage (more broken rice grains). In ancient culture, they don't waste anything because of poverty. Conjee requires very less rice than plain boiled rice to feed the same number of people. That is why, it is still considered as a poor man’s meal in India. And often associated with 'famine food' .