Neer is water and Aagaram is food ,so basically NeerAagaram boils down to Watery Food or put it simply, a liquid diet . Neeragaram is very popular in the Southern part of India and also in Orissa, Bengal, Bihar ,chattisgarh as well . Partaking Neeragaram on a daily basis prevents malnutrition and also improves our immune system .
Now,if you are wondering what is this Neeragaram ? The answer is very very simple and will leave you amazed .
Neeragaram is just left over cooked rice soaked in water overnight and the next morning it is mashed well and mixed with buttermilk ,rock salt and consumed with shallots and some green chillies .
Neeragaram is also known as Pazhaya Saadham , Saadhertham , pazhaya sor Kanji in South and in the North it is called as Pakhala, Paani Bhaat,Panta Bhaat etc . Orissa celebrates this health rich food as Pakhala Dibasa in the month of March every year .
Neeragaram is a powerhouse of nutrients for the benefit of good gut health . It's a natural probiotic just like home set curd .
The overnight soaking of cooked rice helps in the activation of good bacteria which is very beneficial on consumption for good gut /intestinal health. You may need not take probiotic supplements if you have this pazhaya saadham regularly.
Consuming Neeragaram early in the morning is an age old practice followed by ancestors especially during the hot summer months when the sun is blazing. The soaked rice acts as a natural coolant and also keeps us full for long hours due to the absorption of starch content in the rice and most importantly prevent us from dehydration.
Neeragaram can be had with some pickle , fried curd chillies (mor milagai) or with chopped shallots /onions . If you are pairing pazhaya saadham with onions you must definitely try it out with Srilankan Seeni Sambol - get the recipe from my fellow blogger Priya's blog.
You may adjust the quantity of buttermilk as per your preference. I like my neeragaram watery,so I add more buttermilk, if you like it thick like a porridge, you can adjust accordingly.
Cooking Time - Nil
Complexity - easy
Serves - 2 to 3
Ingredients
2 cups water
3 cups buttermilk
Rocksalt as needed
Method
- Soak the rice in 2 cups water overnight . Use an earthen vessel if you can else regular steel bowls will work.
- The next morning, mash the rice well with your hands or use a masher . The rice when mashed should resemble porridge /gruel like consistency. Mashing the rice with your hands is always a good choice .
- To this now add the buttermilk ,rock salt and mix well . Pour it into glasses and serve with the accompaniments of your choice .
- You may also add 1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds while soaking the rice previous night.
NeerAagaram Is a power house of nutrients. Perfect for summers or even otherwise to start the day. I love to have this once in awhile priya. Can’t wait to make it again. - Preethi
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful, refreshing drink! Super nutritious as well. Such traditional recipes are definitely keepers.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt it has cooling effect and great for summer. We call it panta bhat. And I love panta bhat. But we don't use buttermilk. Next time I would love to try with buttermilk.
ReplyDeleteTo combat the humid heat, these gut friendly recipes are so effective. Amma had these for morning breakfast always.
ReplyDeleteSO comforting! I am goign to my memories when my mom used to offer this during summer for its soothing effect and our hunger satisfied when we do not want to eat anything at all because of the heat. I am craving for this simple and comforting bowl rightnow.
ReplyDeleteAfter Ragi koozh, this is my next best drink during summers. Love the simplicty of the dish yet soooo healthy . - Kalyani
ReplyDeleteThat is one interesting recipe. I've not tasted neer aagaram. Next time I have leftover rice, will give this recipe a try. Anything to promote good gut health.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of neer aagaram but never made it. Will make it soon as the summer sets in here.
ReplyDeleteNeer aagaram , seems a new recipe to me. I will bookmark this recipe for coming summer. Usually I make buttermilk, or lemonades. This time will try Neer aagaram as a natural coolant for the body.
ReplyDelete