I even carried it with us for the trip to be eaten later. When I tasted it after nearly 6 hours, even then the taste was uniquely different and very delicious. Well delicious it ought to be, for it was made with Rock candy. Having never discussed this particular ingredient with anybody outside South, I am not sure how well it is liked by others, but here in south, these Kalkandu are really so famous and loved by all.
I remember the trip to Tirumala was never complete without a packet of this kalkandu with dates. Those irregular shaped candies were a real treat. They come in different size, you can break them into smaller bites before popping in. But these days you get shaped ones too in many shapes.
I added kesar colour for the bright appearance.
Since it was for neivedyam, I used a small cup.
Kalkandu Sadam ~ Rock candy Rice
Ingredients Needed:
Rice - 1 small cup
Milk - 2 cups (same cup)
Water - 1 cup
Rock Candy / Kalkandu – 2 cups (plus 2 tsp extra for garnish)
Ghee – 2 tbsp
Cardamom a pinch
Saffron few strands soaked in warm milk
Kesar food colour a pinchTo garnish
Cashews and Raisins few – roasted in ghee.Method to prepare
Wash and pressure cook the rice with milk and water till soft. Mash it well.In a kadai, take the rock candy and enough water to just cover the candies. Boil it till it melts. You need not mostly sieve for impurities as this will not have.
Again boil it till you see the bubble coming out.
Add the mashed rice, cardamom powder, soaked saffron and ghee one by one. Once it is cooked well switch off the stove and garnish it with fried cashews and raisins and 2 tsp of Kalkandu.
This tastes great when served hot, the whole kalkandu tastes good when you bite along with the rice. This can be served cold too if you wish.
Happy weekends!
jayasree says
Sounds very easy to make. Guess adding kalkandu for sweetner must be giving it a unique taste. Bookmarked.
Cham says
My mom does this one,gorgeous color!
Tina says
Looks yummy and colourful..
lata raja says
I made this too, slightly differently. Mine did not come out as colourful!
Sarah Naveen says
Ohhh...Love the color...
I have never tried this, but sure it tastes awesome..
Looks really inviting 🙂
Priya says
It has been ages had this lipsmacking dish...looks tooo gorgeous Sri!
Medhaa says
looks yumm, love the color, i think we call this rock candy as misri. We used to love them as kids.
roma says
Idea of using rock candy in sweet dish sounds great. Its a healthy option for babies too...
shanthi says
This is a famous dish of ours. Looks really delicious
Happy cook says
Beautiful colour , i don't think i have ever had this especially with kalkandu in the sweet.
musical says
Lovely pictures, Valli! The color looks smashing! Remids me of a dish called "zarda" back home, which is sweetened rice with a lovely orange color and some dried coconut.
Rock candy is called misri in Hindi and Punjabi and is quite popular with kids and also a part of prasads in Temples. My Mom used to carry it with her all the time (along with cardamoms) whenever we went on a long bus/train journey-when taken together, these made an instant cure for motion sickness and sore throat!
Laavanya says
I've tasted this just once but remember liking it a lot. Must give it a try one of these days.
Silpa says
Yummy and colorful. anyways wat is kalkandu, i never heard about it
A_and_N says
Ohhhh! I remember my Pati used to make this. Somehow, my mom never makes it and I'd forgotten all about this!
Lovely colour.
Sh... says
That's a wonderful recipe. Using crystal sugar is very innovative. Have a pack of these unattended to in my kitchen pantry for months together. Time to use them..:)
Sunshinemom says
This used be a staple prasadam at home. Lovely bright colour!
Parita says
This is something very new to me, never heard of it before, love the bright color 🙂
Vidhya says
I have heard about this kalkandu saadham, but never tried and seen this before.. Looks really tempting..
Aparna says
You know, this is the firs time I am hearing of kalkandu sadam, even though kalkandu is a perennial favourite!
Anupama says
I've had this in the temples only so far and always wondered how delicious it was. Yours looks like the temple version and the pic is great
Suma Gandlur says
Didn't know that kalakanda can be used to make kheer (Right?).
Does it taste different than using sugar in the dish?
I had brought a little from India & have to check how much is left.