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Goan pez
पेज: Goan rice kanji with pickle and roasted papad, the monsoon and sick-day meal
Pez is the plainest food in a Goan kitchen and one of the most loved: red parboiled rice simmered in plenty of water until the grains burst and the liquid turns milky. Fishermen and farmers ate it before a day's work, mothers serve it to anyone who feels unwell, and on heavy monsoon evenings it comes with a spoon of mango or lime pickle, a roasted papad and sometimes a dry fish or vegetable on the side. The mistake is cooking it in too little water so it becomes a sticky porridge; good pez has whole soft grains floating in thin, starchy broth. Chef's tip: stir in a little salt only at the end and let everyone add buttermilk or coconut milk to their own bowl.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the pez
- 5 ½ oz Goan red parboiled rice (ukde) or matta ricerinsed and soaked 30 minutes
- 6 ¼ cups water
- ¾ tsp salt
To serve
- 4 tsp mango or lime pickle
- 4 papadroasted over a flame
- ½ cup coconut milk (optional)
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Bring 6 ¼ cups water to a rolling boil in a deep pot. Drain 5 ½ oz Goan red parboiled rice (ukde) or matta rice and add it.
8 minStep 2: Simmer partly covered over medium-low heat for 30–35 minutes, stirring now and then, until the grains are soft and starting to split and the liquid is cloudy and lightly thick.
35 minStep 3: Stir in ¾ tsp salt. Add a little boiling water if it has thickened too much; it should pour easily.
1 minStep 4: Ladle into bowls with 4 tsp mango or lime pickle and 4 papad on the side, and ½ cup coconut milk for those who like it richer.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 180 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 38 g
- Fat
- 1 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does goan pez take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of goan red parboiled rice (ukde) or matta rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
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