Kambu koozh recipe with stepwise pictures and video.Kambu koozh recipe in both pressure cooker and open pot method.
Summer has started and I am already seeing kambu koozh stalls in the streets. In the street stalls, kambu koozh is usually stored in large mud pots which are natural coolants. Certain foods are best consumed in summer to cool the body and keep it refreshng and this kambu koozh is one among them.I bought and stored kambu some 4months back.I had few kambu/bajra/pearl millet) recipes in mind but somehow cooking with the millet kept delaying that the pack was kept untouched.Finally a day came or I should say the vazha ilai plate motivated me and I made kambu koozh last month and clicked it….and after that its been regular for breakfast and we just love it…its so refreshing! When hubby said that most of all the sidedishes were the same in the street shops too as the ones I have presented for clicking, I was overjoyed….yay!! so I have done justice right?!!! Check for neeragaram which I posted last summer.
The traditional way of cooking kambu is to cook it in thick bottomed vessel but we need to baby sit for it and also its very time consuming…now who has the time and energy to do that?! atleast that is not for me…So I took the shortcut of cooking kambu in pressure cooker as my neighbor suggested.
Updated to add : I did try the open pot method and found that cooking in claypot makes cooking faster.Have updated with stepwise pictures.
I love it with milaga vathal and hubby loves it with raw onion.Though I don’t make all the sidedishes shown in the pic, I wanted to show the accompainments for kambu koozh so clicked with all these and ofcourse enjoyed them too :).
Pressure cooker method : Kambu koozh recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup pearl millet (I used broken kambu)
- 3.5 cups water
- 3 cups thin buttermilk
- salt to taste
For sidedishes:
- raw onion Green chillies
- pickle
- vadam
- molaga vathal
Instructions
- I used broken kambu so used it as such.Rinse the kambu well and transfer to pressure cooker and add water and pressure cook in low medium flame for 3-4 whistles in low medium flame.
- Once pressure releases, open and switch on the flame.Keep stirring till it becomes thick enough to roll into a ball.Let it cool down for few mins, then roll them into balls as shown.
- Place the kambu balls in a bowl containing water till immersing level.Let it rest for an hr(you can leave it overnight in the fridge too), you can refrigerate it.Then mix it well.I used my whisk for this.
- Mix well without any lumps, then finally add buttermilk,required salt and give a quick stir.
- Serve with raw onion or vadams or pickle of your choice.
Notes
Pressure cooker method:
- I used broken kambu so used it as such.Rinse the kambu well and transfer to pressure cooker and add water and pressure cook in low medium flame for 3-4 whistles in low medium flame.
- Once pressure releases, open and switch on the flame.Keep stirring till it becomes thick enough to roll into a ball.Let it cool down for few mins, then roll them into balls as shown.
- Place the kambu balls in a bowl containing water till immersing level.Let it rest for an hr(you can leave it overnight in the fridge too), you can refrigerate it.Then mix it well.I used my whisk for this.
- Mix well without any lumps, then finally add buttermilk,required salt and give a quick stir.
Serve with raw onion or vadams or pickle of your choice.
Open pot method : Kambu koozh recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup whole pearl millet Kambu
- 1 and 1/2 cups water The ratio is 1:3
- 2 cups thin buttermilk
- salt to taste
For sidedishes:
- small raw onion
- pickle
- vadam
- molaga vathal
- green chillies
Instructions
- I used whole kambu this time.Rinse well, then drain water completely dry for few mins then add to mixer jar and grind it to a coarse mixture.
- To a claypot(you can use any utensil but claypots usually cooks faster) measure and add the flour.Measure and add water accordingly.Cook in low mdeium flame.
- Keep mixing with a laddle to avoid lumps.It will thicken, will take atleast 15 mins.
- Switch off and cool down completely.Then make big balls, add water to it.Allow it to rest for overnight in room temperature or just few hrs is also enough.
- Then open and mix well without lumps.
- Add salt and buttermilk.I used homemade buttermilk extracted while taking butter so it was a bit thick and creamy.Mix well and serve chilled.Adjust with water if you want to make it more runny.
Pressure cooker method:
- I used whole kambu this time.Rinse well, then drain water completely dry for few mins then add to mixer jar and grind it to a coarse mixture.
- To a claypot(you can use any utensil but claypots usually cooks faster) measure and add the flour.Measure and add water accordingly.Cook in low mdeium flame.
- Keep mixing with a laddle to avoid lumps.It will thicken, will take atleast 15 mins.
- Switch off and cool down completely.Then make big balls, add water to it.Allow it to rest for overnight in room temperature or just few hrs is also enough.
- Then open and mix well without lumps.
- Add salt and buttermilk.I used homemade buttermilk extracted while taking butter so it was a bit thick and creamy.Mix well and serve chilled.Adjust with water if you want to make it more runny.
My Notes:
- My friend told that we can make the cooked kambu balls and refrigerate it the previous night itself. And morning you can just mix it with buttermilk and serve it.I think that the traditional way too which lets the millet to ferment and it gives a slight tangy taste too.
- I am not sure whether broken bajra is available at all stores, you can pulse it in mixer. I got it from Nilgiris..Actually I took the whole kambu pack when the sales pati enlightened me saying that broken bajra is easy to cook so got this.
- I have seen readymade bajra powders too, but I recommend getting the millet.
You can use chilled buttermilk too.
It usually gets thick after cooling down so switch off accordingly.
You can even cook kambu in a thick bottomed vessel,Keep stirring occasionally, when the rice is cooked all the water will be absorbed and switch off when it is thick enough to hold as a ball. but it takes time so I usually use the pressure cooker method. - Make the drink littly runny so that its drinkable. But if you like it as porridge then make it spoon-able.
- Kambu sadam is just to stop with making balls and serving with kuzhambu.
Delicious and this is must for summer
so tasty and healthy
I too cook kambu using pressure cooker now a days.Sauteed onion and chilli is the best ever combo for this. love your picture.
Such a cooling and comfort drink for summer..never got a chance to taste it.
omg sharmi im really drooling…… makes me remember my place …….. really tempting photos. the tumbler is also very apt!! cool yaar!!!
omg sharmi im really drooling…… makes me remember my place …….. really tempting photos. the tumbler is also very apt!! cool yaar!!!
Healthy and delicious looking millet. Lovely presentation.
Deepa
Coimbatore tradition bajra recipe 🙂
looks comforting, love those colourful fryums near that as well
A perfect and heart filling old-timey breakfast.. my mom used to make it… love ur post and clicks 🙂
omg! this looks so refreshing and perfect for summer.
Wat a food, nutritious and a nostalgic post definitely.
Semma healthy my mouth is watering looking at it feel bad y I didn't drink such healthy drinks when mom gave me during childhood I miss it now yumm don't know if I can get khambhu in California but def going to try sooo yumm
Hey, very nice site. I came across this on Google, and I am stoked that I did. I will definitely be coming back
here more often. Wish I could add to the conversation and bring a bit more to the table,but am just taking in as
much info as I can at the moment. Thanks for sharing.
mango drinks manufacturers
i haven't cook that so far.. but i had that kambu twice just this week, the way they prepared was very good and i believe that is healthier too… if possible i will also make my own.. thank you for given the way of making.
nice
I am new to this site but now i guess i am gonna be stuck here to learn cooking even more better . All of your dishes look great and inviting Sharmi 🙂
I have a question. We should use only Pearl Millet for making this koozh? I can't use thinai, kuthurai vaali or Saamai for making this Koozh? Please let me know.
Yes you can make porridge using thinai,kuthirai vali but the method is different will post a version soon.
ok. Thank you Sharmi. Waiting for it 🙂
hi Sharmi
Tried your oats dosai and soy paratha came out very well
I have kambu koozh ready made powder can i directly mix it with buttermilk and have them?
Dry roast the flour for few mins until nice aroma comes , then make it like a koozh(check my ragi koozh post) then add buttermilk.
Vry interested I'm going to trying…I have one doubt before cooking we want to soak the kambu r not???
No need to soak…..
Probably I am the only one going to try this, so if I cook 1 cup of bajra and it makes 5 to 6 balls, how long can I keep this in the refrigerator? Can I eat/drink the porridge for breakfast 5 to 6 days? Or do I have to make it everyday?
Thanks for the recipe.
Prev day you can cook and soak the next day you can drink…
I have raw whole kambu. Should I roast and split in mixie and then do this?? Or don’t need to roast?
Just pulse it and use it…no need to roast