Kalkandu Bhath with Mixed nuts

Ugadhi wishes to you all. May this year be filled with happiness and prosperity. My mom used to make this Kalkandu bhath/saadam/rice using all the prasad we get in the temples. I did not ask her the recipe. I made up my own using the kalkandu, elachi, nuts and raisins and of course with the important ingredients rice and ghee (clarified butter) . This is one high calorie food, a delicious delicacy for any occasion. This recipe might not be the authentic way to do this sweet but sure is a delight that is made easy. Here's the recipe.

Ingredients:

Cooked rice - 2 cups - Rice must be cooked soft in pressure cooker and must be still hot while preparing this dish.

Ghee - half cup

Mixed nuts (or any one for combination of nuts of your choice) - 1 cup

Elachi / Cardamom powder - half teaspoon

Kalkandu / Sugar candies - 1 and 1/4 cups ( substitute with plain sugar 1 and half cup if you don't have the kalkandu)

For nuts I used mixed nuts of Almonds, Cashews, Pistachios, Walnuts and added raisins too.

Method:

In a teaspoon of ghee, roast the nuts and keep it aside.

Take a wide and heavy bottomed kadai.

Dissolve the sugar candies (Kalkandu) with half cup water in medium heat.

Once the sugar is dissolved, add the cooked rice, and cardamom powder and reduce the heat.

Keep stirring to avoid mixture sticking to the bottom of the vessel.

Once the rice is mixed well with the dissolved sugar, add the nuts and ghee.

Mix well. At this point, you can taste the sweet and add more sugar if you think the sweetness is not enough. Mix all together and turn off heat.

The sweet is at it's best while it is still warm.