📝 Blog Title:
Kanika Recipe – Sweet Ghee Rice with Cloves & Raisins (Traditional Odia Dish)
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- SEO Title: Kanika Recipe – Traditional Sweet Rice with Ghee & Raisins from Odisha
- Meta Description: Kanika is a sweet rice dish from Odisha made with ghee, cloves, cardamom, and raisins. Learn how to make this simple and divine temple-style Mahaprasad.
- Permalink:
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- Tags: Odia Sweet Rice, Temple Recipes, Jagannath Mahaprasad, Festival Food, Ghee Rice, Sweet Rice with Raisins
🍚 Kanika Recipe – Sweet Ghee Rice from Odisha
🪔 Introduction
Kanika is a traditional sweet rice dish from Odisha, prepared with aromatic ghee, cloves, cardamom, and raisins. It holds a sacred place in the kitchens of Odisha and is most famously served as Mahaprasad at the Jagannath Temple in Puri. Unlike typical pulao or desserts, Kanika strikes a perfect balance between sweetness and the rich aroma of whole spices.
🍴 Ingredients
To make temple-style Kanika, you’ll need:
- 1 cup raw rice (preferably Gobindobhog or Basmati)
- 2 tablespoons desi ghee
- 4–5 cloves
- 2 green cardamoms
- 1 small cinnamon stick
- 3 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste)
- 2 tablespoons raisins
- Salt – a pinch
- Water – 2 cups
👨🍳 Step-by-Step Preparation
1. Soak the Rice
Wash the rice thoroughly and soak it in water for about 30 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. Prepare the Spices
In a heavy-bottomed pan, heat ghee. Add cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon. Sauté till the spices release a fragrant aroma.
3. Add the Rice
Add the soaked rice to the pan and stir gently to coat it with ghee and spices. Sauté for 2–3 minutes.
4. Cook the Rice
Pour in 2 cups of water. Add sugar, salt, and raisins. Mix gently and cover the pan with a lid.
5. Simmer and Serve
Let the rice cook on low heat for 10–15 minutes, or until soft and fragrant. Once cooked, fluff with a fork and serve warm.
🙏 Cultural Significance
Kanika is not just a recipe – it is a symbol of devotion and heritage. It is one of the 56 items offered to Lord Jagannath as part of the famous Chhappan Bhog. Prepared in the Ananda Bazaar of the Jagannath Temple, Kanika represents purity, simplicity, and divinity.
🔗 Read more about: Jagannath Temple 56 Dishes (Chhappan Bhog)
🌟 Tips & Variations
- Add a few cashew nuts or chopped almonds for a richer version.
- Use jaggery instead of sugar for a more traditional, earthy flavor.
- Can be served with Dalma (Odia dal) or khajuri khatta (date chutney).
📷 Image Suggestion
Include a top-angle photo of:
- A bowl of Kanika garnished with raisins and cloves.
- Optional: A banana leaf plate with Kanika, Dalma, and temple sweets.
Alt Text: “Traditional Odia Kanika – Sweet Rice with Ghee and Raisins”
🔗 Internal Links
🌐 External Reference Links
✅ Rank Math Tips Summary
| Element | Status |
|---|---|
| Focus Keyword in Title | ✅ Yes |
| Focus Keyword in URL | ✅ Yes |
| Focus Keyword in Meta | ✅ Yes |
| Internal Links | ✅ Yes |
| External Links | ✅ Yes |
| Image with Alt Text | ✅ Yes |
| Minimum 600+ Words | ✅ (800+) |