Khira Gaintha is a delicious Odia cuisine and usually made as an offering to the Lord Jagannath.
It is an offering to the Lord Jagannath on the auspicious occasion of Baula Amavasya during the Pausa Masa as per the Odia Calendar( comes during the month of December & January).
This festival is dedicated to the Mango tree. The Mango tree blooms with new flowers (Baula in Odia) for fruits. To celebrate this occasion the Gaintha Pitha is prepared and offered to Lord Jagannath along with the flowers.
Khira Gaintha is a very delicate soft and extremely mouth-watering dessert that’s unique to Odisha made up of Rice, coconut and Milk.You can otherwise say its the Desi version of Rasmalai.
This consists of balls of rice flour dough soaked in thickened cardamom flavoured milk. The rice flour is cooked with water, coconut, sugar(optional) and then kneaded to form a dough, moulded into balls, and dropped into simmering thickened Milk.
Ingredients:
- 1 & 1/2 Cup Rice powder
- 1 Coconut
- 1 Cup sugar(optional)
- 4 Cups Water
- 1 Teaspoon Cardamom Powder
- 1 Bay Leaf
- Pinch Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Ghee
INSTRUCTIONS
Preparation For Rice Balls:
Boil 1 cup of water with a pinch of salt when it starts to boil low the flame, add the rice flour and grated coconut gradually and keep stirring it continuously, to avoid lumps on it. When it forms a dough, remove from flame. Transfer into a dry plate to cool down and keep covered.
Now take small quantities in your greased( grease with ghee) palm and roll into balls. You may also give any shape to it.
Make equal size balls and keep them in a plate well apart each other. Don’t stack them one over another. it will stick soon.
For Gaintha Making:
Take a bowl, add water, make a thin slurry with extra rice flour.
In a deep handi heat milk along cardamom powder and bay leaf till the milk thickens.
When it starts boiling lower the flame slowly add the rice slurry and stir continuously till it start thicken and bubbles popping out.
Now add rice balls and cook gradually the balls will start floating on the surface. This shows they are cooked enough.
Cover and cook for 5 more minutes.
NOTE:Always use homemade rice flour for beautiful white colour.