Huli nuchu or katambli is a traditional food that is made using broken rice and buttermilk. It is a coolant food for summer from Karnataka.
Some recipes are cherished since ages, they have stood the test of time and are worth mentioning. May be with time, life is moving super fast these days, some dishes will be soon forgotten and face a silent death with time. Writing it here, for all the kannadiga fans who love these dishes, Huli nuchu or katambli is one such unique dish, it’s one of the heirloom recipes, passed on through generations.
It makes a good dish for lunch or breakfast. Huli nuchu is a kannada word, where “huli” means “sour” and ” nuchu ” is the term used for broken rice granules. Thus, the broken rice granules are cooked in sour buttermilk. With the recipe written down here, I hope many will continue to cook and enjoy this rare dish.
huli nuchu or katambli
Broken rice granules are cooked in sour buttermilk with seasoning and spices, it makes a comfort meal by itself. One can serve it for breakfast or lunch. A simple mango pickle tastes good with it.
One needs a little prior preparation here. Raw rice needs to be washed and dried on a cloth. It is then coarsely grinded in the mixie. You can make this a day earlier and keep it ready.
How to make the broken rice:
It is usually available in the market, but one can make it at home also. Take a cup of rice, wash and soak it for two hours. Later, discard the water put it to dry on a cotton cloth in shade. Once, it is partially dry, grind it coarsely in the mixer.
Huli Nuchu / Katambli recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup broken rice
- 2 cup sour curd
- 4 cup water
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon asafoetida
- 1 inch ginger cut into small bits
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon bengal gram
- 1 teaspoon urad dal
- 4 green chilly
- a few curry leaves
- coriander finely chopped
- salt to taste
Method:
- Whisk the curds and keep it aside.
- Heat oil in a thick bottom pan, it is good to use a pressure cooker if you do not have a thick bottom vessel. Add mustard seeds, as it crackles, put bengal gram and urad dal to it. Add asafoetida, after a few seconds, put the green chilly and curry leaves to it. Mix water to the curds. Pour it into seasoning, add salt.
- As it boils, mix the broken rice granules (akki tari) slowly to it. Keep stirring, lumps may be formed here. Let cook on a slow heat for some time. Keep stirring in between.
- Add fresh coriander to it.
- Add more water, if the consistency is thick.
- The rice granules should be soft, once it is done, remove and serve. Mango pickle tastes good with it.
Take a tip:
- Sour curds is essential.
- Adjust chilly as per your needs.
- Ginger may be grated and put in the seasoning.
- Do not skip adding ginger, it gives a good taste to thhe dish.
- It needs time to prepare this dish.
huli nuchu or katambli
Huli nuchu | Katambli | Karnataka recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup broken rice, akki tari,
- 2 cup sour yoghurt
- 3 cup water
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon asafoetida
- 1 teaspoon bengal gram
- 1 teaspoon urad dal
- 1 inch ginger
- 4 green chilly
- a few curry leaves
- coriander leaves
- salt to tatse
Instructions
- Whisk the curds, add water to it and keep it aside.
- Heat oil in a thick bottom pan, add mustard seeds, as it crackles, put asafoetida, bengal gram, urad dal, ginger pieces, green chilly and curry leaves. Let cook for a few seconds. Now, add the buttermilk (curds and water mixed) to it.
- Once it boils, slowly add the broken rice to it, keep stirring in between. Add salt and let cook on a slow flame for half an hour.
- Keep stirring in between. Add water if necessary, the consistency should be moderately thick.
- Add fresh chopped coriander to it while cooking. It imparts good smell.
Notes
- To make broken rice, wash the raw rice and put it to dry on a cloth. Later, coarsely grind it.
- Curds should be sour.
- Adjust the consistency of water.
- Grated ginger can be added.
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huli nuchu / katambli
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This recipe sounds perfect for a summer meal, light on stomach and cooling, lovely share.
This is really a cooling dish for summer. So nice and creamy.
Wow..this can be a healthier version of curd rice as we are substituting rice with broken rice. Nice recipe
This is really such a comfort food and cool dish for summers.
At first I thought it is curd rice, but this is different. A different way of cooking rice. Will definitely try. Your pictures are making me drool.
Wow! Mushy mushy curd rice is my weakness and I so want this right now!
A completely new recipe for me. Its looks so tempting. Creamy and yummy. Thanks for the recipe.
This sounds like a really refreshing dish to serve in the hot weather , I have had curd rice which is similar in flavour but not this recipe.
Such a comforting food especially when the weather is super hot outside. My all time favourite food.
It looks and sounds great for this weather. I’ve not come across this recipe, but sure looks delicious 🙂
Perfect summer meal…light on the stomach!! Comfort food at its best…great share Jaya!!
I have heard friends mentioning this… for ever i thought it was a version of chitranna. thankyou for this recipe
For the hot summer days to come, this rice will be heavenly.. looks so comforting and delicious
This recipe is perfect for summer. Such a comfort food!!
Perfect and healthy meal for summer days. My aunt used to do this when we are kids:)
It’s a new recipe for me, Jaya and sounds very interesting! It must light on stomach and really good for digestion too .
You are right, some old age recipes needs exposure and we bloggers can do that through our blogs. Loving this easy but healthy and delicious recipe that can be so useful in scorching summer.
You’re right Jayashree. Some old traditional recipes are the best, easy, healthy and filling. We make a similar dish called khatti kanki in Gujarati. Its more like a khichdi consistency.
Summer means all the comfort and healthy food we should grab. This katambli dish loosk so delicious 👌👌Jayashree
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful recipe. I love to have to during summers especially for lunch.Perfect share.
Thankyou Preethi
Curd rice is my favourite. Karnataka version looks really delicious with soft texture just like the way I prefer.
Thankyou. It is not curd rice. It is made with broken rice and rarely made these days.
Wow, this certainly will please my daughter. She loves anything with yogurt and this will be great for her lunch box.
Thankyou. It might be difficult to make for the lunch box as it needs time.
I love the sound of this creamy and tangy rice dish which can be refreshing in the hot weather. I was wondering if it can be served hot in the winter?
Yes, it can be served hot during cold season.It tastes good with mango pickle. Thank you for the visit.
Huli nuchu, sounds delicious jayashree. Love how simple it is to make. We make something similar with rice flour and is called morekali.
Thank you for the visit. Good to know about morekali, Priya. Do you have the recipe of it on your blog ?
Dish sounds so comforting and delicious. A perfect summer dish. I can imagine the refreshing taste and flavour. I will try it soon. Bookmarked your recipe.
Jayashree this huli nuchu is so similar to the Gujarati kanki recipe except for the tempering ingredients. This dish sounds interesting and can’t wait to try it out.
Thank you Mayuri. I must look out for the kanki recipe, would love to know about it.
been ages since I heard the word Huli Nucchu ! brings back so many memories of childhood breakfast and tiffins packed with this dish.. yummy!
Yes, it was made regularly in the past. Thanks for the visit.
Nice to come across a traditional recipe which is now hardly prepared. Akki tharri is easy to digest and also very soft and gooey when made right . I love yogurt based dishes and will try this for sure.