Khara Bath is a Karnataka dish that is made with semolina or rava, a mix of vegetables, curry leaves, and most importantly, a spice powder that renders a unique flavour to it. Khara Bath is similar to Rava Upma, but the difference is that spice powder and ghee are used in the former. The spice powders often used in Khara Bath are roasted vangi bath powder (vangi bath is a dish made with brinjal), sambar powder or bisi bele bath powder (bisi bele bath is another popular Karnataka dish). Kesari Bath, on the other hand, is a sweet version made of rava cooked in ghee, sugar, milk or water, fruits such as mango,banana, and coconut, and cashew nuts, and raisins. When Khara Bath and Kesari Bath are served together on the same plate, it is known as Chow Chow Bath in Karnataka.
Below are recipes for Khara Bath and Kesari Bath, respectively:
Ingredients:
- Rava or semolina
- 1 onion
- 1 tomato
- ½ ginger
- 1 carrot
- 2-3 beans
- 2 green chilis
- A few cashew nuts
- Curry leaves
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1 teaspoon white lentils
- ½ teaspoon chickpea lentils
- 1 teaspoon vangi bath powder
- Salt as per taste preference
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- Refined oil
Method:
- Roast one cup semolina or rava for five minutes in a pan
- In another pan, heat two teaspoons of oil, and in it put one teaspoon mustard seeds, half teaspoons white lentils, half teaspoon chickpea lentil, curry leaves, chopped onions, two slit green chilis, and grated ginger, and saute till the onions turn translucent
- Add one cup chopped tomatoes, one cup chopped beans, one cup chopped carrots, one tablespoon cashew nuts, and saute for five minutes
- Add three cups of water and stir, and let it come to a boil, add one teaspoon salt, a little bit of sugar, and vangi bath powder (or whichever spice powder you prefer), and mix well for two to three minutes
- Add the roasted rava and mix well, cover the dish and let it cook for two minutes
- Serve hot
Khara Bath can also be garnished with coriander and is often served with coconut chutney.
Ingredients:
- Rava or semolina
- 1 tablespoon cashew nuts
- 1 tablespoon raisins
- Cardamom powder
- ½ cup sugar
- A pinch of food colouring (optional)
- Ghee
Method:
- In a pan, put half teaspoon ghee, in it add a few cashew nuts, 1 tablespoon raisins, and saute for two minutes
- In another pan, add one tablespoon ghee, add one full cup of rava or semolina, roast on a medium flame for five minutes
- In another pan, add three full cups of water, and let the water come to a boil, then add the roasted rava, and stir on low flame for a while, cover the pan with a lid, and let it cook for two minutes
- Once the rava/semolina absorbs the water, add half cup sugar, a little bit of cardamom powder, food colouring (fruits such as mango and banana can be added to), and mix well
- Add the cooked cashew nuts and raisins and mix well, add one teaspoon of ghee, and mix well
- Serve hot
A combination of both Khara Bath and Kesari Bath satisfies both savoury and sweet cravings.
