Pazhaya Sadam, Overnight Fermented Rice with Curd and Onion
Leftover cooked rice kept in water overnight in a clean covered pot, then eaten in cool weather with curd, shallot and a pinch of salt. A traditional South Indian breakfast, food and not a probiotic treatment; use fresh rice, discard if it smells off, and skip for babies and in hot weather.
Important: this remedy is only a supportive home measure. Keep taking any medicine your doctor has prescribed, monitor your readings, and consult your doctor before adding anything new.
What pazhaya sadam is, and what it is not
Pazhaya sadam is cooked rice kept in water overnight and eaten the next morning with curd, shallot and a little salt. It is an old home breakfast in South India and a similar dish exists in Bengal and Odisha. It is food. It is not a probiotic course and it does not treat the gut.
Food safety comes first. Use rice cooked that same evening, cool it quickly, keep the pot covered, and make it only in cool weather. If it smells sour in a rotten way, looks slimy or fizzes, throw it away. Skip it for babies, for anyone with a weak stomach, and for people told to avoid starchy food.
Ingredients
- 1 small katori of freshly cooked rice
- Clean water to cover the rice
- Fresh curd, a shallot and a pinch of salt
How to prepare
- Put the cooled rice in a clean clay or steel pot and just cover it with water. Cover the pot and keep it in a cool place overnight.
- In the morning mash the rice lightly and stir in curd, chopped shallot and salt.
How to use
- Eat one small bowl as a breakfast, fresh.
- Drink the leftover rice water only if the smell is clean and mild.
- Do not keep it for a second day.
Helpful habits
- Use a clean pot and a clean spoon. It keeps better in cool weather.
- Add a green chilli or a little curry leaf for taste, not for effect.
Precautions
- Do not make it in hot or humid weather, or from rice left out all day.
- Not for babies and not for people with a weak or recently upset stomach.
- If you have diabetes or are on a set diet, ask your doctor, since it is still rice.
Frequently asked questions
Does this give me probiotics?
- It is a fermented-style food, but the amount and type of microbes vary. Treat it as a breakfast, not as a probiotic supplement.
How long can I keep it?
- Overnight, in a cool place. Do not keep it a second day.
Can I make it in summer?
- It is better to skip it in hot weather, since rice kept warm can spoil quickly and cause stomach upset.
