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If you ask an Odia about his/her favourite summer drink, the most obvious response would be Tanka Torani. A drink made with fermented rice water and a few humble ingredients found in almost every Indian house, Tanka Torani is believed to have a lot of medicinal properties. Being gut friendly because of the fermentation, this drink has a tangy and pungent flavour profile. Its origin lies in the famous Odia dish ‘pakhala bhaata’ or ‘water rice’ and is a summer delight in almost every Odia household. People also believe that it was used to treat sunstroke in ancient days. Here’s the recipe if you want to try it.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 cup fermented rice
• 2.5 cups Fermented rice water
• 1 cup curd
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp curry leaves
• 3 tbsp coriander leaves
• 1 tbsp lemon leaves
• 2 green chillies
• 4 tbsp grated mango ginger
• 1/2 tbsp roasted cumin powder
• Black salt to season
METHOD
1. Mash the fermented rice with curd and keep it aside.
2. Chop some curry leaves, coriander leaves, and lemon leaves and add them to the mashed rice.
3. Finely chop the green chillies and add them to the mashed rice and curd mixture along with the grated ginger.
4. Gradually add the fermented water and keep stirring.
5. Finish off by adding lemon juice, roasted cumin powder, and season with some black salt.
TAKEAWAY TIPS-
1. Ferment the rice at least for a day or two to get slightly pungent rice water to make the Torani.
2. Finely chop or muddle the herbs to have a smooth drink.
This Odia drink is the perfect refresher after a long day at work on a hot summer afternoon and can be stored for a day or two too. It’s a must-have when you visit the famous Jagannath Temple of Puri.
