Homemade Delicious Milk Rice(Kiribath)

The Sinhala name of Milk Rice is Kiribath. This is one of the important traditional food in Sri Lanka and is a combination of rice and coconut milk. Kiri bath or Milk Rice is used to mark joyful beginnings, auspicious occasions, or traditions like weddings, birthdays, openings of a new workplace, starting of a new business, and before going for an exam or new job. This food is considered a symbol of prosperity.

In Tamil, Milk Rice is known as Paal Soru. It is enjoyed on Sinhala New Year and the main dish place on the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, the head of the family, feeds a mouthful of milky rice as a symbol of the tradition. Also traditionally, Milk Rice is given to children as their first solid food.

The combination of rice and coconut milk gives a tasty output. The rice is cooked in milk and then it is flattened on a shallow plate. The Milk Rice can be served by cutting into square or diamond shapes. Nowadays, Milk Rice is decorated into various shapes like flowers, animals. Also at present, the Kiribath Cake is a very famous item in a function.

There are many accompaniments used with Milk Rice. Lunumiris is the most commonly used accompaniment. Chili paste, Seeni sambal, some curries like chicken, salmon and also it can be served with along jaggery and bananas.

• Lunimiris – It is a combination of chopped onions mixed with chili flakes, grated umbalakada(Maldive fish) and a bit of lime.
• Seeni Sambal – It is a famous dish which is made by onion and sugar. When milk rice is served with seeni sambal, it gives a sweetness and also a spiciness.

To enhance the taste and appearance of the milk rice can be added various ingredients like Maldive fish, rampe leaves.

Variations of Milk Rice(Kiribath)

Imbul Kiri Bath

• Imbul kiribath is the sweet variation of kiribath/milk rice. It can be prepared as dumplings, cup shaped or elongated moulds. It is made by small amount of milk rice spreading it on a banana leaf or non stick sheet and the sweet filling known as Pani Pol which is made of coconut and treacle is placed in the center. Then the banana leaf or non stick sheet is folded and rolled vertically. Then, you can press firm to take a cylindrical shape.

Mung Kiri Bath (Green Gram Milk Rice)

• Mung kiribath is another variation of kiribath/milk rice. This is a good and healthy type of kiribath. The additional ingredient of this food is mung beans (green gram). It is a ingredient which contains a lot of vitamins and nutrients. So, this is an healthy and wholesome breakfast for an active lifestyle. Green gram is soaked overnight or boiled before the preparation of mung kiribath.

Pongal

• Pongal is an important tamil dish which is used for celebrating the New Year. The term ‘pongal’ in tamil means ‘to boil’. It is made in earthenware pots on a wood fire. There are some variations of Pongal. They are Sakkarai Pongal and Ven Pongal or Melagu Pongal. Sakkarai Pongal gives sweetness with the addition of jaggery, ghee, cashewnuts, raisins and cardamom. ven pongal gives a savoury taste.

Bada Iringu Kiri Bath (Corn Milk Rice)

• This is also another variation of kiribath/milk rice. The additional ingredient of this meal is bada iringu(Corn kernels). The corn is soaked overnight and boiled at least 30 minutes before the preparation of milk rice. Bada iringu (Corn0 is also rich of vitamins and nutrients. So, this variation is also a healthy meal.

Ingredients of Kiribath (Milk Rice)

• Sudu Kekulu Rice(White/Red Kekulu Rice)
  • For the preparation of milk rice can be used either white or red rice. Short grain rice like “Kekulu Rice” is most commonly used for the milk rice. It is available in Sri Lankan supermarkets. But, you are in another country it is not easy to find them. So, you can use Jasmine rice / Basmati rice as substitutions. Further, you should take a rice variety that become mushy.

• Condensed coconut milk
• Water
• Rampe
• Coconut Milk
• Salt