Oggarane Anna | Thalicha Sadam - Kitchen Cook & Kitchen Appliance

Have some leftover rice? Then give this simple oggarane anna / seasoned rice a try. It is a quick and delicious dish that you make in no time. Serve it with raita or papad for a complete meal.

overhead shot of thallipu sadam served in yellow bowl with curry leaves on the side

Leftover rice recipe

So what is oggarane? It’s a Kannada (language spoken in Karnataka, India) word that means tempering, and anna means rice. I can’t claim this to be a traditional Karnataka recipe, as I have only seen my mom making it. It’s an amalgamation of Tamil and Kannada recipes. This oggarane or oggarne anna in Tamil can be called thalicha or thalippu sadam.

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During summers, I usually make neeragaram or my fryums with leftover rice, but when the weather changes, I opt for fried rice or this simple oggarne anna. Honestly, you don’t need leftover rice to make this rice. You can very well use freshly cooked rice to make this thalicha sadam.

As I’ve mentioned in my blog, I am a Kannadiga born and raised in Tamil Nadu. Our family’s migration and settlement in various parts of TN during the Hoysala period has influenced our cooking, which is now a blend of Tamil and Kannada styles. After coming to the US, our cooking has evolved into a blend of all vegetarian styles.

Ingredients required

I have used 3 cups of cooked rice. I highly recommend the short-grain ponni or sona masoori variety over basmati. Hand-pound rice works, too.
I have used mor milagai or sun-dried chilies to spice up the rice. You need to shallow fry them first in gingelly oil, and in the same oil, you can temper and saute the onion.
We need mustard seeds, urad dal, chana dal, and asafoetida for tempering.
I have used ½ cup of chopped onion and curry leaves for added flavor.
Finally, we need some salt for seasoning.

Please check the recipe card for exact measurements.

close up shot of seasoned rice with curry leaves on the side

Frequently asked questions

Can I make it without onion?

Yes, you can very well make this rice without onion.

What if I don’t have sun-dried chilies/mor milagai?

Depending on your preference, you can use dried red chilies or fresh green chilies.

Can I add turmeric powder and other veggies to this recipe?

Yes, absolutely. I did not add turmeric powder or cilantro. You can add both. A ½ tsp of turmeric powder and 1 tbsp of finely added cilantro are sufficient for this measure. Sometimes, I add grated carrots and onion to this rice to add flavor, but you can add veggies. Cabbage or capsicum works well.

Dietary specifications

This oggarane anna is a nut-free recipe. If you follow a strict vegan diet, I would skip the sun-dried chilies as they are typically soaked in buttermilk and sun-dried. Also, for a gluten-free recipe, use gluten-free asafoetida or skip it.

south indian tadka rice served in yellow bowl

What to serve with

You can serve this oggarne anna with any raita. We love with tomato raita or urad dal raita. You can also serve it with papad or potato chips. This combo keeps the meal light, but for a daily dose of protein, you can add a glass of lassi or buttermilk.

How to make oggarane anna

Heat a pan or kadai and add a tbsp of gingelly oil.
When hot, add the sun-dried chilies and shallow fry them until fully browned. If they turn dark, it’s ok. We don’t want the mor milagai to be partially cooked. Transfer the shallow-fried mor milagai to a plate.
Add the mustard seeds, urad dal, and chana dal to the same oil. Let the mustard seeds splutter. Then add the asaofieda and mix well.
Add the chopped onion and curry leaves and cook until the onion turns soft and translucent.
Add the rice and salt and mix well. Turn off the heat.
Now crush the shallow-fried sun-dried chilies and mix the rice again.
Serve it with a side of your choice.

Thalicha sadam in the yellow bowl with spoon inside

Recipe Notes

Many store-bought/homemade sun-dried chilies have salt in them already. So, add salt cautiously. If needed, you can always add more.
As always, adjust salt and spice to taste.
Please check the FAQ section for variations and other options.

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square image of thalicha sadam served in a yellow bowl

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