Wash the carrots and beetroot. Now peel and chop them into thick and long strips. Note: You can use any type of carrot if the traditional black carrots are not available. Also, coarsely ground the mustard seeds.
In a large pan, add about 8-10 cups of water and boil. Once the water boils, cover the pan and let it cool down. Always use boiled water to make kanji.
Take thoroughly cleaned and dried ceramic or glass jars. Add water, carrots, beets, ground mustard seeds, salt, and red chilli powder. Mix the ingredients well with a clean, dry spoon. Do not use steel containers, as they can react with the acids released during fermentation.
Once all the ingredients have been mixed, cover the jar with a lid or muslin cloth. Now, place the sealed jar under the sun for 3 to 5 days. Shake the jar every day. After two days, do a small taste test — if it’s sour, then kanji is ready.
Kanji can be stored for up to 5 days in the fridge. You can serve it with ice and top it with a lemon wedge for an extra burst of flavor. Serve it before meals or with evening snacks.