Sanna

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Sanna on a plate
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Sanna
(Steamed Rice Cake) For Easter: A Must-Try Goan Speciality

42 mins
Cooking Time
Easy
Difficulty
7
Ingredients
Veg
Diet
Sanna, or steamed rice cakes, are a Goan or Mangalorean speciality that make for an excellent main course for Easter, especially when served with curries like chicken xacuti, pork vindaloo, or sorpotel. Soft, fluffy, and slightly spongy, they offer a unique texture that sets them apart from other Indian breads. But, before jumping to pairings and Easter, it’s important to understand a little more about this steamed delight. Often cooked to mark a celebration or festival, sanna are made from a fermented batter of rice and coconut. Traditional sanna recipes asked for the batter to be leavened with toddy (palm wine), which gave them a slightly tangy, mildly sweet flavour and airy texture. In home versions today, people often use yeast instead. This recipe also relies on instant yeast for fermentation. Because they’re excellent at soaking gravies, sanna are usually served with curries. You can also make a large batch in advance, and thus save the trouble of cooking hot rotis or parathas when guests come over. They also reheat well, making them a practical and stress-free option for hosting. This ease is another reason why they often show up on festive tables. And this Easter 2026, you can follow this simple sanna recipe to enjoy them at your home too.

Ingredients

UNITSIngredients
2 cupsRaw rice (soaked overnight)
1 cupFresh grated coconut
2–3 tbspSugar
½–1 tspSalt (to taste)
1–1.5 tspInstant yeast
as neededWater (to grind)
for greasingOil

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Directions

Description - Step 1

Make and ferment the batter

Drain the soaked rice and rinse once. Grind it with grated coconut and a little water to form a smooth, thick batter (slightly thicker than dosa batter). Transfer to a bowl, then mix in sugar, salt, and yeast. Cover and set aside in a warm place for 2–3 hours until the batter turns frothy and nearly doubles in volume.

Step 1
Make and ferment the batter
10 Minutes + Fermentation
Step 2
Steam the rice cakes
15-20 Minutes (in batches)
Step 3
Remove and keep warm
5-8 Minutes

FAQs

Though both sanna and idli are steamed rice cakes, there is a difference in their ingredients and taste. Sannas are typically sweeter, contain grated coconut in the batter, and use toddy or yeast for fermentation. Idli batter usually involves lentils (urad dal), which are not always present in traditional sanna recipes.