Sweet Pidi Kozhukattai

Another family recipe! Sweet Pidi Kozhukattai is a sweet and simple version of kozhukkatai made for ganesha’s birthday. During the two years after college and before marriage, I used to stay with my sister Manju in Chennai. There, during Vinayagar Chaturti, I used to be the one helping my sis in shaping the kozhukattais. This is when I learnt the recipe. Miss those chill days where Vinayagar Chaturti would mean only shaping kozhukattais and eating them while watching all the Vinayagar Chaturti specials on TV.

These kozhukattais are super soft. With every bite, you can taste the jaggery and feel the coconut. That’s one heavenly couple. I personally prefer this over the savoury version. Though it is a Vinayagar Chaturti special, it is not necessary that it should be made only on this occasion. You can also make it as an evening snack or for short break. It is a very filling dish. So make this simple kozhukattai and enjoy a blessed Ganesha Chaturti!

Preparation time: 5 minutes| Cooking time: 20 minutes
Course: Snacks| Cuisine: South Indian

Ingredients:

Idiyappam flour: ½ cup

Powdered jaggery- ½ cup

Grated coconut: 2-3 tblsp

Elachi powder- a pinch

Salt- a pinch

Water- 1 cup

Method:

1.      Heat water in a kadai and add jaggery to it. Let the jaggrey completely mix.

2.      Now add the grated coconut, elachi powder and a pinch of salt.

3.      When it comes to boiling stage, lower the flame and start adding the idiyappam flour slowly. Keep stirring while adding the flour.

4.      Within a minute or two it will thicken like dough. Now switch off flame.

5.      Transfer it to a plate. Let it cool.

6.      When it becomes warm, grease your hands with oil. Press and make the dough into a smooth ball.

7.      Take dough and roll into small lemon sized balls and start making shapes of your choice. You can press between your fingers and make pidi kozhukattais.

8.      Grease the idly plate with oil. Arrange the shaped kozhukattais on it and team for 10 to 15 minutes or until they are cooked.

9.      Sweet kozhukattais are ready to be served.

Notes:

·        If you find your jaggery to be impure, you need to first dissolve the powdered jaggery in water and filter it to remove the impurities. Then keep this on stove and follow the above steps.

·        Water quantity may differ according to the quality of flour. If you don’t have homemade idiyappam flour, use store bought idiyappam flour.

·        Adding salt enhances the sweetness of the dish.

·        I have added ½ cup jaggery for ½ cup flour as all of us at home have a sweet tooth. If you don’t prefer much sweetness, you may reduce the quantity of jaggery by two or three spoons.

·        Don’t boil the jaggery too much. Just a single boil and start adding the flour. And be careful while adding the flour, as it becomes thick very fast.

·        Keep the dough covered with a cloth to avoid it from becoming dry.

Step by step pictures

heat water in a kadai 

add the jaggery  and mix it well

 once jaggery dissolves add

elachi powder, grated coconut and salt.

 just bring it to a boil

keep the flame in low

start adding the flour, 

while stirring continously

 keep the flame in low

start adding the flour, 

while stirring continously

 within a minute or two

it will become a thick dough 

 remove the dough from stove

let it cool for somtime

when it is still warm, grease your hands with oil

and start making shapes of your choice.

grease the idly plate with oil

arrange the shaped kozhukattais on it

steam for 10 to 15 minutes

switch off  flame and check if it is cooked

serve hot.