Vella Aval/Sweet Poha/Sweet Beaten Rice

Valle Aval or the Sweet Beaten Rice is signifies pure friendship between The Lord and his Devotee...Sudama and Lord Krishna...a humble offering made on Gokulashtami..

Sumptuousness guaranteed !!!

Ingredients:

1 cup Beaten Rice

3/4 cup Jaggery

1 tsp cardamom Powder

2 Tbsp Ghee

1/2 cup grated coconut

5-6 pieces Cashewnuts for garnish

Method:

Was and drain the beaten rice and keep aside. If the rice flakes are thick then soak them in water for 15 min and then drain to soften them. In a pan dissolve the jaggery in 1/4 cup of water and bring to a boil. Once it thickens slightly ( about 4-5 min) add the beaten rice flakes and cook for 10 min till the liquid is absorbed. Add cardamom powder. fry the cashew nuts in ghee and add to the vella aval. Garnish with grated coconut.  Sumptuousness guaranteed !!!

Nei Appam / Fried Pancakes

Beautiful round, golden brown bunnies...Crisp on the outside and soft on the inside....just cant wait to pop them into my mouth and let the jaggery, ghee and rice melt in unison. 

You can make these soft rice and jaggery balls in an Appakaral or a regular frying pan. Appakaral is a broad frying pan with holes/deppresions in it to fry the appams.

Ingredients:

1 cup raw rice

1 tbsp wheat flour

1 cup crumbled jaggery ( if jaggery is darker/deep in colour is use only 3/4 cup)

1 tsp cardomom powder

Ghee/Oil for frying

Method:

Clean and soak the rice for 2-3 hours in water. 

Grind the rice to a smooth paste. 

Do not add too much water. Grind to a smooth and thick paste.

Add Wheat flour, cardomom powder, and all the jaggery. and blend again into a smooth paster.
The batter should not be too runny and should not be too thick. The jaggery also releases water while blending along with the rice.
Pour Ghee/Oil into the little depressions of the appakaral till half full.
Once the oil is hot pou the batter and fry till a brown crust is formed at the corners.
Flip it over with a skewer or knife and fry the other side till golden brown and crispy.

The Appams after flipping over.

Remove and drain the oil on a kitchen towel.
Serve Hot.