Monday, September 3, 2012

Poorna Kozhukattai





While growing up, Ganesh Chathurthi, meant preparing poornam kozhukattais and ulundu kozhukattais. These two were the only two offerings prepared. We have an ancestral  idol of Lord Ganesh, for which my grandparents used to perform special pooja on this day. There was no tradition of buying clay idols of Ganesha or preparing a vast spread of offerings. The pooja was short, simple and sweet. I and my brother used to wait impatiently for my grandparents to finish the pooja to grab the kozhukattais.



After marriage the scene changed quite a bit. My MIL, prepared a minimum of 3 to 4 varieties of kozhukattais. Apart from the kozhukattais, she also prepared many other offerings like Sundal, Paccha Arisi idly, Neiappam, Ellu Urundai, Chakkarai Pongal and Vadai. She also followed the custom of buying a clay idol of Ganesha and doing pooja for it. I enjoy doing the shopping for Ganesh chathurthi, selecting the best Ganesh with a nice colourful umberalla, getting the Erukumpoo Maalai, Arugam pullu, guavas, custard apples etc etc. Looking forward to all the fun 
this Chathurthi also.


Makes about 15 medium sized kozhukattais

What you'll need
For the filling
  1. Scraped Fresh Coconut – 1 cup
  2. Powdered Jaggery – 1 cup
  3. Cardamom – 3 to 4
  4. Ghee – 1 tsp

For outer covering
  1. Rice Flour/Idiyappam flour – 1 cup
  2. Water – 1 cup + 1/4 use only if required
  3. Salt – a pinch
  4. Coconut oil/ Sesame oil – 2 tsp + a little for greasing

Method
  1. Place a Kadai on heat. Add the powdered jaggery and dissolve it using ¼ cup of water.
  2. Strain the jaggery syrup for impurities. Wash the kadai and pour the syrup back into the kadai.
  3. Heat it on medium flame for 5 to 6 minutes stirring once in a while. Let the syrup form a soft ball consistency. To check for consistency, add a drop of the syrup in a bowl of water and try to gather it and form a ball with you fingers.
  4. Once the soft ball consistency has reached, add the scraped coconut and stir continuously for 3 to 4 minutes or until all the moisture has almost evaporated and the whole this starts coming together as a mass.
  5. Add the powdered cardamom and a teaspoon of ghee mix well and keep aside.
  6. Cool and make into small balls.
  7. Take the idiyappam flour in a bowl. Add a pinch of salt and mix well.
  8. Bring 1 ½ cups of water to boil add the oil.
  9. Now add about 1 cup of hot water to the flour and mix well with a wooden spatula.
  10. Add more water if required and knead into a smooth dough
  11. Grease your palms and pinch out small lemon sized balls out of the dough. Flatten the dough in your palms and place a ball of jaggery coconut filling in the center. Gather the edges and seal the filling forming a peak at the top. (just like you would do for the stuffed paratha). Prepare more kozhukattais using the remaining dough and filling.
  12. Heat a steamer, you can also use the idli stand. Place the kozhukattais one by one without touching each other and steam for 10 minutes or until the outer layer is shiny.



Note:
  1. Always keep a little extra hot water and use only if required.
  2. Keep the rice flour dough covered so that it doesn’t dry up.
  3. While making the filling if you wait for the soft ball consistency to form, you won’t have to stir for a long time after adding the coconut thereby saving time. But remember to add in the soft ball consistency.
  4. Do not stir for a very long time after adding the coconut, as the mixture tightens a little on cooling and will become very hard and rubbery if stirred for a long time.

31 comments:

Lifewithspices said...

beautifully prepared

Unknown said...

Wow.. lovely kozhukattai.. nice presentation

Sanoli Ghosh said...

Nicely prepared, poorna kozhukattai looks perfect and awesome dear.

Today's recipe:
http://sanolisrecipies.blogspot.com/2012/09/mixed-fried-rice-indian-style.html

Radhika said...

Wonderful presentation Kaveri. The little idol looks so perfect.

Akila said...

Very yummy n delicious

Event: Dish name starts with O

chef and her kitchen said...

My most favorite sweet..looks delicious

Vimitha Durai said...

Looks so perfectly done.. loving it

Roshni said...

Perfectly made kozhakkatai Kaveri....

Faseela said...

yummy n perfect kozhukkattai

Shabbu said...

yummy and cute kozhukattai..
Shabbu's Tasty Kitchen

Unknown said...

wow perfect looking kozhukattai, love the shape of it.

Priya
Rose Syrup Coconut Ladoo~ Today’s Special
Visit Cook like Priya



nayana said...

Perfect and delicate......love them.......

http://nayanas-kitchen-kreations.blogspot.in

Suja Manoj said...

Beautiful presentation,looks divine..yum

Rani acharyulu said...

Lovely delicious kozhukattai looks so perfect in between little Ganesha.

virunthu unna vaanga said...

lovely n yummy kozhukattai... i love it very much i can have any time till my tummy feels full...

VIRUNTHU UNNA VAANGA

Hema said...

The kozhukattais look superb, and I always enjoy reading your write ups, good old times..

Roshni said...

Congrats on your 200th post Kaveri! All the best! Am sure we will see a more awesome recipes... And love the 200 that you have already posted

Sangeetha M said...

i too like shopping for Ganesh Chathurthi, me n my sis used to go Salem town Market to buy all the things, like u said simple n nice looking Pillaiyar, umbrella for him, Erukampoo malai, arugam pull, guavas, naval pazham, custard apple,goose berry n few other fruits n flower for Pooja. we too celebrate in a grand way, feeling nostalgic...really i miss everything...here i can get clay idol but i don't know what to do with it after pooja, usually we won't keep that in home after 3 days :(
coconut-jaggery kozhukattai is my fav one, i used to add some sesame seeds to it...looks too delicious n tempting...

Swathi said...

Delicious Poorna kozukatti Kaveri. Amma used to make every friday. Ganapathi is my favorite god, so I took make it.

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing this, will try for ganesh chaturthi. perfectly done

Unknown said...

Beautiful, I love the glistening texture of your kozukattais.

Jeyashris Kitchen said...

super tempting kozhukattais

Reshmi Mahesh said...

Delicious and perfect kozhukattais...lovely presentation..

The Yogi Vegetarian said...

These look sooo good :)

Archana said...

looks great. You ladies are preparing for chathurthi and here I ma too lazy.

I am hosting Bake Fest all through Sept ’12. Do send me your entries
I am also hosting Fast Food Not Fat Food 1st Sept to 15th Oct ’12. Do send me your entries

Julie said...

wow..very cute & super yumm kozhukattai..Delicious!!
Join my ongoing EP events-Oregano OR Paprika @ Foodomania

Unknown said...

they are so cute and like its shape..

Pari Cash said...

Hi Dear,
Modakam are so inviting.
You cans send them to my FIRST EVENT AND GIVEAWAY-SHOW ME YOUR DESSERT

Anonymous said...

great site

Unknown said...

Delicious Kozhukattai.. lovely clicks..

Inviting you to join my on-going events :-

Onam Sadhya Grand Feast

Vinayagar Chathurthi Event

Cheers,
Sharanya
Sharans Samayalarai

Anonymous said...

very good post and looks beautiful
Prabu

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