Monday, December 26, 2011

Koova Kali / Arrowroot Halwa - Thiruvathira Special


Season’s Greetings!

Thiruvathira is a festival celebrated in the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. This festival falls in the Dhanu Month (Dec 15 to Jan15th) on the full moon day and is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Shiva.

Traditionally, in our home, the ladies would wake up very early, have bath and prepare some special offerings called Kali and Kootu. These are then placed on individual plantain leaves, one for one lady with a banana and beetel leaf. These are then offered as neivedyam to Lord Shiva and later on eaten by the ladies. The neivedyam is supposed to be offered before sunrise. And then they go to a nearby Shiva Temple for the Aarudradarshanam. Women folk generally, chew beetal leaf, enjoy themselves on the swings and certain communities perform a special dance known as Thirvathirakali.

Koova Kali or Arrowroot halwa is also one of the offerings prepared especially on this day. I was introduced to this only after marriage and now make it on every Thiruvathira, sometimes even on other days, while craving for something sweet. I enjoy having this more than the Kali or the Kootu. It is really very simple to make and nobody can go wrong with this. So here is the recipe for this:


What you’ll need

1. Arrowroot Powder/Koova Podi – ½ cup
2. Powdered Jaggery – ¾ cup
3. Grated Fresh Coconut – 1 Tbsp (Optional)
4. Cardamom Powder – a pinch
5. Ghee/Clarified Butter – 4 tsp + a little for greasing
6. Cashew Nuts – for Garnish
7. Water – 1 cup + 1/3 cup of dissolving Jaggery

Method

1. Grease a plate and a flat back cup (davara).
2. Dissolve the jaggery in about 1/3 cup of water. Strain for impurities and heat it on medium flame. Add the grated Coconut to the syrup and let it keep boiling on medium flame.
3. In a Kadai, add the arrowroot powder and 1 cup of water, mix it well without forming any lumps.
4. Place the kadai on medium heat and keep stirring, after sometime say about 3 to 4 minutes, mixture will start thickening and will change color from white to transparent.
5. Now add the Jaggery syrup and stir well. You will feel as if lumps have formed, but keep stirring well and smash the lumps with the back of the spatula.
6. Add about 3 tsp of ghee and stir. The mixture will start leaving the sides, and come as a whole mass. Add another spoon of ghee mix and transfer to a greased plate.
7. Level it with the back of a greased cup. Cut into desired shapes once cool. Decorate with cashewnuts.


Note:

No particular paakam (Jaggery syrup consistency) is required to be formed.

27 comments:

Faseela said...

u really made me drool here...........miss this too much...will tell my mom to send some arrow root powder soon....luv this too much....thanx 4 sharing

Unknown said...

Lovely halwa..Yummy..

chef and her kitchen said...

very delicious halwa ...nice n healthy

Radhika said...

Nice shots Kaveri. Very authentic looking.

Ambreen (Simply Sweet n Savory) said...

Wow, that looks fantastic. Very nice color!

Hari Chandana P said...

Looks absolutely perfect and delicious.. awesome preparation dear !!
Indian Cuisine

Roshni said...

perfect looking halwa. we make kali only. never had this. when is thiruvathira this year??

Hamaree Rasoi said...

Halwa looks so delicious and yummy. Perfect sweet.

Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi

Archana said...

Looks yummy. Perfect.

Lifewithspices said...

very yummy halwa..nice one.. a change for thiruvadhirai..

Priya Suresh said...

Super glossy and fabulous looking halwa,well done Kaveri..

Nalini's Kitchen said...

Looks delicious and divine,we do make the kali for thiruvathirai but with the dry roasted rice powder,your version with arrow root powder sounds new to me.

kitchen queen said...

yummy delicious and tempting halwa.
indu srinivasa.

Vidhya said...

My grandmom used to make this and I love this and I was asking my mom its recipe just yesterday and she just gave me a vague recipe as she herself has't made this in a while.Thank you dear for sharing this delicacy.

Nithu Bala said...

Have made thiruvathirai kali with coarsely powdered rice..never made with arrowroot..this sounds new and delicious..will try soon..thanks for the recipe.

Torviewtoronto said...

delicious looking halwa
happy holidays to you and family

Magia da Inês said...

Que delícia!!!!


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¨¨¨¸.•°` BOAS FESTAS!!!
¸.•°`♥✿⊱╮FELIZ 2012!!!

Kokila said...

Delicious Halwa

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Swathi said...

Delicious, my hubby's favorite, last time I made it now I am not feeling well to make any food.

Joyti said...

What a lovely halwa. Looks cute and sounds delicious.

Gayathri NG said...

Its new to me, looks awesome dear...

hemalata said...

Delicious n yummy Halwa,nice presentation.

M. said...

This looks nice! I have only had arrowroot wafers and I love them:)

Teena said...

I loved this variety halwa. Looks so tempting too !!

Unknown said...

Everyone will relish koovakali!The presentation is very attractive and I am grateful to you for brushing up the recipe which my mother used to make in a fantastic way! thank you!

Anonymous said...

Thank for this recipe.. Koovapodi difficult to get but Iam searching I got on line Arrowroot powder koovapodi ffrom Kerala orignal koova podi
www.natureloc.com/products/koova-podi-arrowroot-powder.. that is good

Anonymous said...

My mom made it.wife has not heard of this at chennai.

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