Sweet Pidi Kozhukattai

Sweet Pidi Kozhukattai is a South Indian snack made using rice, jaggery and coconut. It is usually prepared during auspicious days as a Naivedhya (offering to the Lord).

Since this is an auspicious month of “Aadi” (4th month in the tamil calendar), I get the chance to make this yummy snack. It is also one of the main items to be prepared on Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

P.S: This is my mom’s recipe.

Servings : 20

Ingredients:

1. Raw rice – 1 cup
2. Jaggery – 1 cup (grated)
3. Green Cardamom powder – a pinch
4. Coconut – 1/4 cup (cut into tiny pieces)
5. Ghee (clarified butter) – 1 tablespoon
6. Oil – for greasing

Method:

1. Soak the rice in water for 2 hours. Then drain the water, add a pinch of the green cardamom powder along with some fresh water and grind it to a consistency as shown in the picture. The consistency should not be too coarse or too thick like a toothpaste.

2. Now, grate the jaggery and keep it ready.

3. Take a non stick pan, add ghee, rice batter, grated jaggery and start to heat it on low – medium flame. Add the coconut pieces and keep on stirring the mixture with a wooden spatula.

4. Turn off the heat once the mixture becomes thick like a dough as shown below.

5. Allow it to cool. Then grease your hand and knead the dough for 2 minutes. Take small portion of the dough, place it on your palm and close the four fingers of your hand to form an impression on the dough.

6. Similarly, repeat the process until all the Kozhukattais are formed. Now, place all of them in the idli cooker and steam cook for 12 minutes.

7. Serve hot and enjoy!