Paal Kozhukattai With Jaggery/Rice Balls With Sweetened Coconut Milk

Happy Onam to all the Malayalees out there and this is the right time to share a sweet recepi for the festive season. Paal kozhukattai with jaggery is my long pending recepi. This sweet, has been in my must to do recepis for quite sometimes. I don't know what keeps me away from making such an easy and simple recepi. I don't remember my mother or grandma prepared it in the past but, i watched the recepi in a local tv channel and immediately thought of giving it a try yet, it took me so long to dish it up (blame it for so many other recepis that i got hooked up in between).

I made this version of paal kozhukattai during Ganesha Chaturthi as neivedhiyam(offering) to the Almighty Ganesha. This must be a festive dish no wonder it took me so long to try it. A traditional dessert of soft rice balls immersed in thick and creamy coconut sauce, sweetened with jaggery. Finally, i made it and mission accomplished

Ingredients

For The Kozhukattai/Rice Balls

1 cup rice flour
1 1/2 cups water
Pinch of salt


For The Coconut Milk

1 cup grated jaggery
3 cups water
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
Pinch of salt


Methods

For The Kozhukattai/Rice Balls

In a bowl, sift rice flour. Add warm water and salt, slowly and knead the dough for 1 minute. Roll into a marble size balls and arrange in a plate


For The Coconut Milk


In a bowl, dissolve the grated jaggery with water and strain to remove any impurities.

In a heavy bottom pan, boil the jaggery water and add the prepared rice balls. Cook for 6-8 minutes. The rice balls are cooked when it started to float on the surface and the sugar syrup thickens

Add cardamom powder and salt, stir gently. Reduce the flame to low, add milk and give a quick stir. Remove from heat.

Serve warm or chilled


Notes

• Turn off the flame once coconut milk is added into the sauce to prevent the milk from curdling

• Water requirements for kneading the rice flour depends on your quality/brand of rice flour. Different quality/brands requires different amount of water to knead the dough. I used 1 1/2 cups water for 1 cup rice flour. Adjust the quantity of water as required to get a soft dough.