Fried gram dal balls / Pottukadalai Urundai

This is a favourite snack of young and old alike . While its available in most shops and supermarkets , it can be made at home  easily.  This is a healthy wholesome snack ,unlike the other processed  packaged snacks available in the   market. These are also made at homes, during karthigai festival in South Indian homes. Fried gram are excellent for growth and development  in children .They are great to keep the skin and hair healthy.

 

 

 

 

This toffee or urundai , can be made from other nuts like cashew nuts, almonds, gingelly seeds, peanuts and others.

Recipe taken from Cook and See Part – 2.

Ingredients

  •  Fried gram   4 cups (Pottu kadalai )
  • Jaggery 1½ cups,
  • Water 1 ladle / karandi or 1/2 cup,
  • Coconut pieces chopped small 1 cup(optional).

Method

 

  1. In a deep frying pan or thick bottomed kadai, add water  and boil.
  2.  When the water boils add jaggery. It will dissolve in water  and  starts boiling . Once it bubbles up, add coconut pieces into the syrup.
  3. Cook till  it gets to hard ball consistency.
  4. Take a little water ( 2 cups), in small bowl and drop a little jaggery syrup in it.
  5. If it dissolves , then it has not reached the correct consistency. It should get to the hard ball stage.
  6. If the jaggery syrup , rolls into a ball and is not loose then the syrup has reached, the correct consistency.
  7. Keep the fried gram  ready , in a big tray in which the jaggery syrup can be poured.
  8. Pour the jaggery mixture, over the fried gram , little by little and mix well with a deep ladle.
  9. Rub rice flour in the hands and roll small  balls out of the mixture, when its hot. The rubbing of rice flour, prevents scorching of the hands.
  10. If nuts are remaining and need more syrup, add it to the pan, in which the syrup is made.
  11.  Heat the little of the jaggery sticking to the sides ,  which will melt and  mix with the nuts .
  12. Roll them immediately, into small balls .
  13. Offer as Neivedyam , Tin them and eat at leisure .