Athirasam are a one the traditional sought after sweets from Tamilnadu. This jaggery based sweet is part of every marriage seer , engagement , house warming and host of functions which are a part and parcel of a Hindu household . It used to be made in homes, a decade ago during Deepavali , Karthigai or Janmashtami. However nowadays, many buy it from shops these days . Many complain of the difficulty in getting the correct jaggery consistency for Athirasams , which is important to make a good Athirasam. But in wheat flour Athirasams , jaggery consistency is not required , hence it is easier to make at home. It takes less time too , can be made with very few easily available ingredients .
Ingredients
- Wheat flour 2 cups
- Jaggery 1 1/2 cups
- Cardamom 1 teaspoon
- Grated coconut 1/2 cup ( optional)
- Ghee 1/2 litre ( for deep frying )
- Water 1 1/2 cups
Method
- In a thick bottomed pan , heat water . Add jaggery and dissolve .
- In a wide bowl , add wheat flour and keep aside .
- When the jaggery dissolves well, in the pan, filter and add the syrup to the flour along with cardamom powder and coconut gratings.
- Mix well to make a stiff pliable dough.
- If needed , sprinkle some water to bind the flour .
- Grease you fingers with ghee and roll out medium size balls.
- Flatten them in your palm to a round, as big as a poori with 1/4 inch thickness.
- You can use a banana leaf / a plastic sheet / butter paper to flatten them.
- Heat ghee or oil of your choice , in a deep pan.
- When it becomes hot , drop a little of the dough into the pan . it will rise up. This indicates that the oil has attained sufficient temperature for deep frying.
- Slide the Athirasams one by one, into the oil. Deep fry to reddish brown , both sides .
- Remove with a slotted ladle and drain in a tissue paper.
- Hot Athirasams are tasty to eat.
- Store in a dry container , rest of the athirasams .
