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Jaggery, which is made from sugarcane, is known for its caramel flavour and multiple health benefits. This natural sweetener in South Indian dishes plays a vital role by balancing the aromatic spices and enhancing the sweetness of both savoury and sweet dishes.
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Jaggery in south India features as a key ingredient in the diverse flavour and rich culinary heritage in their cuisine. From the traditional Kerala delicacy Ela Ada to unique regional delicacies like obbattu, jaggery in every delectable dish plays a crucial role in creating a distinct culinary experience. Below the article provide some yummy and tasty dishes featuring jaggery in south India:
8 South Indian dishes that feature jaggery·
Ela Ada
Ela Ada is one of the traditional Kerala delicacies. Ela Ada is usually prepared on Onam and made with rice flour dough, which is filled with the mixture of jaggery and grated coconut, then wrapped in authentic banana leaves and steamed. Here the banana leaves provide a unique aroma to this dish. It is usually served as an evening snack or as a part of breakfast.
Sakkarai Pongal
Sakkarai Pongal is a sweet rice dish of south India, where Sakkarai means sweet and Pongal is associated with the Pongal festival. It is cooked with jaggery, cardamon, cashews, golden raisins, and ghee. Sakkarai Pongal is often prepared during festivals and special occasions and served after being offered to the god.
Image Credit: Freepik
Obbattu
Obbattu, also known as Puran Poli, is a popular south Indian sweet flatbread. Its main ingredients are wheat flour, chana dal, ghee, and jaggery. Jaggery is used in obbattu as a sweetener. The recipe of the stuff and size of this delectable Puran poli vary from state to state. In Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Obbattu is mostly consumed after lunch or as an evening snack.
Ellu Urundai
Ellu Urundai is also known as sesame seed laddu. It is a special sweet of the Kongunadu region, where it is known for its rich culinary heritage. During preparation, these sesame seeds are mixed with melted jaggery and shaped into small balls. These sesame balls are both packed with nutrition as well as tasty and are made from roasted sesame seeds and jaggery.
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Bellam Garelu
Bellam Garelu are jaggery-flavoured vadas, made with Urad dal batter and jaggery. The assembled batter is deep-fried until golden and crispy on the on the outer layer and soaked in jaggery syrup. The blend of superior interior and crispy exterior makes bellam garelu a delectable choice among people.
Ariselu
Ariselu is a traditional sweet dish from Andhra Pradesh. It is prepared during festivals like Sankranti, Dusshera, and Deepavali. It is made with rice flour, jaggery, and ghee. It is assembled by preparing a dough from rice flour and molten jaggery, flattened in small portions like making breads like poori or chapati, then fried in ghee, and lastly, poppy, sesame, or gingerly seeds are squeezed in.
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Kari Kadubu
Kari Kadubu is a sweet dumpling and one of the traditional delicacies of Karnataka. The stuffing of these sweet dumplings is prepared with chana dal, jaggery, and grated coconut. They are deep-fried until they get a soft and crispy texture, where jaggery preserves the natural sweetness of the filling. This simple and delicious dish is first offered to Lord Ganesha and served during festival seasons.
Kozhukkatta
Kozhukkatta is another south Indian dumpling made from rice flour with a filling of jaggery, or chakkavaratti (jackfruit jam). Kozhukkatta is usually sweet, but it can be stuffed with savoury fillings. The dough is particularly steamed, which results in a chewy and soft exterior, and the filling provides a sweet taste.
