Chalimidi
Cuisine: South Indian
Course: Dessert
Diet: Vegetarian
Description:
Chalimidi is a traditional South Indian sweet dish, particularly cherished during festivals like Ugadi and other auspicious occasions. Unlike some other dishes, itβs not just about spice but also about the perfect balance of sweetness, making it a true treat for the tastebuds. With a base of jaggery and rice flour, this dessert is both simple and delightful.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Jaggery
- 2 cups Rice
- 1 teaspoon Cardamom Powder (Elaichi)
- 1/2 cup Ghee
- 1 tablespoon Cashew nuts
- 1 tablespoon Sultana Raisins
- 1 tablespoon Fresh coconut, chopped
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Instructions:
- Begin by rinsing the raw rice thoroughly. Soak the rice in enough water for 5 hours. Drain the soaked rice and place it on a cotton cloth to dry for 1 hour.
- Grind the dried rice into a fine powder. Sift the flour to ensure you have a smooth texture.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan. Roast the cashew nuts, sultana raisins, and chopped fresh coconut separately, until they turn golden brown. Remove them from the pan and set them aside.
- In the same pan, melt the powdered jaggery with a little water. Cook the jaggery syrup until it thickens. To check, drop a small amount of syrup into a bowl of waterβit should form a soft ball when cooled.
- Once the syrup has thickened, add all the ghee into it and whisk well.
- Remove the syrup from heat and slowly add the rice flour in small portions, mixing vigorously after each addition. Be careful not to add too much rice flour at once to avoid making the mixture too thick. Keep the consistency a little loose, as the dish will thicken as it cools.
- Add the roasted cashews, raisins, and coconut into the mixture and stir well.
- Transfer the Chalimidi to a serving bowl. Allow it to cool slightly before serving.
Serving Suggestion:
Enjoy Chalimidi as a dessert after a South Indian meal. It pairs wonderfully with dishes like Tomato Onion Sambar, Cabbage Thoran, Jeera Rasam, Potato Roast, Steamed Rice, and Elai Vadam.
This traditional South Indian sweet brings together the warmth of jaggery, the aroma of cardamom, and the rich flavors of ghee and roasted nuts, making it a perfect ending to any festive meal.
