Vella Aval (Sweet Rice or Sweet Poha)

Aval or Flattened/Beaten rice is considered very auspicious and is used for many religious festivals as an offering to God. Vella Aval is specially made for Krishna Jayanthi. Extremely easy to make, it can be made even as a snack under very short notice. 

Difficulty Level: Easy

Time: 1 and 1/2 hrs (prep time), 10 min (making time)

Ingredients:

• Aval - 1 cup
• Water
• Jaggery - 3/4 cup
• 2 tbsp scraped coconut
• a pinch of cardamom powder
• 1 tbsp cashews
• 1 tbsp ghee (clarified butter)

Method de Preparation:

1. Soak Aval in water for an hour to an hour and a half and drain it, keep aside.
2. Roast the cashews in ghee and keep aside.
3. In the same vessel, take the jaggery on the stove top, add just a bit of water to immerse, and melt it.When it thickens starting to boil, add the coconut, cardamom powder and keep stirring.
4. Add in the aval when the jaggery solution had reduced some in quantity and keep stirring, till it all comes together. Turn off heat at this point.

* The vella aval shown in the picture below has been cooked well but is not granular or separated by rice flakes. If you like it that way, soak the aval for lesser time and take care to condense the jaggery solution well before adding the aval.