It’s that time again for Indians to slap colors on each other. A festival which brings people together, a festival of camaraderie and jollity. Holi – the festival of COLORS.
India does have a lot of festivals, and the whole country turns into a colorful atmosphere. Among these festivals, some are religious, some are based on seasons, and some are of national importance. I consider this festival in particular to be a more free spirited, joyous occasion for the young and old and everyone in between. It’s a festival where people forget anger, sadness and join in for a day of fun, food and become kids at heart.
This festival just brings a smile on to my face.
If you would like to hear a bit more on how we celebrate Holi here, you can read this ARTICLE I wrote a year ago.
Of course, there is no festival that goes without sweets and a lot food.
I am sharing one of the desserts/sweet which is not traditional to this festival, but one of my favorite all time for year round. It is quite a popular dish from the southern state, Kerala, called paniyaaram. I learnt this from my mom’s friend who is a master of Keralite cuisine. Just thinking about her food makes me want to call and talk to her and tell her how much I miss her and her food.
There are so many versions of this; it has many names. From a bit of research, I’ve seen the Danish æbleskiver, Japanese takoyaki and many more. You can use the paniyaaram pan or a takoyaki if you have one. You could also use your cake pop maker, or any flat bottomed pan old flat pan, filled with a centimeter of oil and fry it.
Stuffing it with the coconut and palm sugar is not traditional but I absolutely love the surprise center. The red rice flour can be substituted with white and you can use add milk instead of coconut milk too. There are endless combinations, which each result being absolutely delicious.
Hope you get to try it out sometime.
Here are some of my favorites traditional dishes made during Holi from my fellow food bloggers.
Meethi Mathri – Fun Food Frolic
Thandai Cookies- Easy Food Smith
Coconut Ladoo – Shweta in the Kitchen
Happy Holi! Happy Eating! Happy Weekend!
Hugs
Asha
- 1 cup freshly grated coconut or frozen grated coconut(unsweetened)
- ½ cup palm sugar/jaggery crushed
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 cup Red rice flour(roasted and coarsely ground red rice flour) or white rice flour
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 ripe banana
- ⅓ cup palm sugar/jaggery crushed
- ⅓ cup finely chopped cashewnuts
- 4 green cardamom crushed and powdered
- ⅓ tsp of salt
- ½ cup light coconut milk
- 1 cup plus ⅓ cup of water
- 3 tbsp melted butter or ghee
- In a sauce pan add the palm sugar/jaggery along with a few tablespoons of water and let it melt on low heat, and let it come to a boil. Switch off after the boiling point. Then drain the liquid carefully into another pan and let the dust particles remain in the bottom. To that drained jaggery add the fresh coconut or frozen and let it cook and solidify. Once it almost forms a ball, turn off the heat and set it aside and let cool.
- In a mixing bowl, mash one banana, add the palm sugar, crushed cashews, cardamom and both the flour.s Now add the coconut milk and water and mix to incorporate everything well. It should be of a idli batter consistency or a thick pancake consistency. Let this mixture sit at least for an hour before making the fritters/paniyaaram.
- Keep a paniyaaram or fritter pan and let it get hot. Add ½ tsp of ghee to each hole and reduce the heat to medium and pour a tablespoon of the batter in everything. Then quickly, add a third of a teaspoon of the coconut stuffing to each of the pancake and push it in and cover the top with the batter lightly. Cook for about 2 minutes on one side and gently turn to cook and brown on the other side. Use a skewer to turn the paniyaaram. It will take about 5 minutes to cook thoroughly.
- Take it out and serve hot with some coffee. This can be stored up to 3 days tightly covered.
Happy Holi Asha!! love these!!
Thanks dear.
We’ll be on the lookout for frozen coconut dear Ash, this is very hard to find here:( Those look amazing and the photos are -as always- mouthwatering!
HAPPY HOLI! We recently read about it in another Indian blogger friend, Shivu (her blog is “mumbai to melbourne” if you want to take a look), sounds like a celebration with A LOT of fun!!!
Thank you Ash! Have a beautiful day!
xoxoxo
Thank you so much.I know Mumbai to Melbourne and I adore her. This festival is so much fun. You have a wonderful week. Hugs.
I bet you can’t walk away just eating one or two or ten…man…these look so delicious! Might just try this with black rice since I still have a couple of bags in my pantry.
Oh absolutely, this is so addictive. Black rice would be so good Angie, try it out sometime. Hope you are doing good my dear.
xoxo
Happy Holi to you and your family, Asha! I’ve seen so many pictures of Holi on FB and what a colorful holiday filled with happiness it seems to be! And thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe for paniyaaram – I’ve never had it before – but it sounds absolutely delightful.
It is so colorful Sashi. We absolutely enjoy it here too. Thanks dear, it’s a very traditional recipe just the stuffed is so yummmm. Hope you are doing good my dear. Big hugs.
Happy Holi! Love the idea of this festival — so much fun. But I don’t think I’ve ever met a festival I didn’t like. Well, maybe those that don’t involve food, but you can hardly call them festivals! Great dish — thanks.
Thank you and hope you are doing wonderful. Hahah…a festival without food, not fun. Have a wonderful week.
xoxo
I never tried the stuffed version of paniyaram even though the regular Keralite paniyaram is a usual snack in my house. These look fabulous!! I loved your rustic container !!
Oh absolutely I love your version. Thanks, that container is my favorite find. Hope you are doing well.xx
Happy Holi!! First time tried the sweet one. It sounds absolutely delicious with bursting flavors! Such a great recipie to preserve and loved that antic container. Great photography, Asha!
Thanks B and hope you had a wonderful time. Thanks my dear and hope you get to try it out sometime. Hugs.
Holi sounds like such a wonderful, happy holiday! Love how you embrace color and joy! And of course, good food is the icing on top of it all. I am craving a fritter right now! Your recipes are so awesome! : )
Thanks so so much my dear. Hope you had a wonderful EAster weekend. Big hugs and have a great week dear.
xx
I’d love to try making these! They look so delectable with the coconut and palm sugar filling. Reminds me of many a local pastry here with similar flavours. Happy Holi to you and your family, dear Asha! X
Thanks so so much for stopping by Hazel. Hope you are doing wonderful and Hugs.
Holi sounds fabulous, and I hope you have a wonderful celebration! These look amazing, Ash, and I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to stop at just one. 🙂
Thank you so so much. It is a lot of fun and can get rowdy at times;). Thanks and hope you are doing well dear.
xx
Oh Asha, you are such a dear.. reaching out right to the tip of South India this is one of our very famous and dear sweet preparation that we love to indulge in. I love it when it crisps up outside and the soft insides bloom out when you break it. the surprise package inside is a sheer delight!!!! Simply fab pics. I prepare these sometimes on rainy evenings with ginger induced tea and this is a great combination. Take Care.
One of my favorite cuisines, you know that:). I absolutely would love to sip the ginger tea and have this with you. Thanks my dear.
xx
It is lovely! This is certainly the best party food 🙂 Thank you for sharing this lovely food 🙂
I’ve missed some of your posts Ash! With all that drama over me leaving then not leaving etc! You know the story. These look so delightful! My god I want to try every recipe from your site. Love love love. And thank you for the mention darlin!
One of my long time favorite. I have never tried making at home but yes I have had these at friend;s home. Though I used red rice flakes and make aval.
First of all, thanks for stopping by. I love red rice aval and it’s so healthy and yum.
xx
Ash, you had me at fritters! And also with that spectacular coconut and palm sugar filling. I bet these delightful fritters could be made gluten free, oh so easily. My house is never without most of these ingredients and I simply must try these wonderful fried treats one day soon. As always, your stunningly beautiful styling and photography just draws me in. Love, love, love! Thanks ever so much for sharing. I hope you had a fabulous Holi festival celebration! xo