Dusshera special : Naralachya vadya

Naralachya vadya or coconut barfi is an easy to make sweet and is usually offered as a "Prashad" (offering) to God on auspicious days. Today being Dusshera (Dasra as we call it in Marathi), i made these and some kheer as prashad and thought of sharing it with you all. So here's wishing everyone reading this a very Happy Dasra!!!!

The significance of Dasra is not just burning the Ravana idols, but removing the evil from within. This is the day we start fresh and new removing all impurities from ourselves. Dasha Hara is a Sanskrit word which means removal of ten bad qualities within us:

Kama Vasana (Lust)
Krodha (Anger)
Moha (Attachment)
Lobha (Greed)
Mada (Over pride)
Matsara (Jealousy)
Swartha (Selfishness)
Anyaaya (Injustice)
Amanavta (Cruelty)
Ahankara (Ego)

This day is also known as Vijaydashmi which literally means "Vijay" (victory) over all these 10 bad qualities. In mythology, it is victory over 10 heads of Ravana from the Ramayana. Mythology is really interesting, if you add real-life meanings to each verse/poetry or story.

So, while introspecting myself and deciding to start meditation from today religiously, i made these sweets. After all, cooking is also meditating right? :)

Ingredients:

Fresh grated/scraped coconut - 1 cup

Sugar - 1/2 cup ( If you like it too sweet, add 3/4 cup)

Alternatively you can also add jaggery, it fives a very nice texture and taste to the vadis. About 3/4 jaggery for a cup of coconut will be good.

Milk - 2 tbsp ( I read somewhere that this little amount of milk adds richness and white colour to the vadis)

Cardamom powder - 1 tsp

Sliced almonds - Garnishing

Ghee - to grease a plate

Recipe :

Grease a small plate with ghee and keep aside. This quantity of ingredients made about 12-14 vadis for me, so choose your plate accordingly.

In a non stick pan, put the coconut, sugar and milk and mix well. 

Keep the flame low, and stirring in between let the mixture cook.

The sugar will dissolve and the mixture will get watery...After some time, it will start leaving sides and form a lump of mixture.

Once the lump is formed, switch off the heat. If u overcook, the vadis will still taste great but will turn out to be little hard.

Now mix in the cardamom powder.

Put this mixture on the greased plate and with the help of spatula or the back of a small katori, spread it even.

Let it rest about 15 minutes and then cut the desired shapes and garnish with the almonds.

It stays well for 3-4 days without refrigerating, but i put them in the fridge since it's too hot here. 

Remove the vadis from the plate only after they are well cooled down.

Happy Cooking :)