Pongal Special - Ariselu Recipe

Arisalu Recipe :

Thinking of any festival without a sweet dish is simply impossible. Makar Sankranti is another festival that is known for some special dishes related to it. One such dish is Ariselu, a South Indian sweet dish particularly famous in Madras and Andhra Pradesh. Arisa or Arisalu is a Dravidian Telugu word, which means rice.

Ingredients :

* 1 kg Rice
* 3/4 kg Jaggery (grated)
* 2 tsp of Sesame Seeds
* Oil to fry

Method :

* Wash Rice thoroughly.
* Soak them overnight and remove water completely.
* Spread them on a cloth for a few minutes to make sure that the rice is dry.
* Make a fine powder of it in a blender.
* Sieve if necessary and set aside.
* The flour should be slightly damp.
* Add one cup of water to the grated jaggery and heat it in a pan till it melts.
* Sieve to remove any unwanted stuff.
* Heat it on low flame till it becomes thick syrup.
* Add the Rice flour to it slowly and stir well.
* Remove flame and make sure that no lumps are formed.
* When slightly cool make big lime size balls of it.
* Heat oil in a thick bottom pan.
* Pat each ball into a thin, round and flat disc on a banana leaf or a plastic sheet and dab it with a few sesames seeds.
* Fry each one in oil on low flame till deep brown and remove.
* To remove the oil completely, place it between two flat ladles and press..
* Repeat the procedure till the dough is over.
* When cool store them in a container.

These Ariselu last for more than two weeks....