DISH NAME : KOOVA VILAYICHATHU (ARROWROOT SWEET)

Preparation Time : 10 minutes

Cooking Time : 10 minutes

Description

Koova (arrowroot) has medicinal properties,is very good for stomach and ideal food for infants. Koova vilayichathu also known as koova veragiyathu or koova kali is ritually made in Kerala households during the festival of Thiruvathira. On that day hindu women abstain from dishes made of rice.

Note

1) It is safer to buy arrowroot granules or pieces, powder it and use. A lot of arrowroot powder contains all purpose flour (maida).
2) This dish can be served in a porridge like consisteny or as i have done can be poured into a greased dish and cut into pieces( like halwa) after it has cooled down.
3) Be careful when cooking, as it will cook very soon.

Method

1) Heat clarified butter and fry coconut bits to brown and keep aside.
2) Heat jaggery with 1/2 cup water and strain for impurities.
3) Dissolve arrowroot in 1/4 cup water and mix till completely dissolved. Mix this with jaggery.
4) Grease a shallow dish with clarified butter and keep aside.
5) Heat a pan. Add jaggery-arrowroot mix on a low flame after adding cardamom powder. Continue cooking till it becomes thick and start leaving the sides of the pan and forms a thick mass. keep stirring or lumps will form. The setting process will happen soon.
6) Mix in coconut bits.
7) Pour this into greased dish and keep aside to cool before cutting for halwa. You can have it as it is also.

Serving Suggestions

Serve as a sweet.