Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Keppai Kali (sweet)

A kid friendly healthy breakfast for summer.

Other names: Sweetened ragi pudding , இனிப்பு கேப்பை களி, 'Finger millet' porridge.

In my home town , our Summer mornings would start with a pleasant voice of a tender coconut / Palmyra juice vendor (pathaneer-the toddy before fermentation) or Indian Ice-apple (nungu) selling lady. As the summer approaches, my mom would change our food habits to suit the weather. Some items like ghee roast dosa , poori and almost all the fried items would be replaced by the simple food like keppai kali, ulunthu kali, venthaya kali,curd rice, ragi dosa, kambu kool(zh), neeragaram, buttermilk, greens etc .The evening snacks like bajji, vadai and desserts would be changed to sundal (lentils), fruits and kolukkattai. By an endless supply of buttermilk to her daily visitors like the spinach vendor, vegetable seller, fish sales man. etc., she would often appear as a cool Goddess to me now:)

Life is changing and our needs too. But that craze for those simple foods never cease to amaze me. So I tried to create her special kali made of keppai and karuppatti (palm jaggery). Hope you all like it.

Ingredients:
Ragi flour - 1/2 cup
palm jaggery - 1 cup (or) brown sugar - 3/4 cup
(cane sugar jaggery or white sugar won't yield a good taste here)
coconut - 1/4 cup shredded (optional)
Water
garlic - 6 pearls
sesame oil - 2 tbsp (to serve)

Method:
Mix water to the palm jaggery and bring it to a boil. As it dissolves , filter and remove all the sediments and froth.Keep aside. (Avoid this step if we use brown sugar).

Mix water to the flour little by little to get a free flowing consistency like that of dosa batter (pancake mixture).

Heat slowly the pure palm jaggery solution along with the flour, finely sliced garlic, coconut in a thick bottom vessel. Stir continuously.

After a few minutes the solution will get thick. Reduce flame and stir well till the garlic and the flour are cooked. If the flour is not cooked properly, then add some water and continue cooking in low heat.

Switch off when the kali becomes thick.

Keppai inippu kali is ready!

Serving suggestions:
Serve hot as breakfast or snack along with a tsp of sesame oil on the top.

Medicinal value:
1.Ragi (red millet) is a whole grain rich in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. It helps in weight loss.
2.Ayurveda recommends Palm jaggery for diabetic patients as an alternative sugar.
3.Garlic is believed to get rid of bad cholesterol.
4.Sesame oil has innumerable health benefits : in treating hypertension, BMI control,hormone regulation, cholesteral reduction etc.

Foodista:
http://www.foodista.com/recipe/JH4R7777/indian-foodstuffs/widgets

25 comments:

Priya Suresh said...

Wowww wat a healthy and nutritious kali, never tried this sweet version...yummmm!!

Sushma Mallya said...

Very interesting,never come across something like this but sounds great viki, thanks for sharing this lovely sweet dish.

Hari Chandana P said...

I too make this recipe.. looks tempting and healthy.. nice one!!

Shama Nagarajan said...

healthy choice dear....thanks for sharing

Jaleela Kamal said...

அருமையான களி,

சூப்பர். இதில் பூண்டு சேர்ப்பது புதுமை

GayathriRaj said...

Hey thats a yummy and healthy dish dear...i loved it.. my mom use to make it always...
Thanks for a lovely comment on my blog...its just coz i like ur blog so much that i gave a commnt like that...happy to be ur frnd too...

FH said...

Never made sweet with Ragi, looks good like Halwa.

Christine said...

Wow really interesting dish! It sounds really great, Viki! And healthy too. THough I don't know where to get the palm jagger. =) If you wont mind I'd love to guide Foodista readers to this post.Just add the foodista widget to the end of this post and it's all set, Thanks!

kamalabhoopathy said...

Healthy dish for all age groups.

Simplyfood said...

This is a very interesting recipe,I cant come to grips with garlic in a sweet dish,Very unusual.

Swathi said...

Keppai kali looks yummy. health one too.

Rachana said...

This is a very new recipe to me... So healthy and am sure would taste great too :)

Suja Manoj said...

This is a healthy one Viki..new to me..sounds great...will try this,Thanks dear.

Rina said...

Hey Vikki, this is very special in Andhra and in telugu we call it Thopa..Adding garlic is new for me though..u r inspiring me to cook this soon..

Cheers
Rina

Prema said...

love this version,very interesting!

Pavithra Elangovan said...

Thats wonderful healthy one .. I love it and its been long time i have eaten this..

Ash said...

Looks tempting... & this is surely an unique prep.... I have never heard of it till date.....

Ash...
(http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)

Unknown said...

very nice traditional dish..

gtyuk said...

nongu, yelaneer-nnu yenakku oor nyaabagam vandhiduchu!! hum, I'd give anything to eat nongu with sweetened coconut milk, Mmmm, delicious it used to be !!!

kali reminds me of a kali they prepare at home for vayassukku vandha girls... :)
your kali looks good and I know it's a healthy one too !!! nice post Viki!!

have a nice day !!

SathyaSridhar said...

Viki, romba traditional recipe ithu summer kku romba nallathu udambukku...ragi kool thaan kudichurukken kali saapta thilla paa,,, kandipa saaptu paakanum.

Life is beautiful !!! said...

A very healthy treat for children....I haven't tasted the sweet version..looks very inviting.

Nandinis food said...

Very interesting recipe! Healthy and nutritious kali!!

divya said...

Wowww wat a healthy and nutritious kali, never tried this sweet version...yummmm!!

Niloufer Riyaz said...

has always eaten savoury version of it, love to try this sweet version

Anu said...

Simple....easy...healthy dish

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