Sweet Adai

This adai and salt adai are made for Karadiyan Nombu festival. Karadaiyan Nombu also known as ‘Savitri Nonbu Vritham’ is an important festival for married women in the state of Tamil Nadu. On this day, women offer prayers for the longevity and well being of their husbands. Karadaiyan Nombu is observed on a chosen day when the transition takes place between two Tamil months, namely, Panguni and Massi. It is observed at the exact time when the Tamil month of Massi ends and the month of Panguni begins. In the Gregorian calendar, this festival falls in the month of March. Women observe a strict fast on this day and a special feast is prepared for the occasion.

Like I mentioned, sweet adai and salt adai are made and eaten with butter. On this day ladies do not eat anything till the pooja is done after which we only have these adais. Even unmarried girls can do this pooja to pray for a good husband.

Prep Time: 8 hrs Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 1 cup Rice flour*

• 3/4 cup Jaggery

• 2 cups Water

• 1/8 cup Fresh coconut niblets

• 1/8 cup Small red chowli roasted and soaked in water

• 1 tsp Cardamom powder

• 1 tbsp Ghee

Instructions

1. Roast the rice flour to pink colour and keep aside

2. Cook the red chowli in a cooker for 4-5 whistles - you can cook this for both sweet and salt adai and keep aside

3. In a pan take jaggery and water and melt

4. Add the coconut niblets and the chowli, ghee and bring to a boil

5. Add the roasted flour and cook till the water evaporates and becomes a pliable mixture

6. In the adai stand, grease the plate with ghee

7. When it is warm enough to handle, take a lemon size of the mixture and pat it gently with your hands to make a small thick puri

8. Make a hole in the centre and steam these in the idli cooker

9. Remove it with a flat ladle once it cools

10. Serve this with butter

Notes

* This is the rice flour that we use to make modaks with. You can find the recipe for this here. I made with store bought idiyappam flour