Kozhukkatta

Kozhukatta
	Kozhukatta/kozhukkattai
Course	Dessert
Place of origin	Tamil Nadu, India
Region or state	Kerala and Tamil Nadu
Associated cuisine	India, Sri Lanka
Main ingredients	Grated coconut, jaggery
	Media: Kozhukatta;

Kozhukatta (Malayalam: കൊഴുക്കട്ട), Kozhukkattai (Tamil: கொழுகட்டை) or Kudumu (Telugu: కుడుము) is a popular South Indian dumpling made from rice flour, with a filling of grated coconut, jaggery, or chakkavaratti. Kozhukatta, although usually sweet, can sometimes be stuffed with a savory filling. Modak is a similar dish made in other parts of India.

Preparation

The dish is prepared by mixing grated coconut with jaggery syrup, placing it inside dumplings of rice flour, and steaming the dumplings. Ghee, cardamom, finely ground roasted rice flour etc. may be added to enhance the taste and flavor of the filling. In Kerala, a variant of kozhukatta made with atta flour (instead of rice flour) and grated coconut is a staple breakfast among some groups.

Popular culture

In Tamil Nadu, the dish is traditionally associated with the Hindu God Ganesha and is prepared as an offering (naivedhya) on the occasion of Vinayaka Chathurthi. In Kerala, it is popularly associated with Oshana Sunday celebrations of Saint Thomas Christians.^[1] It is also eaten as an evening snack with tea or coffee.

Kozhukkatta is an important part of several natal customs of the Sri Lankan Tamil community. In northern Sri Lanka, there is a custom involving dumplings whose edges are pressed to resemble teeth being dropped gently on a baby's head while the family wishes for the infant to develop healthy teeth.^[2] In eastern areas of Sri Lanka such as Amparai district, a smaller version called piḷḷai kozhukkaṭṭai is prepared by female family members for an expectant mother about four months after conception. These sweets are commonly exchanged at weddings as auspicious symbols of "plump" health and fertility.^[3]

Making

Flatten the rice dough
Fill with the mixture of jaggery and coconut
Close the dough
Mold it into the shape of a ball

References

^ "Kerala Syrian Christian Cuisine: KOZHUKATTA". 17 April 2011.
^ Sri Lanka. Ediz. Inglese. 2006. p. 71.
^ McCormack, Carol (1994). Ethnography of Fertility and Birth. Waveland Press. p. 46.

External links

Recipe for making kozhakattai
Kozhukattai in Tamil literature

[1] "Kerala Syrian Christian Cuisine: KOZHUKATTA". 17 April 2011.

[2] Sri Lanka. Ediz. Inglese. 2006. p. 71.

[3] McCormack, Carol (1994). Ethnography of Fertility and Birth. Waveland Press. p. 46.