KOOVA KALI (ARROW ROOT HALVA)

Koova kali is made out of koova podi or arrow root powder. It is also known as  Araru, Araruta.   During Thiruvathira, we make sweet dish out of this known as koova kali.  I have already posted Thiruvathira kali which is also made during this day.  Basically, in South India, this sweet dish is made.   To day is my son's star birthday, so I made this sweet dish for him.

Let us have a look at the recipe now:

Ingredients:

1/4 cup arrow root powder

1/4 cup powdered jaggery (heaped)

a generous pinch of cardamom powder

1/2 cup water for cooking arrow root powder

1/4 cup  water for melting jaggery.

1 tbsp fresh grated coconut

2-3 tsp ghee

cashewnuts or dry fruits chopped for garnishing.

Method:

Grease a small plate and keep aside. In a kadai, melt the jaggery with 1/4 cup water, remove impurities.  wash the kadai and transfer back the jaggery syrup in it, add the coconut  and boil.  In the meantime, in another kadai, put the arrow root powder, 1/4 cup water and mix well without forming lumps.  Cook the same in medium flame.  while cooking, you will feel that lumps are formed.  mash it with the back of spatula.  when the colour changes,  feel transparent, add the boiling jaggery in it and cook till a mass is formed and starts leaving the sides of the kadai.  at this stage, transfer the same into the greased plate.  flatten the same with a spoon dipped in ghee.  when it cools down, cut into desired shape, garnish with the dry fruit and serve.  this can be served with kavathu kootu or thalagam.

You tube: http://youtu.be/s710gPXF9gk   second part http://youtu.be/Cn9Cc_x_Na8

 A small brief about this root:

Use it in the bakery as a thickening agent for fruit pie fillings and glazes. It is also used in preparation of arrowroot cookies. It makes shimmering fruit gels.

· It is also used in the preparation of homemade ice cream since it aids in prevention of formation of ice crystals.

· 1 tsp of Arrowroot can be substituted for 1 tbsp of flour, 2 tsp of Arrowroot can be substituted for 1 tbsp of cornstarch.

Mashed rhizomes are  used on wounds which arised due to poisoned arrows. Spider bites etc to halt gangrene. It was also supposed to be freshly juiced, mixed with water and used as an antidote to problems arising due to vegetable poisoning.

· It is said to relieve stomach disorders, especially for bowel complaints in convalescents.