Vella Seedai Recipe: A Traditional Sweet for Krishna Jayanti and Gokulashtami

Looking for a traditional and delicious sweet to prepare for Krishna Jayanti, Gokulashtami or Janmashtami? Vella Seedai, also known as Sweet Seedai or Vella Cheedai, is a crispy and flavourful homemade snack prepared using rice flour, urad dal flour, jaggery, butter, sesame seeds and coconut.

This traditional sweet is commonly prepared as a festive offering and is especially popular because it is relatively easy to make and has fewer chances of bursting while frying.

Ingredients

* 1 cup rice flour

* 2 tablespoons urad dal flour

* 1 tablespoon coconut

* ½ cup jaggery

* ¼ cup water

* 1 tablespoon butter

* 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

* ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder

* Oil for deep frying

* A little water as required

How to Make Vella Seedai

Step 1: Roast the Rice Flour

Add 1 cup of rice flour to a pan and roast it until it becomes suitable for drawing a continuous line with the flour. Switch off the stove and allow it to cool.

Step 2: Roast the Urad Dal Flour

Add 2 tablespoons of urad dal flour to the pan and roast for about 2 minutes. Set it aside to cool.

Step 3: Roast the Coconut

Roast 1 tablespoon of coconut until all the moisture is removed and it becomes dry. There is no need to roast it until golden. Set it aside to cool.

Step 4: Sieve the Flours

Add the roasted rice flour and urad dal flour to a sieve. Sieve the flours thoroughly and discard the residue.

Step 5: Prepare the Jaggery Syrup

Add ½ cup of jaggery and ¼ cup of water to a saucepan. Boil until the jaggery dissolves completely.

There is no need to check the consistency of the syrup. Strain the syrup to remove impurities and allow it to cool slightly.

Step 6: Mix the Ingredients

Add the sieved rice flour and urad dal flour to a mixing bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of butter, 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds, 1 tablespoon of roasted coconut and ¼ teaspoon of cardamom powder.

Mix everything well so the butter is evenly distributed.

Step 7: Add the Jaggery Syrup

Add the strained jaggery syrup to the flour mixture. The syrup will be runny because a thick consistency is not required for this recipe.

Mix well until the mixture becomes crumbly.

Step 8: Prepare the Dough

Add water little by little and bring the mixture together to form a dough. The dough should not be too loose.

Step 9: Shape the Seedai

Pinch off a small portion of the dough and gently roll it into a small ball slightly larger than a marble.

Do not roll the balls too tightly. A small crack on the surface is fine as it can allow moisture to escape.

Step 10: Rest the Seedai

Place the prepared seedai on a clean cloth and allow them to rest for at least 20 minutes so excess moisture can be absorbed.

If desired, prick each seedai once with a toothpick to help prevent bursting while frying.

Step 11: Heat the Oil

Heat the oil and test the temperature by adding one seedai. Once the temperature is suitable, add the seedai in small batches.

Step 12: Fry the Seedai

Fry the seedai over a low-medium flame and turn them gently while frying to ensure even cooking.

Step 13: Fry Until Deep Brown

Continue frying until the seedai turns deep brown. This helps ensure that it is properly cooked on the inside.

Since the seedai contains jaggery syrup, it browns faster. Therefore, maintaining a low-medium flame is important.

Step 14: Drain and Cool

Remove the fried seedai from the oil and drain them on a tissue.

Allow the seedai to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container.

Tips for Making Perfect Vella Seedai

* Roasting and sieving the rice flour and urad dal flour are important steps to help prevent the seedai from bursting.

* Make sure the coconut is roasted well to remove excess moisture.

* Always strain the jaggery syrup before adding it to the flour mixture.

* Small grains in the flour can cause the seedai to burst, so sieve the flour thoroughly.

* Do not roll the seedai balls tightly, as trapped air can cause them to burst while frying.

* Allow the shaped seedai to rest on a cloth before frying to remove excess moisture.

* Fry the seedai over a low-medium flame because jaggery can make them brown quickly.

* The seedai does not need to be perfectly round.

A Traditional Sweet for Krishna Jayanti

Vella Seedai is a traditional sweet snack commonly prepared for Krishna Jayanti, Gokulashtami and Janmashtami. The sweetness of jaggery and the flavour of butter make it a delicicious festive offering. Prepare these crispy homemade seedai and offer them as neiveidhyam during the celebration.

Store Vella Seedai in a dry, airtight container after allowing it to cool completely.