Kozhukkattai ( tam, கொழுகட்டை) or kozhukatta ( ml, കൊഴുക്കട്ട) is a popular
South Indian
dumpling
Dumpling is a broad class of dishes that consist of pieces of dough (made from a variety of starch sources), oftentimes wrapped around a filling. The dough can be based on bread, flour, buckwheat or potatoes, and may be filled with meat, fi ...
made from
rice flour, with a filling of grated
coconut
The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family ( Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or the ...
,
jaggery
Jaggery is a traditional non-centrifugal cane sugar consumed in the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Africa. It is a concentrated product of cane juice and often date or palm sap without separation of the molasses and crystals, and can ...
, or
chakkavaratti. Kozhukattai, although usually sweet, can sometimes be stuffed with a savory filling. It is also prepared by Kerala Christians on the Saturday prior to Palm Sunday and the day is hence called Kozhukatta Saturday. ''
Modak'' is a similar dish made in other parts of India. This is a popular dish prepared during the
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi (ISO: ), also known as Vinayak Chaturthi (), or Ganeshotsav () is a Hindu festival commemorating the birth of the Hindu god Ganesha. The festival is marked with the installation of Ganesha's clay idols privately in homes and p ...
festival.
Preparation
The dish is prepared by mixing grated coconut with
jaggery
Jaggery is a traditional non-centrifugal cane sugar consumed in the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Africa. It is a concentrated product of cane juice and often date or palm sap without separation of the molasses and crystals, and can ...
syrup, placing it inside dumplings of rice flour, and steaming the dumplings.
Ghee
Ghee is a type of clarified butter, originating from India. It is commonly used in India for cooking, as a traditional medicine, and for religious rituals.
Description
Ghee is typically prepared by simmering butter, which is churned from c ...
, cardamom, finely ground roasted rice flour etc. may be added to enhance the taste and flavour of the filling. In Kerala, a variant of kozhukattai 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. It is prepared by Kerala Christians on the Saturday prior to
Palm Sunday and the day is hence called Kozhukatta Saturday. In
Kerala, it is also eaten as an evening
snack
A snack is a small portion of food generally eaten between meals. Snacks come in a variety of forms including packaged snack foods and other processed foods, as well as items made from fresh ingredients at home.
Traditionally, snacks are p ...
with tea or coffee.
''Kozhukkattai'' is an important part of several natal customs of the
Sri Lankan Tamil
Sri Lankan Tamils ( or ), also known as Ceylon Tamils or Eelam Tamils, are Tamils native to the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka. Today, they constitute a majority in the Northern Province, live in significant numbers in the Eastern Pr ...
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. 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.
Making
Image:കൊഴുക്കട്ട ഘട്ടം1.jpg, Flatten the rice dough
Image:കൊഴുക്കട്ട ഘട്ടം2.jpg, Fill with the mixture of jaggery and coconut
Image:കൊഴുക്കട്ട ഘട്ടം3.jpg, Close the dough
Image:കൊഴുക്കട്ട ഘട്ടം4.jpg, Mold it into the shape of a ball
See also
*
List of Indian sweets and desserts
*
Thennai Kozhakkattai
*
Manda pitha
*
Momo (dumpling)
*
List of dumplings
References
External links
Recipe for making kozhakattai Kozhukattai in Tamil literature
{{Dumplings
Indian desserts
South Indian cuisine
Kerala cuisine
Foods containing coconut
Dumplings
Konkani cuisine
Hindu symbols