ANN/THE DAILY STAR – Narkel Puli or Narikel Puri is a very popular Bangladeshi pitha made of rice flour, coconut, and date molasses. To add that extra essence for vegan tastebuds, use crushed cashew, pinch of black cumin and walnut.
VEGAN NARIKEL PULI (DEEP FRIED COCONUT DUMPLING)
INGREDIENTS
– One cup date jaggery (gur)
– One cup water
– One cup coconut, unsweetened
– One tablespoon oil
– One cup rice flour
– One-and-a-half cup water
– One-eighth teaspoon salt
– Two teaspoons cashew dust
– One teaspoon crushed walnut
– Pinch of black cumin
– Oil for deep frying
METHOD
For coconut filling
Boil water and add the gur. As gur melts, add coconut to the pan. Cook, stirring often, until the mixture is semi sticky but not runny.
Add cashew, walnut and black cumin.
For pitha dough
Boil water. Add salt and oil.
Add rice flour to boiling water and keep stirring with a wooden spoon to form a firm but soft and not sticky dough. Adjust flour accordingly. Knead well for about three to four minutes.
Take a portion of the dough and roll it out as a thick tortilla, about a quarter of an inch thick. Cut out circles with a cookie cutter.
Place a small amount of coconut filling on each circle.
Repeat the process with the remaining dough.
Brush the edges with water and seal tightly to form a crescent (semi-circular) shape.
Heat oil. Fry the narikel puli pitha in medium heat until the dough is cooked through and slightly golden. Serve warm or at room temperature.
