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    You are here: Home / Recent Posts / Okkarai Recipe | Ukkarai Recipe

    Okkarai Recipe | Ukkarai Recipe

    Last Updated On: Jun 1, 2022 by Sharmilee J

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    Okkarai is a Chettinad sweet made by steaming & crumbling chana dal & blend with jaggery syrup, flavours & nuts. Okkarai is a traditional recipe made during Navarathri & religious festivals in Tamil Nadu.
    Ukkarai Recipe

    Ukkarai is a Chettinad special sweet made for Diwali.This ukkarai / okkarai is made even during Navratri and Karthigai Deepam in different parts of the city.

    I  wanted to post this last Diwali itself but somehow got missed.Amma makes this ukkarai sweet often as its easy to make and healthy too as it uses very less ghee but ammas version is slightly different, so I referred my Chettinad cookbook for the method and used ammas measures.

    Diwali recipes collection

    Ukkarai Recipe

    If you have any more questions about this Ukkarai Recipe do mail me at sharmispassions@gmail.com. In addition, follow me on Instagram, Facebook,  Pinterest, Youtube and Twitter .

    Tried this OkkaraiRecipe ? Do let me know how you liked it. Also tag us on Instagram @sharmispassions and hash tag it on #sharmispassions.

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    Okkarai | Ukkarai

    Okkarai is a Chettinad sweet made by steaming & crumbling chana dal & blend with jaggery syrup, flavours & nuts. Okkarai is a traditional recipe made during Navarathri & religious festivals in Tamil Nadu.
    Prep Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
    Servings2
    AuthorSharmilee J

    Ingredients

    • 1/4 cup chana dal
    • 1/4 cup moong dal
    • 1/2 cup jaggery
    • 3 tablespoon coconut
    • 2 teaspoon + 1 teaspoon ghee
    • 5 nos cashews broken
    • 1/8 teaspoon cardamom powder

    Instructions

    • Soak jaggery in warm water (till immersing level) , crush it well.
    • Then heat it up until it is slightly thick (no string consistency needs to be checked). Strain and keep aside.
    • Dry roast chana dal and moong dal till slightly golden.
    • Soak it in water at least for an hr.
    • Drain water and transfer the dals to a mixer and coarse grind it. I did the grinding in batches. Make sure you grind it to a coarse mixture and not to a paste.
    • Now fill in a idli mould with this mixture and steam cook it for at least 15mins in low medium flame.
    • Roughly break it and run it again in the mixer, just pulsing will be enough. It should look like breadcrumbs in texture.
    • Heat jaggery syrup till it resembles honey in consistency. Add the ground mixture and keep mixing till all the moisture is absorbed.
    • Keep mixing and add ghee when it gets dried up.
    • Now add cardamom powder and give a quick mix. Fry cashews in a teaspoon of ghee till golden brown.
    • Cook till the entire mixture become dry and resembles bread crumbs in texture.
    • Add grated coconut and fried cashews and switch off.
    • Serve Okkarai hot / warm.

    Notes

    • Keeps well for 2 days at least when refrigerated.
    Nutrition Facts
    Okkarai | Ukkarai
    Amount Per Serving (75 g)
    Calories 460 Calories from Fat 90
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 10g15%
    Saturated Fat 5g31%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g
    Monounsaturated Fat 2g
    Cholesterol 13mg4%
    Sodium 9mg0%
    Potassium 45mg1%
    Carbohydrates 82g27%
    Fiber 9g38%
    Sugar 52g58%
    Protein 11g22%
    Vitamin A 50IU1%
    Vitamin C 0.3mg0%
    Calcium 69mg7%
    Iron 3mg17%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @sharmispassions or tag #sharmispassions
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    Ukkarai Recipe Step by Step

    1. Soak jaggery in warm water(till immersing level) , crush it well. Then heat it up until it is slightly thick (no string consistency needs to be checked).Strain and keep aside.(I made more than above mentioned quantity for storing purpose).
      How to make karamani sundal - Step6
    2. Dry roast chana dal and moong dal till slightly golden.Soak it in water atleast for an hr.
      How to make Ukkarai Recipe - Step1
    3. Drain water and transfer the dals to a mixer and coarse grind it.I did the grinding in batches.Make sure you grind it to a coarse mixture and not to a paste.Now fill in a idli mould with this mixture and steam cook it for atleast 15mins in low medium flame.
      How to make Ukkarai Recipe - Step2
    4. Roughly break it and run it again in the mixer, just pulsing will be enough.It should look like breadcrumbs in texture.
      How to make Ukkarai Recipe - Step3
    5. Heat jaggery syrup till it resmbles honey in consistency.Add the ground mixture and keep mixing till all the moisture is absorbed.
      How to make Ukkarai Recipe - Step3
    6. Keep mixing and add ghee when it gets dried up.Now add cardamom powder and give a quick mix.Fry cashews in a teaspoon of ghee till golden brown.
      How to make Ukkarai Recipe - Step3
    7. Cook till the entire mixture become dry and resembles bread crumbs in texture. Add grated coconut and fried cashews and switch off.
      How to make Ukkarai Recipe - Step3

    Serve hot / warm.

    Expert Tips

    • The orginal recipe asked to check for single string consistency but I just heated the syrup till it was thick.
    • Keeps well for 2 days atleast when refrigerated.

    Ukkarai Recipe


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    Filed Under: Chettinad Sweets, Diwali, Diwali Special, Indian Sweets, RandomPosts, Recent Posts

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Traditionally Modern Food

      October 19, 2015 at 7:08 pm

      Love ukkarai..its been a while since I tasted..urs looks tempting

      Reply
    2. MASTERCHEFMOM

      October 20, 2015 at 7:51 am

      We make this on Diwali every year. It is our family favourite. Love your presentation and I am completely tempted to make this now itself !!!

      Reply
    3. Uma Venkat

      October 20, 2015 at 9:55 am

      My first comment here…u have a nice blog sharmi..dis is my most favourite sweet but my mom makes with sugar..yumm..

      Reply
    5 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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