Vella Aval

வெல்ல அவல்

This is an important offering to Lord Ganesha and this can also be very easily prepared as a sweet snack. Aval is low in carbs and jaggery has good iron content. 

Ingredients

1. Aval  preferably flat variety (flattened rice flake) - 1 cup
2. Jaggery (powdered) 1/2 cup
3. Cardamom powder - 2 teaspoons or mashed seeds of two cardamoms
4. Grated coconut 1/2 cup
5. Cashew broken 1 teaspoon
6. Ghee 1 and 1/2 table spoon

Preparation:

1. Soak the aval for ten minutes to make the aval soft. 
2. Drain completely.
3. In  1/2 cup of water, add the jaggery and set it aside to dissolve into a thick syrup.
 Using a strainer, strain the jaggery syrup to remove dusts and debris.
4. In a pan, heat this jaggery syrup.
5. Once the jaggery syrup starts to thicken, add the coconut, cardamom and the softened aval.
6. Stir continuously for 5 minutes or till the aval is completely coated with the jaggery syrup.Remove from heat.
7. Melt the ghee in a small pan, roast the cashew pieces until golden brown.
8. Mix this with the aval.