Arcot Makkan Peda.

Makkan Peda is quite famous sweet around North Arcot Districts. After a nice Arcot Biriyani….treating with Makkan peda is kind of special! My lecturer cum friend Punitha mam(she is from Melvishaaram!) she used to bring home made ‘makkan peda’ & ‘Mutton Kheema Balls’ for me! She is not only a very good teacher, a dear friend to me and an excellent cook! She is the one…who shared most of the secret recipes from arcot belt! like Mutton Kebabs, Minced Meat Balls, Makkan Peda….etc.

Ingredients:

Kowa(sugarless) – 250 gms
All purpose flour few spoons(to knead-optional)
Cooking soda – a pinch
Yogurts 1 cup
0i1/ Ghee for deep frying.

For stuffing:

Sliced almonds 1 spoon
Chopped cashews 1 spoon
Saarai Paruppu(I don’t know in English) 1 spoon
Pumpkin seeds 1 spoon
Raisins 1 spoon.

For sugar syrup:

Sugar 1 1/2 cups
Water – 1 cup
Saffron few strands.

Method:

Mix all the ingredients for stuffing together. set side.

Prepare sugar syrup of sticky consistency. Set aside t cool down.

Mix soda with few spoons of unmelted ghee…. till it becomes frothy.

Now mix the sugarless kowa and all purpose flour…bring them to crumbled stage.

Add yogurts and knead them to make a smooth fissure less dough.
Keep well covered for about an hour or so.

Now make equal parts out of it….as big as large lemon/orange size. Push a spoon full of stuffing inside it. Repeat the same for all the remaining dough and stuffing.

Then gently tap their sides…its should be in saucer shape(enterprise space ship shape)

Deep fry them gently in ot ghee…till golden to reddish brown outer. Remove and leave over kitchen tissues. Then immerse in the sugar syrup.

Let the pedas to soak in the syrup for really really long time. The pedas should be very soft and like melting in your mouth. Serve chilled!