sweets of uttarakhandImage Credit source: Getty Images/negi_sweet
While the lifestyle in the mountains is very simple, the mountain people have also preserved harmony, love for each other, folk music, local food, art and rich culture. There is one such traditional sweet here which is linked to the emotions of the people and is definitely made on special occasions like weddings. The history of this sweet is also considered to be 1100 years old. It is said that in the 8th-9th century, when Adi Guru Shankaracharya established and revived Badrinath and Kedarnath, Brahmins from South India used to bring these sweets along with them for worship. Gradually this hill merged with the taste. We are talking about a long time.
The specialty of Arsa, a sweet filled with the sweetness of jaggery, is that it does not spoil for many months. This is the reason why it is made on special occasions. Especially when a daughter leaves her parents’ house after marriage to her in-laws house, there is a tradition of giving her ‘Kaleu’ as a farewell and traditional dishes are also given to her in which Arsa sweets are also given. So let us now see the recipe of this Arsa.
What ingredients will be required?
Arsa or Arase is not just a sweet, but it is a symbol of love and affection. Which people share with each other. To make this sweet, you will need 250 grams of rice, 100 grams of jaggery, 2 cups of coconut powder, 3 fourth cups of raisins, 2 to 3 teaspoons of fennel, 1 to 2 teaspoons of sesame seeds or poppy seeds, about one and a half cups of water. Apart from this, oil or refined oil will be required for frying.
How to make Arsa?
- First of all you have to soak the rice. If you want, you can soak it overnight or for more time.
- When the rice gets soaked and swells, take it out of the water and then keep it in a sieve so that the water drains out.
- There should be slight moisture in the rice, then grind it and prepare its flour and then filter it in a big vessel.
- Melt the jaggery in the pan while stirring continuously on low flame, just keep in mind that the jaggery should not burn.
Image:negi_sweet/insta
- Now by adding jaggery to the ground rice flour, a very soft dough will be prepared.
- While adding rice, you have to keep stirring it continuously with a strong ladle so that there are no lumps in the batter.
- In this flour you can add fennel seeds, coconut powder, raisins and if you wish, you can add sesame seeds or poppy seeds.
- Apply oil on hands also. Take small amounts of prepared dough or batter in your hands, make pedas and spread them lightly.
- Heat oil in a pan and prepare all the Arsa by frying them one by one in this manner.
Also read: Dhokla will not form a mesh, it will become hard… Do not make these 5 mistakes while making it.
Store Arsa like this
You have to fry the whole thing till it turns golden brown. It is good to eat this sweet hot, but its taste increases with each passing day. Keep it in an airtight container or vessel which does not contain moisture. These do not spoil for many months. Arsa is made only on special occasions.
