Rare ingredient story
- Kolhapuri jaggery: Deep caramel jaggery made in bull-powered presses.
- Sourcing: We reserve annual batches from Phaltan gurhalas, shipped in stitched leaves.
- Preservation: Stored in mud pots to retain moisture.
The sacred method
- Vessel: Iron kadai
- Fire: Coal brazier
- Timing cue: Stir jaggery till 'soft ball' stage; roll while warm
- Mixture should hiss gently when sesame enters.
- Hands greased with ghee to prevent omens.
Ayurvedic & seasonal wisdom
- Dosha focus: Warms vata during cold winds
- Benefits: Sesame fortifies bones; jaggery supplies iron.
- Consumption notes: Eat one per day during Sankranti to keep skin supple.
Sojal's revival notes
- Sunrise tracker:Our app notifies when to extinguish lamps so natural light crowns the sweets.
- Neighbourhood exchange cards:Printable pledge encourages sharing to rebuild community webs.
Ingredients
- 2 cups roasted sesame
- 1.5 cups grated jaggery
- 2 tbsp desiccated coconut
- 1 tsp cardamom
- 1 tsp poppy seeds
- Ghee
Method
- Dry roast sesame until popping; keep warm.
- Melt jaggery with tsp water until soft ball stage.
- Stir in sesame, coconut, cardamom.
- Grease palms, roll quickly into balls before sunrise.
- Dust with poppy seeds.
Preservation actions
More to explore
Related lineages
Lost Temple Secrets
Madurai Meenakshi Midnight Panakam
Past midnight, panakam urns rest beneath the gopuram so lunar dew can temper jaggery heat.
Read recipe ↗
Lost Temple Secrets
Badrinath High-Altitude Jhangora Kheer
Altitude dictates patience—the kheer must bubble before sunrise when air pressure drops just enough to aerate the grains.
Read recipe ↗
Lost Temple Secrets
Puri Jagannath 56-Layer Khaja
Each fold is sealed with a whispered mantra so the layers don't collapse in steam.
Read recipe ↗