Coconut Poli recipe with stepwise photos and video. They are also known as "Thengai Poli" or "Kobbari Obbattu" across South Indian states.
These Polis are traditionally made during the new year day to bring in prosperity and wealth as both coconut and jaggery symbolises the same.
The entire process of making the coconut poli is an art in itself.
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Though a beginner can get it right at the first attempt itself, it takes a lot of practice and experience to attain the level of perfection.
I love the coconut polis that you get from “Venkateswara Boli” stalls and I really love visiting them often.
The aroma of ghee and the coconut stuffing together is quite a heady combination.
And eating them piping hot from the banana leaf is quite satiating as well.
Earlier I used banana leaves to pat the polis but now-a-days stick to parchment paper for ease of use.
Besides they are always available unlike banana leaf unless you happen to have a plantain tree in your backyard.
Coconut Poli Video:
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Notes:
1. Grate only the white part of the coconut & not the brown skin. Using only the white part will make the stuffing soft and pliant.
2. You can also use 1:1 of whole wheat flour and all purpose flour, but patting it out with just fingers alone will be difficult.
3. You can make the thengai pooranam (coconut stuffing) 2 or 3 days beforehand and store it in the fridge. Just thaw it out to room temperature while the dough is soaking.
Coconut Poli recipe with stepwise photos:
1. In a bowl, take all purpose flour, turmeric powder, salt & 2 tbsp gingelly oil, mix with finger tips.
2. Add water little by little and knead into a soft and smooth dough.
3. Let it rest for 10 mins. Knead once and make ping pong sized balls uniformly.
4. Pour ¼ cup gingelly oil and let the balls rest for 20 to 30 mins.
5. Heat a pan with 1 tbsp ghee. Add freshly grated coconut and saute over low flame, taking care not to burn till the coconut softens and lightly reduces in size.
6. Once cooled off, transfer to a mixie jar.
7. Add cardamom, grated jaggery and grind to a paste without adding water and make small lemon sized balls and set aside.
8. Grease a parchment or butter paper. Place a ball of the dough on the paper and flatten it by patting gently with your fingers till it gets to the size of your palm. Place a coconut stuffing ball in the center.
9. Gather the edges of the dough and pat it gently till it reaches the size of a roti.
10. Heat a pan & grease with ½ tsp ghee. Lift the parchement paper gently and flip it upside down on the pan. Gently peel away the parchment paper.
11. Drizzle few drops of ghee around the poli & grease on top too. Once you see the spots appearing on top & puffing lightly at places, flip it over for the other side to get cooked as well.
12. Remove on to a plate & continue to cook all the polis.
13. Coconut Poli is ready to be served hot or warm.
Coconut Poli Recipe details below:
Coconut Poli
Ingredients
For the dough:
- All purpose flour - 1 cup
- Salt - 1 pinch
- Turmeric powder - ½ tsp
- Gingelly oil - 2 tbsp + ¼ cup
- Water - ½ cup approx.,
For the coconut stuffing:
- Freshly grated coconut - 1 cup
- Jaggery (grated) - ½ cup
- Cardamom - 2
- Ghee - 2 tbsp (divided)
Instructions
Make the dough:
- In a bowl, take all purpose flour, add turmeric powder, salt & mix together.
- Add 2 tbsp gingelly oil, mix with finger tips by rubbing the oil into the flour, till it resembles like bread crumbs.
- Add water little by little and knead into a soft and smooth dough.
- Let it rest for 10 mins.
- Knead once and make ping pong sized balls uniformly.
- Pour ¼ cup gingelly oil and let the balls rest for 20 mins.
Make the coconut stuffing:
- Heat a pan with 1 tbsp ghee.
- Add freshly grated coconut and saute over low flame, taking care not to burn till the coconut softens and lightly reduces in size.
- This may take 2 to 3 mins.
- Take off fire and let it cool a bit.
- Once cooled off, transfer to a mixie jar.
- Add cardamom, grated jaggery and grind to a paste without adding water, using the pulse mode in the mixie unit.
- Mix well to combine and make small lemon sized balls and set aside.
Shape the coconut poli:
- Grease a parchment or butter paper. You can also use banana leaf.
- Place a ball of the dough on the paper and flatten it by patting gently with your fingers till it gets to the size of your palm.
- Place a coconut stuffing ball in the center.
- Gather the edges of the dough and bring it over the coconut ball & seal it on top and make it into a ball again.
- Flip the ball so that the sealed part is at the bottom.
- Grease your palm and fingers with gingelly oil.
- Start first by using the pad below the thumb to flatten the ball.
- Follow press and spread motion and once it reaches the size of your palm, switch to using your fingers.
- Pat it gently till it reaches the size of a roti.
- Do not put pressure which will make the stuffing to come out of the dough.
Cook the coconut poli:
- Heat a pan & grease with ½ tsp ghee. Keep the flame in medium low.
- Lift the parchement paper gently and flip it upside down on the pan.
- Gently peel away the parchment paper.
- Drizzle few drops of ghee around the poli & grease on top too.
- Once you see the spots appearing on top & puffing lightly at places, flip it over for the other side to get cooked as well.
- Drizzle few more drops of ghee around the poli.
- Remove on to a plate & continue to cook all the polis.
- Coconut Poli is ready to be served hot or warm.
Video
I love coconut holige,but ours is dark brown in color wid some changes in d recipe.
wow..poli looks so colorful and yummy..lovely pictures!!
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hi Radhika,
the Poli looks awesome...
i couldnt participate in last weeks Blog Hop bcoz i was ill...i informed the same to Farah...pls confirm whether i can prepare and post a recipe from her blog for next month's blog hop alongwith next month BH partner...and continue participating....
pls reply.
roshan
Looks really yummy....there are certain recipes, which however much we try we can never match with our moms or grandmoms isn't it.
I want to make this, but the others are not so fond of it at home. These look so tempting - maybe on a day I am by myself?
Definitely trying this Radhika !
Delicious poli..
I love the jaggery flavoured ones.
very inviting polis
Very delicious, my mom does the best polis, the same way, just by patting it, I am yet to master the art..
This is new to me,looks divine..
these look adorable, v yummy !
Wow!!!!Super soft tempting polis,your picture makes me drool....
soft and colorful polis...Thanks for sharing...
I dont mind to have some,makes me drool..
wow delicious poli,luks very soft n yum...
Delicious poli
This looks fantastic 🙂 loving it.
I really wish I can grab n few n enjoy these beauties
love coconut bread and these polis are to die for.
awesome click, the polis look delicious.
Looks so soft and delicious..
These look so tasty and wonderful, I love the spices used.
looks great. love it
Polies look fabulous,I have not tried coconut poli at home but I think with your detailed recipe I can easily make this.