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    Home » Recipes » Indian Sweets

    Coconut Poli Recipe - Thengai Poli

    Published: Apr 18, 2012 · Modified: Sep 24, 2021 by Radhika · This post may contain affiliate links · 26 Comments

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    Coconut Poli recipe with stepwise photos and video. They are also known as "Thengai Poli" or "Kobbari Obbattu" across South Indian states.

    Coconut Poli Recipe

    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.

    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.

    Thengai Poli Recipe

    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:

    thengai poli recipe step1

    1. In a bowl, take all purpose flour, turmeric powder, salt & 2 tablespoon gingelly oil, mix with finger tips.

    2. Add water little by little and knead into a soft and smooth dough.

    thengai poli recipe step2


    3. Let it rest for 10 mins. Knead once and make ping pong sized balls uniformly.

    thengai poli recipe step3


    4. Pour ¼ cup gingelly oil and let the balls rest for 20 to 30 mins.

    Thengai Poli Step 4

    5. Heat a pan with 1 tablespoon 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.

    thengai poli step5


    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.

    thengai poli step6


    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 teaspoon 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.

    Kobbari Obbattu


    12. Remove on to a plate & continue to cook all the polis.

    13. Coconut Poli is ready to be served hot or warm.

    If you loved this recipe, tap --> Rate or in the recipe card below to give us a 5 star rating!
    If you have tried this recipe & have any more queries, send an email to ticklingpalates@gmail.com

    Coconut Poli Recipe details below:

    Coconut Poli Recipe

    Coconut Poli

    Sweetened coconut and jaggery stuffing, stuffed into dough, flattened and cooked in ghee.
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    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time : 20 mins
    Cook Time : 20 mins
    Soaking Time : 30 mins
    Total Time : 40 mins
    Servings : 8
    Course : Dessert / Sweet
    Cuisine : Indian
    Author : Radhika

    Ingredients
      

    For the dough:

    • All purpose flour - 1 cup
    • Salt - 1 pinch
    • Turmeric powder - ½ tsp
    • Gingelly oil - 2 tablespoon + ¼ cup
    • Water - ½ cup approx.,

    For the coconut stuffing:

    • Freshly grated coconut - 1 cup
    • Jaggery (grated) - ½ cup
    • Cardamom - 2
    • Ghee - 2 tablespoon (divided)
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    Instructions
     

    Make the dough:

    • In a bowl, take all purpose flour, add turmeric powder, salt & mix together.
    • Add 2 tablespoon 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 tablespoon 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 teaspoon 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

    Tried this recipe?Mention @ticklingpalates or tag #ticklingpalates!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Vidhya

      April 20, 2012 at 5:38 am

      Polies look fabulous,I have not tried coconut poli at home but I think with your detailed recipe I can easily make this.

      Reply
    2. Spice up the Curry

      April 19, 2012 at 7:52 pm

      looks great. love it

      Reply
    3. anthony stemke

      April 19, 2012 at 7:58 am

      These look so tasty and wonderful, I love the spices used.

      Reply
    4. Nitha

      April 19, 2012 at 6:31 am

      Looks so soft and delicious..

      Reply
    5. R

      April 19, 2012 at 4:00 am

      awesome click, the polis look delicious.

      Reply
    6. Sayantani

      April 18, 2012 at 10:39 pm

      love coconut bread and these polis are to die for.

      Reply
    7. Priti

      April 18, 2012 at 9:45 pm

      I really wish I can grab n few n enjoy these beauties

      Reply
    8. Nithya

      April 18, 2012 at 9:00 pm

      This looks fantastic 🙂 loving it.

      Reply
    9. Anu

      April 18, 2012 at 8:15 pm

      Delicious poli

      Reply
    10. Premalatha Aravindhan

      April 18, 2012 at 8:09 pm

      wow delicious poli,luks very soft n yum...

      Reply
    11. Priya

      April 18, 2012 at 8:04 pm

      I dont mind to have some,makes me drool..

      Reply
    12. GEETHA ACHAL

      April 18, 2012 at 7:54 pm

      soft and colorful polis...Thanks for sharing...

      Reply
    13. Nalini's Kitchen

      April 18, 2012 at 7:22 pm

      Wow!!!!Super soft tempting polis,your picture makes me drool....

      Reply
    14. halal foodie

      April 18, 2012 at 7:19 pm

      these look adorable, v yummy !

      Reply
    15. Suja Manoj

      April 18, 2012 at 7:01 pm

      This is new to me,looks divine..

      Reply
    16. Hema

      April 18, 2012 at 6:36 pm

      Very delicious, my mom does the best polis, the same way, just by patting it, I am yet to master the art..

      Reply
    17. jeyashrisuresh

      April 18, 2012 at 5:41 pm

      very inviting polis

      Reply
    18. Shobha

      April 18, 2012 at 4:55 pm

      Delicious poli..
      I love the jaggery flavoured ones.

      Reply
    19. Princy Vinoth

      April 18, 2012 at 4:46 pm

      Definitely trying this Radhika !

      Reply
    20. radha

      April 18, 2012 at 3:55 pm

      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?

      Reply
    21. Kaveri Venkatesh

      April 18, 2012 at 3:05 pm

      Looks really yummy....there are certain recipes, which however much we try we can never match with our moms or grandmoms isn't it.

      Reply
    22. Roshan

      April 18, 2012 at 2:31 pm

      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

      Reply
    23. Kalyani

      April 18, 2012 at 2:09 pm

      This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Reply
    24. Chandrani

      April 18, 2012 at 1:14 pm

      This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Reply
    25. Poonam Borkar

      April 18, 2012 at 12:50 pm

      wow..poli looks so colorful and yummy..lovely pictures!!

      Reply
    26. Prathibha

      April 18, 2012 at 12:18 pm

      I love coconut holige,but ours is dark brown in color wid some changes in d recipe.

      Reply

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    Radhika of Tickling Palates Blog

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