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Somaas / Somaasi | Diwali Special

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Somaas

Diwali is just around the corner and I’m sure friends that you are all getting ready to welcome Goddess Laxmi into your homes to celebrate the festival. Today’s recipe Somaas is once again a traditional recipe from my Grandmother’s kitchen which is an absolute must apart from the Adhirasams she makes for Diwali. She usually clubs making this and Baadusha on the same day as both take some time to cook and more care is needed. Individual sweets such as this, adhirasam, baadusha and Lavang latikas fills a thaali tray perfectly and make it look over laden when you distribute for friends and neighbors.

 

1

It is very unfortunate that over the last few years, to be exact, right from the time when the private television channels invaded our space we are spending the festival along with the idiot box rather than with our relatives and friends. We lock ourselves inside our homes like willing jailbirds and surf the channels from the day’s start to end. I loved the festival time when there was no TV. We would get up early in the morning, have ganga snanam, get dressed in our “Pattu Pavaadai”, eat a sweet first after worshipping God and Grandma would get busy arranging the sweets and savories in the tray and it would be my duty to take the tray and distribute to our neighbors.

 

2

You know what, it was considered an insult if the festival thaali was sent to our neighbor by a maid servant instead of a family member but now-a-days you order a gift online and it is getting delivered by an unknown person and this is considered trendy and making a fashion statement. I personally feel that a sense of belonging is lost now than when compared to the yester years. But in spite of all this the very word “Diwali” never fails to make a person excited. Let us all enjoy this season of festivity with our friends and relatives rather than with the idiot box.

 

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Sweet Somaas / Somaasi  (Printable Recipe)

You’ll need:

  • All purpose flour / Maida – 2 cups
  • Ghee – 1 tbsp
  • Salt – a pinch
  • Water – to knead
  • Oil – to deep fry

For the Stuffing:

  • Roasted Gram dal / Pottukadalai – 1 cup
  • Grated Copra / Dry Coconut – 1/2 cup
  • Poppy Seeds – 1/4 cup
  • Cashew nuts – 10 to 15
  • Sugar – 1 cup
  • Cardamom powder – 1 tbsp

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Method:

In a bowl mix together maida, salt, ghee and using water make a soft dough and keep aside after covering with a damp cloth.

 

For the stuffing: Dry roast roasted gram dal, copra and poppy seeds one after the other separately over low flame taking care not to change the color. Let it cool. In a mixer powder this coarsely using the pulse mode. Transfer to a bowl.

 

Chop cashew nuts into very small pieces and dry roast again taking care not to burn it and transfer to the same bowl. Add sugar and cardamom powder and mix well and keep it aside.

 

Now take a small lemon size ball from the dough and roll it into a poori. Place a spoon of stuffing in the middle. Keep a cup of water and dip your finger in the water and run it all around the corner.

 

Bring one half over the other and press it well so that it does not come apart. You can cut it using a samosa cutter or press the edges with a fork as I did to ensure that the edges stay in place.

 

Heat oil in a kadai and when it is hot bring the flame to medium and slip 2 to 3 somaas into the oil at a time and cook well till it golden in color. Drain on a kitchen paper and store it in a tight container after it comes to room temperature.

 

Notes:

  • Make sure that the edges are sealed well else the somaas will open up and the filling would float on the oil.
  • You can also use fresh coconut if you are not able to get hold of copra but the shelf life is short.
  • If you have any left over stuffing mix it with hot ghee and make them into ladoos. They taste superb and it is one of my favorite way of having those stuffing.

 

This is off to Diwali Special ~ Sweets & Savories

Krithi & Denny’s Serve it ~ Festival Potluck

Pari’s Only Sweets & Desserts hosted by Gayathri

Siri’s Healing Foods ~ Coconut hosted by Sukanya.

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Comments

  3. Prathima Rao

    October 24, 2011 at 5:17 pm

    This is my fav!!!! we make a slightly diff version of the filling..with dry fruits & all..But this is how my grandma used to make & I adored it!!!

    Yup…people hardly find time tyo make & share sweets..That is why this year we have made loads of sweets & savories at home to share with all relatives & frinds…Happy diwali to you & your family Radhika!! Have a fun & safe Diwali..:)
    Prathima Rao
    Prats Corner

    Reply

  16. Sharanya

    October 24, 2011 at 10:58 pm

    malpuas and now this…what a virtual treat

    we call these kajjikayalu and recently i hav bought the kajjikayalu maker but never made dem will try ur recipe soon

    Reply

  20. sangee vijay

    October 25, 2011 at 1:17 am

    perfect somaas and this is my fav…its been ages i had this..my grandma never fails to make this for diwali…and your post made me nostalgic…
    Well said Radhika, now-a-days we people don’t find time to make sweets and share with friends n relatives…completely depend on the readymade sweet n savories…here in US we miss all our family and real fun 🙁 But yet we love the word “Diwali” and it gives some immense pleasure to spend the day with home made sweets n snacks…Happy diwali to you and your family Radhika…Hope your little doing fine now…take care!!

    Reply

  23. Priya

    October 25, 2011 at 2:55 pm

    Heard even in India most of my relatives,during diwali dont have to time to share sweets and memorable moments with this near ones..but eventhough mostly its working day for us here,we never stopped celebrating diwali even sometimes in late nite..

    Am very adamant to share my memories about these fabulous indian festival to my kids and definitely love to share some homemade sweets and savouries with my near ones..

    Have a safe and happy diwali Radhika, somaas is one of my mom’s signature dish..love it a lot..

    Reply

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