Carrot Coconut Poli - Vishu Special

Wishing every one a very happy Tamil New year and Vishu. Pa`lakkad Iyers and Malayalis arrange a vishu decoration to begin the new year. We look into the mirror as soon as we get up and pray for a healthy, peaceful and a prosperous year ahead. A mirror arrangement, done the previous night, is made to reflect fresh green and yellow vegetables, fruits, flowers on a bed of rice and dal. Money, clothes (preferably white) and a tiny krishna idol also form a part of the arrangement. Head of the family lights the lamp (placed in front of the mirror) early in the morning and prays for well being of kith and kin. Children are woken up and brought to the mirror with their eyes closed. They are made to view the arrangement in the mirror and given Kani (money). More on Vishu here >> Link

Among the various goodies made for this festival, Tamil kitchens have Poli on their menu. While in conversation with my ma in law, I was talking about different fillings for a poli and told her about my love for carrot and coconut poli (among other variations). She said she would try this one out and tell me. The perfectionist that she is, not only did she make the Carrot Coconut poli, but promptly sent me pictures. For all her enthusiasm, how could I not document it on Avial and Rasam. As a rule I tend to make poli out of every possible vegetable and fruit (lol)... My ma in law used Maida (all purpose flour...I stick to whole wheat flour or atta)

All you need: for Ten 6 " polis

1. Carrot (grated) - 1 cup
2. Coconut (shredded)- 1 cup
3. Jaggery - 1 cup (or to suit your taste)
4. Elaichi - 3 (powdered)
5. Flour (maida/all purpose) - 2 1/2 cup
6. Haldi /turmeric - 1 pinch
7. Ghee / oil - 1/4 cup
8. salt- 1/4 tsp (or less)
9. Water - 2 cups (or as required)

Process:
Puran: (the stuffing / filling)

• Add salt and turmeric to the maida (or whoel wheat flour) and pour in a tbsp of oil, add sufficient water and knead it into a dough (not too firm). Keep it aside and let the dough rest for an hour or so.
• soak jaggery in 1/2 cup of water and when it dissolves completely, sieve it through a filter (to remove sediments if any)
• In a Kadai, pour in the filtered jaggery water and simmer for a minute
• Add the cardamom powder, combine carrots and coconut and cook until the ingredients are cooked and the mixture is dry and done
• When the stuffing is cool, divide them into ten parts  

For the poli

• Divide your 10 dough into equal parts and roll each one out into a mini roti and place the filling on top
• close the rolled out and stuffed  roti and use a little oil and press it down (with your fingers and the palm)
• Roast it in a flat pan /tava apply oil or ghee(clarified butter) once both sides are done

Serving suggestion
serve with a cup of milk

Trivia

• This makes a wonderful dessert and is made in most south Indian homes. 
• A traditional Poli is stuffed with a mixture of split Chickpea and jaggery. There could be regional variations though.
• What its called- Marathi - Puran Poli; Telugu- bobbattu; Tamil - Poli; Kannada - Obbatu
• (Whatever the name, this dish tastes just as sweet!)
• any vegetable which go into a parata works well in a poli...a little imagination and the possibilities are endless

Do try and let me know !!!!