Poornam Undrallu - A Festive Delight for Vinayaka Chavithi

Introduction

Poornam Undrallu is a traditional sweet offering made during the festival of Vinayaka Chavithi, dedicated to Lord Ganesha. This festive delicacy combines the goodness of Bengal gram and jaggery, stuffed inside soft rice flour dough balls. These are then steamed, making them a healthy and symbolic Naivedyam for the deity. The sweetness of Poornam Undrallu represents the sweetness of life, and their preparation is a sacred ritual in many Telugu households. Let's walk through the steps to prepare this delightful dish for Vinayaka Chavithi.

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Yield: 10-15 Poornam Undrallu

Quick Navigation:

• Ingredients for Poornam Sweet (Stuffing)
• Ingredients for Undrallu (Dough)
• Procedure
• To Prepare Poornam Sweet
• Step 1: Cooking Bengal Gram
• Step 2: Cooking Process
• Step 3: Adding Jaggery
• Step 4: Thicken the Mixture
• Step 5: Shaping Poornam
• Making of Undrallu
• Step 1: Preparing the Jaggery Syrup
• Step 2: Preparing the Rice Flour Mixture
• Step 3: Mixing the Dough
• Step 4: Adding Jaggery Syrup
• Step 5: Greasing Idli Plates
• Step 6: Stuffing and Steaming
• Step 7: Steaming and Serving
• Conclusion

Ingredients for Poornam Sweet (Stuffing)

Sanagapappu (Bengalgram): 1/2 kg

Bellam (Jaggery): 1/2 kg

Panchadara (Sugar): 1 cup

Water: 1/2 glass

Yalukayi (Cardamom): A few for flavor

Ingredients for Undrallu (Dough)

Biyyam Pindi (Rice Flour): 3 1/2 Cups

Bellam (Jaggery): 1 Cup

Idly Maker: Used for steaming

Procedure

To Prepare Poornam Sweet

Step 1: Cooking Bengal Gram

Soak 1/2 kg of Bengal gram (Sanagapappu) for 1 hour. Cook the soaked Bengal gram by adding 1 or 2 glasses of water. The soft texture of the Bengal gram is essential for making a smooth and delicious Poornam filling.

Step 2: Cooking Process

After 3 whistles in a pressure cooker, lower the flame and cook for an additional 1 minute.

Step 3: Adding Jaggery

Mash the cooked Bengal gram and add 1/2 kg of mashed jaggery (Bellam). Stir continuously to combine the sweetness of jaggery with the cooked gram, creating a rich and delicious filling.

Step 4: Thicken the Mixture

Allow the mixture to cook until it thickens. You can add a little water if needed, but keep stirring to avoid lumps. The thickened Poornam should be smooth and ready to shape into small balls.

Step 5: Shaping Poornam

Once the mixture is thickened, shape it into small, round balls like laddus. These balls will be stuffed into the rice dough to form the Poornam Undrallu.

Making of Undrallu

Step 1: Preparing the Jaggery Syrup

Heat 250ml of water in a pan. Simultaneously, boil 1 cup of jaggery in 100ml of water until it melts completely to form a syrup. This syrup will add sweetness to the dough.

Step 2: Preparing the Rice Flour Mixture

Mix 1/2 cup of rice flour with 125ml of water to form a smooth paste. Gradually add this mixture to the boiling water while stirring continuously. Cook for 3-4 minutes until it thickens.

Step 3: Mixing the Dough

Transfer 3 cups of rice flour onto a wide plate. Add the thickened rice flour mixture and gently mix. This forms the base dough for the Undrallu.

Step 4: Adding Jaggery Syrup

Pour the prepared jaggery syrup into the rice flour mixture and knead it into a smooth dough. The dough should be soft and pliable.

Step 5: Greasing Idli Plates

Apply a little ghee to the idli plates to prevent sticking and enhance flavor during the steaming process.

Step 6: Stuffing and Steaming

Take small portions of the dough, flatten it, and place a Poornam ball inside. Seal the edges and roll it into a smooth ball. Place the stuffed balls on the greased idli plates and steam them for 10 minutes on high flame and 10 minutes on low flame.

Step 7: Steaming and Serving

Once steamed, the Poornam Undrallu will be soft, sweet, and ready for Naivedyam. Serve them with devotion as a special offering to Lord Ganesha during Vinayaka Chavithi.

Conclusion

These sweet and smooth Poornam Undrallu are not only delicious but also hold great significance in the celebrations of Vinayaka Chavithi. Offering these to Lord Ganesha is believed to bring prosperity and happiness. You can also try other varieties like Undrallu, Kudumulu, or Kobbari Undrallu for the festival.