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Food Guide to Cooking

Traditional Kerala recipe to make Avalose unda or roasted sweet rice balls from scratch

These marble-sized balls are made using rice, sugar, coconut and cardamom!



Guide to making Avalose Unda
Image Credit: Supplied/Sobha Varghese

A traditional sweet snack native to the southern state of Kerala in India, Avalose Unda or Mavunda is made using rice powder, grated coconut, cardamom and sugar – which can be substitued with jaggery – primarily. This easy-to-make snack is a winner every time it is served and is perfect to devour after lunch or during tea time.

Not to mention, it is known as Ariunda in certain parts of Kerala as well. So, here's a quick guide to making it at home!

Preparation time: 2 hours

Cooking time: 1 hour

Serves: 35-40 pieces

Ingredients:

This is a two-step process, so you will need separate ingredients for each step.

For the powered mix or Avalose Podi

Coconut and rice are the key ingredients...

... finely powder and grate them

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  • 500 gms raw rice
  • 250 gms grated coconut (1 coconut)
  • ¼ tsp salt

For Mavunda

Water, sugar and one lime to juice...

... combined to form a sugar syrup, which is to be mixed with avalose podi and cardamom

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  1. 500 gms avalose podi
  2. 370 gm sugar
  3. 1 ½ cup water (300 ml)
  4. 1 tbsp lime juice
  5. ½ tsp cardamom powder

Method

Step 1: Wash the raw rice thoroughly till the water runs clear. Next, soak the rice in water for 2 hours and then drain the water out with a strainer. Keep it aside for 45 minutes.

Step 2: Using a food processor, grind the rice to a fine powder.

Step 3: Add grated coconut and salt into the ground rice and mix it well using your hands. Once done, cover it and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.

Combine grated coconut, ground rice powder with a pinch of salt and cover the mix.
Image Credit: Supplied/Sobha Varghese
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Step 4: Using a thick-bottomed pan, roast the mixture on a medium flame till it turns golden brown. Stir continuously to ensure that the mixture is evenly roasted. This should take about 30 to 40 minutes.

Roast the mix till golden brown
Image Credit: Supplied/Sobha Varghese

Step 5: Remove the mix from the flame and allow it to cool. Once cooled, remove any lumps by sifting through it. Grind the lumps once again and then add it with the rest.

Avoid any lumps by sifting through the mix
Image Credit: Supplied/Sobha Varghese

Step 6: To prepare the mavunda, mix sugar, water and lime juice in a bowl. Stir for few minutes till the sugar dissolves in the water. Close the bowl with its lid and keep it aside for for 2 hours.

Step 7: Transfer the sugar mix into a pan and boil it till you achieve a one-thread consistency. Add the cardamom powder and keep stirring the syrup. Make sure you don't overcook it.

Boil the sugar mix...

... till you achieve a one-thread consistency

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Step 8: Remove the syrup off the flame.

Step 9: Keep ¼ cup of Avalose Podi aside. Add syrup into the remaining portion of avalose podi little by little and mix it well.

Combine the avalose podi and sugar syrup in a separate bowl
Image Credit: Supplied/Sobha Varghese

Step 10: Roll the mix into marble-sized balls before it completely cools off. Note: Hold the mixture tightly in your palms to make the balls, as it could tend to break due to the heat.

Time to start rolling...

... into marble-sized balls

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Step 11: Spread the remaining avalose podi on a tray and then place the balls over it for coating it. Roll them gently and shake off any excess avalose podi.

Coat it with avalose podi once again. Serve and enjoy once cooled!
Image Credit: Supplied/Sobha Varghese

Delicious mavunda is ready to eat!

Sobha Varghese
A home-maker based in Mumbai, Sobha runs a popular YouTube blog called ‘Sobha's Kitchenette’ that focuses on authentic and traditional Kerala recipes.
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