Kozhukkatta

Kozhukattai
	Kozhukattai/kozhukkatta
Course	Dessert
Place of origin	Kerala, India
Region or state	Tamil Nadu and Kerala
Associated national cuisine	India, Sri Lanka
Main ingredients	Grated coconut, jaggery
	Cookbook: Kozhukattai; Media: Kozhukattai;

Kozhukkattai (Tamil: கொழுகட்டை) or kozhukatta (Malayalam: കൊഴുക്കട്ട) is a popular South Indian dumpling made from rice flour, with a filling of grated coconut, jaggery, or chakkavaratti. Kozhukattai, although usually sweet, can sometimes be stuffed with a savory filling. Modak is a similar dish made in other parts of India.This is a popular dish prepared during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

Preparation[]

The dish is prepared by mixing grated coconut with jaggery syrup, placing it inside dumplings of rice flour, and steaming the dumplings. Ghee, cardamom, finely ground roasted rice flour etc. may be added to enhance the taste and flavour of the filling. In Kerala, a variant of kozhukattai made with atta flour (instead of rice flour) and grated coconut is a staple breakfast among some groups.

Popular culture[]

Kozhukkatta is prepared by Saint Thomas Christians on the Saturday prior to Palm Sunday and the day is hence called Kozhukatta Saturday.

In Tamil Nadu, the dish is traditionally associated with the Hindu God Ganesha and is prepared as an offering (naivedhya) on the occasion of Vinayaka Chathurthi. It is prepared by Kerala Christians on the Saturday prior to Palm Sunday and the day is hence called Kozhukatta Saturday. In Kerala, it is also eaten as an evening snack with tea or coffee.

Kozhukkattai is an important part of several natal customs of the Sri Lankan Tamil community. In northern Sri Lanka, there is a custom involving dumplings whose edges are pressed to resemble teeth being dropped gently on a baby's head while the family wishes for the infant to develop healthy teeth.^[1] In eastern areas of Sri Lanka such as Amparai district, a smaller version called piḷḷai kozhukkaṭṭai is prepared by female family members for an expectant mother about four months after conception. These sweets are commonly exchanged at weddings as auspicious symbols of "plump" health and fertility.^[2]