Tambittu

In North Karnataka during Nagpanchami festival, there is a tradition of making Tambittu(sweet with roasted gram). Nagpanchami is a festival of worshiping snakes. It generally falls on the fifth day of lunar month of Shravana (July/August), according to the Hindu calendar. Tambittu is the main offering/prasad made during this festival.

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Roasted Gram/Channa dal (putani) powder
• 3/4th Cup Jaggery
• 5 Tsp Ghee/Clarified butter
• 1 Tbsp Shredded Dry Coconut
• 1 Tbsp Roasted Sesame Seeds
• 1/2 Tsp Cardamom Powder
• 1 Tsp Poppy Seeds(optional)
• 1/4th Tsp Nutmeg(optional)

Method :

• Take roasted channa dal in a bowl, add shredded dry coconut, roasted sesame seeds, cardamom powder, poppy seeds and nutmeg to it. Mix well and keep aside.
• Heat a pan/kadai, add ghee and jaggery in it. Continue heating on a medium flame until jaggery melts completely(it will not take much time to melt).
• Switch off the flame soon after jaggery melts and pour it on the roasted channa dal mixture. Mix well. (Be careful while mixing as it will be hot)
• Make ladoos/balls when its still warm.

Traditionally tambittu are cylindrical in shape(not ball shape). To make it cylindrical, take some mixture in your palm. Make a ball, then with your hand press a bit from top and bottom while still pressing with your other palm to form cylindrical shape(see the photo below for reference).

Note :

• It cools down very fast and becomes dry, so you need to make ladoos faster.
• If at all it becomes dry then add a 1 tbsp of hot ghee to it.