Sweet Coconut Rice Recipe (Narali Bhat Recipe)
This is one of the traditional Maharashtrian desserts made on the occasion of Rakhi Pournima or Raksha Bandhan. This festival is also known as Narali Pournima in Maharashtra. 'Naral' means coconut in Marathi. That's why desserts with coconut as one of the main ingredients, are typically made on this day to celebrate the brother-sister relationship. The recipe shared below is very easy to make especially by using a pressure cooker in one of the steps.
Ingredients
- Clarified butter (Ghee) - 2 tsp
- Cloves - 2-3
- Rice - 3/4 cup
- Jaggery (gud) - 1 cup
- Nutmeg powder or grated nutmeg - 1/4 tsp
- Raisins - about 10
- Coconut - 1/2 cup fresh and grated
- Peeled and sliced almonds - by your choice; for garnishing
Instructions
- Wash the rice and drain all the water.
- In a pot, heat ghee(clarified butter).
- Add cloves and the pre-washed rice.
- Stir fry for some time and add 1 & 1/2 cups of water.
- Now cook the rice, either in a pressure cooker for 1 whistle. Turn off the gas after one whistle.
- Spread the cooked rice on a plate to cool.
- In the same pot add jaggery and to it add 1/2 cup of water. (Meanwhile add some more water to the pressure cooker and keep it for heating again.)
- Stir to dissolve the jaggery and bring it to boil.
- Now add the cooled rice, grated coconut, nutmeg powder, and raisins to it.
- Mix well and now keep the pot in the pressure cooker. Cook for one whistle and turn off the gas after one whistle. Once the pressure is released, remove the rice.
- Garnish with almond slices and serve the delicious sweet coconut rice hot or warm.
