Chana Dal Panchakadai / Split Bengal Gram Dal Panchakajjaya.

"Chana Dal Panchakadai / Split Bengal Gram Dal Panchakajjaya" ... Seeking Blessings for all my friends from Sri Mahalakshmi and Tulsi Maa on the auspicious occasion of Today's Varamahalakshmi and Choodi Poojan ... Sharing my Naivedyam with all my Friends ... 

** It is always a pleasure to prepare different type of Naivedyams and it is my greatest passion too. I am as usual digging through my old diaries and old cookery books for all types of dishes and makes some changes and try them out. This one is a common Panchkadai / Panchakajjaya prepared during festive times as Naivedyam offering to God and in my home we love this powder type of prasadam very much. Panchakajjaya usually means a dish prepared with five ingredient. Usually the ghee is not counted as it can be left out too. I have added to this recipe, you may prepare as per your choice. 

** This Panchakajjaya is very easy to prepare and easier to distribute too as it is not messy like the gud / jaggery type. There are so many mix and match varieties of suki (dry) panchakadai, a few of which I have included before too. As sweet dishes are something not eaten much in my home I am always hesitant to prepare them much, but somehow suki panchakadai is a pleasure to prepare, also if you keep it in the fridge it remains good for at least a few weeks, which means I do not have the tension of finishing it off soon. So try this out next time you want to prepare a simple Naivedyam as offering to God. It is simply yumz. 

** Here is the simple method of preparing Chana Dal Panchakajjaya … 

** Ingredients : 

Chana Dal / Split Bengal Gram Dal / Kadle bele : 2 cups 

Desiccated Coconut / Kobre (dry coconut) finely powdered : 1.5 to 2 cups 

Sugar Powder / Pitti Shakkar / Sakre pitti : 2 cusp (approx) 

Sesame Seeds / White Til / Ellu : 3 heaped tablespoon. 

Cardamom Powder / Ellaichi / Yella Pitti : 1 tsp 

Homemade melted Ghee : 1 tablespoon.

** Roast chana dal / bengal gram dal dry either in a thick bottomed kadai or microwave. I micro waved for 5 minutes by mixing it twice in between. Allow to cool slightly. 

** Also roast the sesame seeds just like the above either in a thick bottomed kadai for few minutes till it splutters or in a microwave for 2 minutes. Add it to the chana dal above. 

** I have used readily available desiccated coconut, which is the best and easiest method for using for panchakajjaya. Just put the desiccated coconut, cardamom powder and sugar powder in a mixer grinder and pulse together 3-4 times or run for a few seconds, mix and run again twice. Remove in a wide bowl. 

** Put the roasted chana dal and the sesame into the same mixer and grind to a fine powder consistency. Mix frequently in between for even mixture. Also do not run the mixer on high speed or else the heat will make it wet and you will not get a dry powder form. Remove and add to the mixture into the bowl. 

** Now add in the melted ghee to the mixture and mix well till all the powder and the coconut sugar mixture has mixed in well. There should be no lumps and the mixture should have mixed in well for best and tasty result. 

** "Chana Dal Panchakadai / Split Bengal Gram Dal Panchakajjaya" is done and ready to be offered as Naivedyam to God and then distributed among family, relatives and friends. Do try this easy Prasadam / Naivedyam this festive season.