Godu Povu / Gud Pova.

"Godu Povu (Poha)/ Sweet Beaten Rice / Gud Poha/ Bella Avalakki"… A traditional Amchi Konkani Saraswat Naivedyam/ Prasadam offered to God/Goddess during festive season’s and also on many other occasions … Stay Blessed … 

** Preparing of Godu/Sweet Poha (pova, beaten rice, avalaki) is a must at most festive season in Konkani Saraswat Community. There are a few minute difference in preparing this one while the basic remains the same. Today I have prepared it in very simple manner and will soon be posting the other ways too. Do try out this delicious prasadam as not only children but young and old love to relish them alike. Also Poha is supposed to be Lord Krishna's favorite dish and we all know the story of Sudhama and Krishna. So, it has been a tradition to offer this as Naivedyam on most of the occasions. 

** Ingredients :

Jaggery / Gud : 250 gms

Beaten Rice / Poha / Povu (Thin Variety) : approximately 500 gms.

Freshly grated Coconut : 2 cups (heaped)

Ghee : 1 tblsp

Cardamom Powder : 1 tsp

** Melt gud / goda / jaggery cut into pieces in a thick bottomed kadai on low heat. You can add in a tablespoon of water if desired, ie if you feel it will get burnt at the bottom. I have not as with practice, you adjust the heat and melt the jaggery by stirring often.

** Let the jaggery completely melt, now on medium heat bring it to a boil. Once it comes to a full boil, lower the heat and let cook of 5-8 minutes only. You should be careful at this step as the jaggery should not get overcooked or else it will turn hard. You should get just about one thread consistency.

** Immediately add in the finely grated fresh coconut (only the top white part of the coconut should be used). Mix well and keep stirring for 3-5 minutes. Keep the heat low and do not overcook this or else again the chances of caramelisation increases. 

** Add ghee and mix well, leave to cool completely. This is called churnu / churan. Once the churnu has cooled to room temperature. Add in the beaten rice / poha little by little while mixing it with the churan all the time. 

** "Godu Povu (Poha)/ Sweet Beaten Rice / Gud Poha/ Bella Avalakki" is done and ready to be served as Naivedyam/Prasadam to God/Goddess. Do share the Naivedyam with your family, friends, neighbors and others as it is always supposed to be shared and eaten. 

** Note : Do not add the poha in one go, keep mixing and adding till you find that the churan is getting mixed well into the poha and not turning dry. The amount of poha to be added really depends on the thickness and wetness of the churan. So this is something that is left to individual judgement. 

** Note : You have to be careful towards the addition of poha at the end and plz. do not add further if you find it getting too dry as the poha dries out a little bit later on too. I have given approximate amount of poha, you may increase or decrease the amount to be added as per your judgement. 

** Note: You can add in fried black til / white til and fried cashew nuts also. I have not added them this time.