Vishukkatta - A traditional vishu delicacy

We celebrated vishu yesterday with a typical Vishusadya(Vishu feast). One of the special item for vishusadya was 'vishukkatta' made with coconut milk and rice. Traditionally in kerala, we used to prepare it with freshly harvested rice from the field. It is not possible here in US. But we enjoyed it with same great taste as I used to prepare in our home in kerala.

Recipe:-
Rice - 1 1/2 cup
Coconut - 1 and 1/2
Salt - to taste
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

1) Shred the coconut well.
2) Squeeze the coconut with hand to get 1/4 cup fresh milk. It is called thalappal(first milk). Don't add any water in this step.
3)Add some warm water to coconut and squeeze the coconut milk to get approximately 5-6 cups.
4)Mix coconut milk with rice and salt and keep it in medium flame. If you are using high flame,milk may curdle. I used sona masoori rice in this recipe. Ponni rice also a good choice.Use same kind of rice in this category.
5)Keep stirring the mixture till the rice cooked and mixture leaves the sides of the pan. Pour into a tray and make it flat using a flat spoon. Sprinkle cumin seeds and thalappal and softly press with a spoon.
6)Wait till the mixure cools and cut into pieces.
7)Serve with jaggery syrup.

For jaggery syrup:-

Mix jaggery with some water and let the mixture to boil. Wait till the mixure becomes thin syrup and add little ghee and cardamom powder.Adding ghee is completely optional.Serve it on top of vishukkatta.

Yesterday the climate was gloomy and rainy but we enjoyed vishu. We arranged a beautiful Vishukkani and enjoyed a vishu feast with vishukkatta. Evening we went to Durga temple and prayed for a good year filled with happiness.Shaheen had written an article about vishu and vishu rituals.Read it here

Our vishu feast