Pineapple Avalakki Kesari

Pineapple Avalakki Kesari is a sweet dish prepared from avalakki/ poha/ aval/ flattened rice flakes. Got to know about this recipe through a cookery show. So I prepared this dish on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami to serve as a neivedhyam to Lord Krishna. Flattened rice flakes are fried in ghee and grinded coarsely and cooked in pineapple juice along with sugar and cardamom powder. Kesari color and pineapple essence is added to give color and flavor to the recipe. Add your favorite nuts to give crunch to this yummy dessert.

Ingredients :

• Avalakki/ Flattened Rice Flakes - 1 cup
• Pineapple Juice - 1 cup
• Water - 1 cup
• Sugar - 1 cup
• Cardamom Powder - 1/4 tsp
• Saffron Yellow Color - 1/8 tsp
• Pineapple Essence - 2 tsp
• Ghee - 3 tbsp
• Nuts - 1/4 cup

Preparation :

• Take roughly chopped pineapple in a mixer jar and grind it using little water. Strain the the juice and discard the residue. Pineapple juice and water quantity in any ratio together should be double the quantity of flattened rice flakes.

Method :

• In a non-stick pan heat 2 tbsp ghee and fry nuts till golden. Remove to a bowl and keep aside.

• In the Same pan heat remaining ghee and fry rice flakes in medium flame with out changing its color. Let it cool.

• Transfer the cooled rice flakes to a mixer jar and grind to a coarse powder.

• In the same pan take pineapple juice, water and let it come to a boil. On medium flame add powdered rice flakes and mix well. Cook until all water is absorbed and rice flakes is cooked and soft. 

• Now add saffron color and pineapple essence and mix well. Add sugar and mix. (Add sugar only after rice flakes is cooked)

• Dont worry if the mixture turns watery. Keep on stirring on medium flame until kesari becomes a whole mass with out sticking to sides of pan. Add cardamom powder and fried nuts. Mix well and switch off the flame.

• Pineapple Avalakki Kesari is ready to be served.