Chalimidi is a traditional Andhra Sweet prepared during festivals, especially during Sri Rama Navami. This Andhra sweet prepared with just Rice Flour and Jaggery is very quick and easy to make.
Most Indian recipes are a perfect Vegan Recipe by itself, except we tend to add ghee to many of it. Similarly, this sweet can be enriched by including ghee and nuts. However, traditionally though nothing is added during the offering. Memories of this delicious sweet go back to my childhood when Amma used to make this for different occasions, especially during Ugadi, other poojas like special poojas at temples etc. I used to love this so much that I used to enjoy this through the day.
It was surprising that I never thought of making it myself until recently when my Aunt had made this for my cousin's Seemantham. What was even more interesting was the fact that it had lots of Khus Khus/ Poppy Seeds, Cashews, Almonds along with ghee. From what I remember Amma had never added these extras. That really prompted me to ask her for more details. She told me that one can make this in two ways. The first one is where the homemade Rice flour is just mixed with milk along with jaggery or by just melting the jaggery to remove the impurities and adding the flour right away. In this case, one may tend to get tummyache because of the raw ingredients added. So she normally gets a 1 thread jaggery syrup done and then add the rice flour.
The cooking process is quite quick and you got to pay attention as otherwise, you will end up having a hard rice mass. One tip could be is not to cook the sweet for long after you add the rice flour. If it tends to get harden quickly you could have hot water ready on hand and add a little to make it liquidy. This tends to become hard after cooling down.
I used ghee and almond in the final stage. I wanted to add poppy seeds but couldn't find it on time.
Sri Rama Navami falls on 25th March this year, we normally make Panakam, Majjiga, and Vadapappu as the main Prasadam for Lord Rama. Along with these, other regular festival dishes are prepared for lunch like Senaga Pappu Payasam, Senaga Pappu Vada. I am excited that this year Srirama Navami is falling on a Sunday for us to enjoy it more peacefully!
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Step By Step Pictures for making Chalimidi
Chalimidi ~ Sri Rama Navami Neivedyam
Ingredients Needed:
1 cup Rice Flour homemade or store bought
3/4 cup Jaggery
For Garnish
2 tsp Ghee
2 tsp Almond chopped
A Pinch Cardamom
Melt the jaggery and remove impurities if any. Bring to a boil and get 1 thread syrup.
Quickly add the rice flour and cook on low heat for 2 to 3 mins to form a dough.
If you are garnishing with nuts, you can add at this step.
Else you can simply offer the formed dough as Neivedyam.
Recipe
Chalimidi ~ Sri Rama Navami Neivedyam
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 1 cup Rice Flour homemade or store bought
- 3/4 cup Jaggery
For Garnish
- 2 tsp Ghee
- 2 tsp Almond chopped
- A Pinch Cardamom
Instructions
- Melt the jaggery and remove impurities if any. Bring to a boil and get 1 thread syrup.
- Quickly add the rice flour and cook on low heat for 2 to 3 mins to form a dough.
- If you are garnishing with nuts, you can add at this step.
- Else you can simply offer the formed dough as Neivedyam.
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Manjula Bharath says
Wow that’s an interesting sweet with rice flour ???????? It’s looks so delicious .. and love the captures Valli ????????
vaishalisabnani says
The sweet sounds very interesting , though I have never heard of it and is totally new for me . Love the clicks as well .
Priya Suresh says
Such a delightful sweet Valli, now am tempted to give a try to this delicious sweet. Am sure even my sweet loving hubby will go crazy if i prepare this chalimidi.
Pavani says
My mom makes really good chalimidi. But her process involves making homemade rice flour which I think makes it really tedious. Your version sounds quick and easy to make. I’ll have to give this a try some time.
Rafeeda - The Big Sweet Tooth says
Such a simple dessert, but sounds interesting and delicious too...
Jyoti Babel says
That is a completely new dish for me. With few ingredients, it is a great sweet dish.
sapana says
I have never heard of this dish but it sure does sounds and looks wonderful. So simple yet so delicious.
Harini says
Good one. The other day my friend prepared it even for Sri Satyanarayana puja. In my mom's place chalimidi is not prepared but my inlaws do. I think they add coconut bits too.
Rujuta says
Hi Srivalli
Lovely to know the traditional sweets prepared in Andhra during festival..we get to learn and know so much about different festivals and tradition and food around them..
It looks lovely and easy to make with minimal ingredients.. would definitely try it out
Ritu Tangri says
It feels good to know about the traditions followed in other parts of India. A nice and simple dessert.
Bhawana says
I have not heard about this sweet, but looks really delicious with just few ingredients and such a great halwa is ready to serve.