Sakkra Valli Kizhangu Sweet - Japanese Yam sweet

Wishing a Happy Pongal to all my Readers!

Guess, everyone ate enough of "Sakkrai Pongal" (sweet rice) yesterday! A four days celebration starting with bhogi: first day of Pongal- people worship/Thank Lord Indiran ( God of rain) who gave enough rain through out the year to give bounty of harvest. People clean their house and collect unwanted items and throw in fire. But not to mention , people throw from plastic to unusual items which form a thick smoke and pollute the air!

Thai Pongal: the first day of Tamil month "Thai madam", first crop of rice prepared into sweet rice and with plain milk (Paal Pongal) cooked in earthen pot in open air :Vaasal = courtyard, a place in home where the sun rays come directly. Lack in modern architected home- Pongal pannai moved to stove top!

The third Day: "Mattu (cow) Pongal" - Cows get pampered, get washed, horns painted, decorated with garland/flowers/bell around the neck, are taken around the city or village in the evening. One of the tradition, which slowly disappearing in city, reason none own a cow in modern city :(
The evening, we commemorate those who passed away in the family. We prepare all non-vegetarian items and offer to them. One of the special item featured is the Sakkara valli Kizhangu ( Japanese yam) cooked , mashed and dipped in flour batter and deep fried. Japanese Yam belongs to the tuber family and have a white flesh but sweet naturally (like sweet potato)! Only available around this month- It is prepared in any form: sambar, fry or sweet!

The fourth day: Kannum Pongal, known as Kaarinal in my place. We visit elders and get blessings! They offer money ! The most enjoyed is this last day of Pongal, from morning to evening, we collect all money and night everyone count how much we got it! In those days, hundred rupees was an huge amount and remember thinking how to spend it!

Sad part, people who live miles away from home, miss all this valuable moments. I do have those sweet memories to recollect but the generation living here? In one word: Unlucky!
One of my family custom to make this Sakkara valli Sweet and "remember the elders" especially today. Ok, the recipe is quiet simple, u can really modify according ur taste.
U don't even need to deep fry, it taste great with little sugar and coconut!




Sakkra Valli Kizhangu Sweet -Japanese yam sweet balls



Ingredients
Japanese Yam/ Sakkaravalli Kizhangu: 3 medium (yied : about 1 cup of mashed yam)
Sugar: Only one 1 tsp I used (please increase according ur taste)
Green cardamom: 4 powdered
Grated coconut: 2 tbsp

Method:
Pressure cook until 3 whistles, peel the skin and mash it. Once cooled, add the sugar, cardamom powder and coconut and mix well. Form small balls.

Outer batter:
AP flour: 1/2 cup
Salt: a pinch
Oil: to deep fry

Mix the flour and salt with enough water, batter should be thick (like bajji batter)
Dip the yam balls in batter and deep fry in hot oil.
Offer to God or serve hot at room temperature.



Comments

Priya Suresh said…
Happy pongal wishes to u & ur family Cham...Beautiful sakkara valli kizhangu sweet, quite similar to our seeyam na..
FH said…
Happy Pongal to you Cham, I bet you enjoyed the festival. Never seen Japanese Yam before, good to know. Sweet looks yum yum! :)

Have a wonderful weekend, I am off to make dinner. See you on Monday.
Unknown said…
Very new dish to me.. first time hearing and seeing this. looks good..
Sujatha said…
Sounds new Cham! and looks yummy too..

Happy Pongal!
Unknown said…
Amma makes it with sugar and coconut too. Happy Pongal Cham!
Unknown said…
nice recipe..looks delicious..
Uma said…
nice authentic dish. So simple and yum!! HAPPY PONGAL :)
Nandinis food said…
Happy pongal to you and your family cham dear.
Authentic sweet dish is beautiful!
Soma said…
This is so Unique to me. Japanese made me think of a real japanese dessert :-)
Padma said…
Happy Pongal to you Cham. Nice dish with sweet potato.
Unknown said…
Happy Pongal to you too. Delicious sweet.
PJ said…
Happy pongal to you too, Cham! This is such a unique recipe... I love yams and would love to make this sometime!
Namitha said…
Happy Pongal Cham !!! wow..that's a unique sweet..:-)
ruchikacooks said…
Amma used to make this boiled with a bit of salt..sakkarai valli kizhagu, maravalli kizhangu..hmmm, what days! But have'nt had it like how you make..

I mail my pix of keeping kanu to cousins back home..to get money :D
sra said…
How unusual, I've never heard of this sweet before. This looks like the usual sweet potato we get here.
Such a different one for me...Lovelyw ay to celebrate teh festival...
Cham said…
Sra: it is sweet potato in India but here it is rare to get this one and they call (Japanese yam)
Finla said…
I have never had this at all.
Does it taste as our sweet yam we get back home.
CurryLeaf said…
While reading the post I was wondering whether it is same as sweet potato. Thanks for the clarification to Sra.Love it though never tried it batter fried.
Gita Jaishankar said…
Happy Pongal Cham! this sweet is almost similar to seeyam right? love the sweet and healthy filling :)
Dershana said…
happy pongal,cham.sakkarai valli kilangu is the name we call sweet potato..is this different?

we make this with steamed tapioca, but don't deep fry it.
Pari Vasisht said…
Hi Cham, this looks absolutely yummy, never tried sweet potatoes in that way.
notyet100 said…
this is new for me looks delicious
Vani said…
Happy Pongal, Cham! Nice to read about the 4 day celebrations and the sweet that is new to me.
ruchikacooks said…
tamil magalae, intha thai thiru nallil, yengal illathil thangalukku oru parisu kathirukirathu..

http://ruchikacooks.com/?p=1194
lata raja said…
I had them recently. Someone brought it for our Vishnu pooja. Tasted good. Now you have given the recipe. Thanks Cham.
Kalai said…
Hope you had a great Pongal, Cham! I love sakkara valli kizhangu boiled with salt. I have to try this. Paarka super-a irukku!!
Rachana said…
Happy Pongal to you and your family! Very new dish to me, looks great though:)
Cheers and Do visit,
Rachana
rachanakothari.blogspot.com
Priyameena said…
Happy Pongal!Enjoyed reading your post..its makes me so nostalogic..between looks yum..
Anonymous said…
Happy Pongal Cham! The Japanese yam is new to me. It looks really delicious.
s said…
Can v use regular Indian yam?
What is Curry? said…
Happy Pongal Cham!
I have never had this sweet before.
Bong Mom said…
Dear CHam

Wishing you a very happy Pongal(though I think it is over), but at least today maybe the last day. You have quiet an elaborate ritual on Sankranti

During Sanranti, my Ma used to make jamuns with sweet potatoes. I am thinking it would be similar to thisbut the jamuns would be fried and then dunked in syrup
Usha said…
This is such an unique and interesting sweet, have never tasted it, sounds delicious !
Cham said…
Priya: Same method of seeyam but made with sweet potato!
S:Indian Yam can be used but need to add more sugar! But I never tried with yam!
Sandeepa: Sounds delicious the tuber jamun!
ruchikacooks said…
Nall Fulla yosichum intha kuyilukku (kuyil akka kku??) reply thonalae..yenna kavithai yennai kavithai..

aathan munnadiyae kudithiten parisu..
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vidhas said…
Looks Yum!! My mom used to make one sweet with this, This is different and sounds yum!1
Lakshmi said…
a different sweet for me. I have never tasted yam stuffed sweet I must try it.
lubnakarim06 said…
Wow..that sounds yummy...
Rahin said…
Happy Pongal Cham , The sweet looks delicious
Sunshinemom said…
Love your layouts! You are a wonderful designer:). Didn't know about this sweet! Seems very easy too:)
Miri said…
Pongal wishes to you! May your cup of joy brim over this year!
Raks said…
Very new to me,looks and sounds great!
gtyuk said…
My belated wishes for the Pongal to you & to your family!!

nice clear description of the Pongal celebrations!! I miss so much these festivals too; I always repeat to my h that we're wasting precious moments of life by being far away from the family and elder ones, hum, yenna seyiradhu? this is all head writing :))

your sakkara valli kizhangu looks great; reminds me of my amni ( grandma) who used to do it; rarely I do here; we eat it without deep frying too!!! lovely recipe!!!
Parita said…
I love yam but never made anything sweet out of it, a very unique recipe :-)
Hi cham,
eppidi irrrukenga....sweet luks yum....its similar to suzhiyam,,,,right?
my kitchen said…
This recipe is new to me,looks yummy
Malar Gandhi said…
Hi Cham,

Definetely no words to share this lovely coinsidence...I did the same with yuka tubers (mara vallikizhangu here)...as per my Dad's instructions on phone.

Dad used to say his childhood stories about pongal so much. As you mentioned...missed all the fun' living in the city.
Shwetha said…
These look exotic. Would have never thought of turning sweet yams into this!
Yasmeen said…
Delectable sweet with yams :D
Hayley said…
Belated Happy Pongal..this dish is fresh and new to me..looks yummy and tempting

cheers and do visit

http://joyofcooking247.blogspot.com
jayasree said…
I have seen recipes of jamuns with sweet potato.. yours is new to me. Never knew its made part of a festival.
Is Japanese Yam = Sakkara valli kizhangu..??? even the recipe sounds new to me.. Hope you had a wonderful Pongal celebration at home... btw, just noticed the latest outlook of your blog.. way to go.. you have already created the Valentine's day mood..
Cham said…
RVYes it is Japanese yam!