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Friday, June 24, 2011

Panasa Thonalu

Panasa thonalu is a traditional Andhra sweet dish that can be put together very quickly. Panasa thonalu literally means the jackfruit bulbs / pods in Telugu. Why is a sweet dish named so then? It is probably because of their shape. Compared to the other Andhra 'pindivantalu' - the  traditional festive dishes, this one is not a very well known dish but really a mouthwatering kind. I should however assert that the entire process is really a breeze and so a suitable one to prepare in a short notice. 

If a couple of tiny extra steps involved is not counted then panasa thonalu preparation is similar to poori making, if I could put it that way. The dough is shaped, deep fried and dunked in sugar syrup for a few minutes so that the crisp thonalu is left with a thin coating of sugar resulting in a yummy delicacy. A good and easy one even for a novice.

Ingredients: (Yield - 12)
1 cup all purpose flour / maida
2 tbsp. ghee (2 tbsp. more can be used if preferred.)
A pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cardamom 
Oil to fry

Directions:

* Combine melted ghee, salt and flour in a mixing bowl. Add water in increments and prepare a firm dough (like that of chapathi dough consistency).
* Add sugar and 1/2 cup of water to a pan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and keep cooking until one thread consistency syrup (theega pakam) is formed. Add cardamom powder and mix well. Remove the syrup from heat.

* Divide the prepared dough into twelve equal portions and shape them into balls. 
* Take one ball and roll it into a thin disc of about 4 -5 inches diameter (like a poori). Using a knife, make vertical slits along the disc about 1 cm apart, taking care to leave the edges untouched.  

* Though I have shown 4 slits in the above image, you can go with more. Now gently roll the disc. 
* Pinch / twist at the edges of the roll.
* This is how a panasathona looks when spread. Repeat the steps with the remaining dough balls.
* Meanwhile heat oil in a frying pan. When it is hot enough to fry, lower the heat and gently slide in a few prepared panasathonalu. Panasathonalu can be fried in batches, 4 to 6 at a time depending upon the size of the frying pan being used.
* Fry the pieces until golden brown and crisp, flipping in between. Remove with a slotted spoon and drop into the sugar syrup prepared earlier. Remove them from the syrup after 3 - 4 minutes and place it on a tray / plate. When they dry, store them in an airtight container. 

23 comments:

vaishali sabnani said...

loved the way you have done it up...looks grt ..we normally make the savoury ones....but will try the sweet version:)

Shanavi said...

Am much aware of this sweet cos I get it from the nearby bakery shop here.. I just love this sweet snack Suma, Thanx for posting..Will make some soon..

Deepthi KR said...

wow this is new and tasty treat :)

Degchi said...

Panasa thonalu looks good just like kandil. Will make it on diwali. we make diamond shape Shakar para like this. Neat pictorial presentation.

Pavani said...

Its been ages I had these Suma.. Excellent job in getting the shape and kudos for coming up with these traditional Andhra dishes.. I'm enjoying and bookmarking all of these.
Enjoy ur weekend.

harini-jaya said...

Chala Bagunnai..Nice pictorial explanation. In our households, it has never been made but I tasted this / assisted in making these for a friend.

Hari Chandana P said...

Wow.. Mee panasa thonalani chusthuntene norooruthondi.. chala perfect ga and tempting ga vunnayi.. And naku aa shape chala istham.. Yummy :)
Indian Cuisine

Sobha Shyam said...

wow, very interesting recipe, great explanations..looks delicious..

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chef and her kitchen said...

lovely panasa thonalu,looks delicious..y dont u parcel some 2 me..:)

Mélange said...

Completely new to me.But I am already fallen for this thonalu.As you said,it resembles pretty jack fruits..the shape itself is truly inviting.Thanks for sharing.

Vardhini said...

Wow .. new dessert and love the pictorial Pavani. I have to try it out sometime.

Vardhini
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Padmajha said...

What a cute dessert. And very easy too..

jayasree said...

I remember seeing this Srivalli's...Loved your step-by-step pictorial. Very helpful.

Priya Suresh said...

It been a long i wanted to try this wonderful and cute panasa thonalu, cant wait to try them..

Cool Lassi(e) said...

This is a very intricate looking and tempting sweet! I am bookmarking this!

Aarthi said...

lovely snack

Unknown said...

The sweet looks delicious. New to me :)

Shylaja said...

Interesting and yummy recipe
South Indian Recipes

Sravs said...

wonderful and perfectly done !!

Unknown said...

Yum, Suma, the picture looks superb, love the recipe :)

AJ said...

Yumm - I love these!!

Srivalli said...

It's strange how this sweet is not blogged so much, though it's so popular otherwise. When I first posted it, there was only one post on it..:)..love to eat this anytime..

Unknown said...

Not fair how can you tempt like this so so perfect suma yummm.