Holle
Holle, a well-loved Goan dessert, marries the ritualistic and agricultural essence of Goa, spotlighting rice and coconut as symbols of prosperity. Integral to San Joao festivities, this dessert is more than a treat; it celebrates the monsoon’s arrival, embodying the community’s jubilance. Crafted from a base of freshly ground rice flour and a fragrant filling of jaggery, coconut, split chickpeas, and cardamom, holle is steamed in jackfruit leaf cones, a testament to Goan ingenuity. This process, deeply rooted in tradition, involves communal early morning rice grinding and singing, linking generations.
“Coconut-jaggery fillings in steamed rice cones "
“Coconut-jaggery fillings in steamed rice cones "
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Serving Size
4
Ingredients
- 1 cup Rice Flour
- 1 cup Hot Water (or as required)
- 1/2 cup Grated Coconut
- 1/2 cup Grated Jaggery
- 1/4 tsp Cardamom Powder
- A pinch of Salt
- Jackfruit leaves for wrapping and steaming
Method
- In a mixing bowl, combine the rice flour, salt and hot water. Mix till it combines well into a smooth dough.
- In another bowl, add the grated coconut, grated jaggery, and cardamom powder. Mix well to combine all the ingredients evenly.
- The dough should be pliable and easy to work with, neither too dry nor too wet.
- Take a jackfruit leaf and wipe it clean with a damp cloth. Take a leaf and make a cone. Using a toothpick, secure the leaf tightly to form the cone. Prepare the remaining cones from the leaves the same way. Keep them aside.
- Apply the rice paste to the cones from inside and fill the cones with the coconut stuffing. Now, seal the top of the cones with some rice flour.
- Place the cones in a steamer. In a microwave-safe glass bowl, add hot water and place the steamer on top of the bowl, leaving some space between the water and the steamer. Steam for 15-20 minutes at 100% micropower level.
- Once cooked, remove the holle from the steamer and let them cool slightly.
- Carefully un-wrap the steamed holle from the jackfruit leaves.
- Serve the holle warm as a delightful snack or dessert.
