Ellu bella (Sankranti mix)
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A mix of roasted sesame, peanuts, dry coconut, roasted gram and jaggery that families exchange on Makara Sankranti.
Region: KarnatakaOccasion: Makara Sankranti (mid-January)Time: 40 minServes: About 4 cupsVegan
Ingredients
- 1 cup white sesame seeds
- 1 cup roasted peanuts, skins removed and halved
- 1 cup dry coconut, cut into small thin pieces
- 1 cup roasted gram (hurigadale)
- 1 cup jaggery, cut into small cubes
- Sugar-candy figures (sakkare achchu), optional
Method
- Dry-roast the sesame seeds on low heat until they puff slightly and smell nutty. Cool.
- Lightly roast the coconut pieces until crisp but not brown.
- Mix the sesame, peanuts, coconut, roasted gram and jaggery cubes in a large bowl.
- Store in an airtight jar. Pack small portions with sugar-candy figures and a sugarcane piece for giving.
History
Sesame and jaggery are winter foods eaten across India at Makara Sankranti. In Karnataka the custom is called ‘ellu birodu’, giving ellu bella.
Significance
Children and women visit homes to share ellu bella with the words ‘ellu bella thindu olle maathaadi’: eat sesame and jaggery and speak only good words.