Though I am not an expert at making traditional Konkani dishes, if there is one Konkani sweet dish I can make really well, it is Madgane. Madgane is made on Ugadi day which is new year for us, as per Hindu calendar. When I made it for Ugadi few months back, I realized I had not shared this delicious recipe on the blog.

That’s when I decided to make it again during Navaratri which is yet another important festival for us and share with all of you. Today is a final day of Navaratri, tomorrow being Vijayadashami or Dussehra. 🙏

If there is something I miss the most living in Qatar, it is going to temples specially during festivals. My dad has been going to all Devi temples across Udupi and sends me pictures of beautifully adorned Devis. 🙏 Feels so happy for him. ❤️ It is a great blessing from the divine which we don’t realize the value untill we are away from it.

Wishing all of you a blessed Navaratri and Vijayadashami. 🙏

Hope you all try Madgane and relish it like we do. Happy and healthy cooking! ❤️

RECIPE:

Ingredients: ( makes about 6 bowls/ servings)

1/2 Cup Chana dal

1 3/4 Cups Coconut milk ( about 400 ml)

1 Cup Jaggery powder

2 Tbsp Rice flour

1 Tbsp Ghee

About 10 Cashews and few raisins

1/2 tsp Cardamom powder

Step by step recipe:

1. Roast Chana dal on medium to low flame till it starts letting out an aroma and starts browning.

2. Immediately remove from flame and wash well. Add fresh water, a little above the level of Chana dal, as shown in the picture.

3. Pressure cook till soft but not mushy. Chana dal should retain shape. I cook on high till 2 whistles, then keep on medium flame for 10 mins in my electric stovetop.

4. Now add cooked Chana dal, coconut milk and Jaggery in a thick bottomed pan.

5. Mix well and bring to a boil. Cook for 5 mins on high flame.

6. Take 2 Tbsp Rice flour and mix with 2 to 3 Tbsp water to form a paste free form lumps.

7. Add it to the Chana dal payasa while stirring continually so that it does not form lumps. Cook for 5 to 10 mins on medium flame till the mixture becomes thick. Remove from flame.

8. In another pan, take ghee, add cashews and raisins. Fry till raisins plump up. Add to the payasa. Also add Cardamom powder. Mix well.

9. Serve warm.

Notes:

* I have used tinned coconut milk from Lulu hypermarket. If you are making fresh coconut milk, then take about 2 Cups of coconut gratings, grind it with little water to a fine paste in a mixer. Sieve it once to get thick coconut milk. Grind again with water, sieve to get thin coconut milk. Add thin coconut milk along with jaggery in step 4 and thick coconut milk along with rice flour paste.

* Be careful while roasting Chana dal as it burns very quickly. Roast on medium flame and remove as soon as it starts turning brown. Roasting is an important step as it gives a wonderful flavour to the payasa.

* While pressure cooking Chana dal, ensure that it retains shape and is not mushy. In Madgane, the bite of chana dal is important.

* Don’t add a lot of water while pressure cooking and even after that as that payasa will become watery.

* 1/2 Cup Chana dal to 1 Cup Jaggery works perfectly for me. You can vary as per your taste.

* Rice flour paste is added to give thickness to the Madgane. Don’t skip it as it enhances the texture so much.

* Traditionally, fresh Cashew or Bibbo is added to Madgane. I don’t get it, so I add regular Cashews roasting only slightly along with raisins.

* Don’t forget Cardamom powder as it gives a wonderful aroma to Madgane.

* Leftover Madgane can be refrigerated and had next day.