Sara Puli (Pan Cakes from Cream)

Sara Puli

Today is Ratha Yatra. Ratha Yatra is an important festival for every Odia all over the world. On this auspicious day, Lord Jagannath along with his brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra goes to Gundicha Temple via their maternal aunt's house. This is an annual leisure tripfor Lord Jagannath.

On this special occasion every year I used to prepare something special. This year I thought of preparing "SARA PULI". This is one among the 56 (chhapan) bhog of Lord Jagannath. I can say one of his favourite. "Sara" in Odia means cream. These are small pan cakes prepared from cream only. These are not only tasty, but also very delicate to eat. Here is the recipe

Cream (Sara) - 1 Cup

Milk- 3 Cups

Sugar- 1/2 Cup

Water- 1 1/2 Cups

Saffron- few strands

Cardamom powder- 1tsp

Maida- 2 tbsp

Ghee for frying

Dry fruits for garnishing

In a heavy buttom pan add 3 Cups of milk and start cooking on low flame. Reduce the milk up to one cup. Don't forget to stir in between, as it will stick to the buttom. Keep aside.

 In another pan add sugar, water and keep on the flame. Let the sugar melt. Now allow the syrup to cook for some 5 mins. Then add saffron and Cardamom Powder and switch off the gas. Keep aside to cool.

In a mixing bowl add cream and mix for 5 mins. Here I have used homemade cream (Sara). Boil milk and let it allow to cool down. A thin layer of malai or cream will form on the milk. Collect that cream and keep aside.  Similarly collect cream from milk. After collecting for 3 days I could able to get 1cup of cream. This recipe is prepared with homemade cream not from market brought. Then add reduced milk to it. Mix it again properly. Then add 2 to 3 tbsp of maida to it and mix again. Keep it in fridge for half an hour.

Heat a non stick frying pan and add 1 tbsp of ghee (one can add more ghee to prepare it but to make it healthy I have added less ghee). Bring out the cream mixture from fridge and mix with the help of a ladel.( The ladel should be of medium or small size). Pour one ladel on a tawa and cook both sides up to golden brown.

Now remove the pan cakes from tawa and dip in the sugar syrup 5 secs and keep on a plate. Similarly prepare all the Sara Pulis and dip in the sugar syrup and keep on the plate. 

At the time of serving place them in individual plates and garnish them with dry fruits. It could be served cold or Luke warm.