Chuda Ghasa - ଚୁଡା ଘସା (Flattened rice dessert)

Chuda Ghasa (ଚୁଡା  ଘସା) is the food of Gods, and when I say that I really mean that. :) The usual ingredients are flattened rice (poha, chuda), jaggery, black pepper, edible camphor, shredded coconut and fruits. It is usually prepared during festivals as an offering to the deities. Chuda ghasa is a favorite during Ganesh Chaturthi - the annual Ganesha festival. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all over India with great pomp and glory but the biggest celebrations happen in Maharashtra. The festivities start almost a month early with the artisans preparing the idols made out of clay. Vibrant colours and unique styles of the idols are such a site to watch. 

The Ganesh chaturthi festival has a very definite beginning and end, the festival beings with various communities settings up pandals for festivities. Pandals are temporary structures for religious ceremonies. Pandals can be very elaborate or simple and host the idol of Ganesha. On the day of Ganesh chaturthi, religious ceremonies are performed and food is offered to God first and then distributed amongst everyone. It is an exciting day for children and adults too since everyone gets to wear new clothes and have the day off roaming around pandals and eating yummy food. It is also special since this day kids are free from homework and books, an entire day of being with friends and enjoying.

The festival ends with the Visarjan. This is the day that with double the festivities, dancing and singing Ganesha is bid adieu before we see him again next year. The clay idols of Ganesha are transported in trucks or cars to the sea and the idol is then given back into the water. 

In the years though the amount of artificial coloring and chemicals being used in these idols has dramatically increased and all this going into the sea is also the cause of a lot of worry. Although this has also encouraged a few to make their own idols with environmental friendly material that does not contaminate the sea water. So that's how Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all over India. 

Ganesh Chaturthi is also celebrated at home and lots of delicacies are made as offerings to Ganesha. Another offering that is Ganesha's favourite is Modak which will be my next recipe, I do an instant version of the delicacy so until next time enjoy the chuda ghasa recipe. So here goes...

PREP TIME	COOKING TIME	SERVES
5 minutes	20 minutes	3 - 4

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients	Quantity
Flattened Rice	1 and 1/2cup
Jaggery/Sugar - adjust the quantity based on your sweet cravings ;)	8 Tablespoon
Black Pepper powder	2 Tablespoon
Ghee	3 - 4 Tablespoon
Cardamom powder (Elaichi powder)	1 Teaspoon

PREP

• Grind the flattened rice (poha) in a blender to make a coarse powder

• If you are using whole coconut shred them , fresh coconut will add tremendous flavor
• I ground fresh pepper but you can use powdered pepper

• If you have powdered jaggery, you're good but if you have big mounds of jaggery put them in a plastic bag and hammer it down to powder

PROCEDURE

• Mix the jaggery with the flattened rice powder
• Put the mixture on a wide plate and rub the mixture between your palms
• The heat from your palms will melt the jaggery and give moisture to the flattened rice
• Mix for around 10 minutes and if the mixture feels too dry add a few drops of water
• Mix in the shredded coconut, black pepper powder and elaichi powder

• You can also add in fruits, I've kept it simple
• Your chuda ghasa (ଚୁଡା  ଘସା) is now ready to be devoured

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

Chuda ghasa can be eaten on it's own or with some yoghurt. Tastes delicious and is healthier than any cream filled dessert. Chuda Ghasa also goes really well with Dalma. 

Feedback and comments always welcome!