Ammama's Signature Recipes: Kova Billalu & Kobbari Undalu

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I could talk about my grandmom (ammama; mother's mom) for hours together. She is one person who taught me to keep smiling always (like she does) and with age, she is becoming cuter & cuter. My grandad (tatayya) was one serious yet affable personality. It is rarity to see him laugh and when he does, it is a treat to watch for all of us. So, whenever we needed something like 25 paise for a peppermit goli, we used to first run to ammama, hug & then beg her to grant our wishes which she inevitably always does. I fervently think that our grandparents are a blessing in disguise and their presence make our lives much more fuller & happier, no mater what our age is and how 'big' we become.

Both of them, today are signature recipes of my ammama. She is one pro in making them, so as usual I begged her for the recipes. It is funny how she talks any recipe in approximations like a fistful, little less than a fistful.. I am like - please please give me actual measurements & she again starts off saying - add a small teaspoon of this & that. It took a while for her to talk in terms of "cups", "tablespoons" and "teaspoons".

I hope you enjoy them both as much as we did since we were little kids. She used to even pack these every time I returned back to US. Now that we are here, she make them often for her daughters, granddaughters, sons & grandsons, that is about 5-6 households ;-).

We love you ammama.. muaaahhh.

Ammama, posing for the camera. She was so shy, it took me 5 shots to get to this one..;-)

Kova Billalu (Khoya Balls)

 

Recipe Source: My grandmom (ammama)

Ingredients:

2 cups Khoya
1.5 cups sugar
4-5 tsp water
ghee 

Preparation:

1. Heat a pan on low flame, add water and sugar. Stir slowly for about 10-12 mins. Let it melt and make sure the sugar mixture is in white color. (not to turn into brown color).

2. Now, slowly  stir in the khoya. It will need some muscle power so that both khoya & sugar blend together well. Note: It should be in a consistency where you can make balls out of it. Turn off the heat. 

3. On a plate, rub some ghee and evenly spread the khoya-sugar mixture. There are two ways you can shape them. 
a) Rub little ghee between palms and start making small balls 
b) take a plastic cover, rub ghee on it and shape them howsoever you want..:-)

Store in an air tight container. 

Kobbari Undalu/Kobbari Lousu (Coconut-Jaggery Laddu)

Recipe Source: My grandmom (ammama)


Ingredients:

1 cup shreded coconut (preferable fresh)
1 cup powdered jaggery
4-5 tbsp water

Preparation:

1. In a pan, on low flame add water, powdered jaggery and coconut. Stir for 15-20 mins until everything comes together. put a little on a ghee plate and you should be able to make small balls out of the mixture.

3. On a plate, put some ghee and evenly spread the coconut-sugar mixture. Rub little ghee between palms & start making small balls or  using a knife cut into diamonds.

Store in an air tight container.


Variations: You could even add some nuts or raisins to these yummy laddus..

Hope you all have a fun weekend ahead.

until next time,
Siri