This variation is especially popular during the Makar Sankranti harvest festival.
Approximately ¾ to 1 cup (use just enough to form a soft dough) For the Coconut Filling: 2 cups desiccated or freshly grated coconut Semolina (Soji): ¾ cup castor sugar (adjust to your sweetness preference) Butter/Ghee: Sesame Seeds (Thill): ¼ cup (toasted and lightly crushed) Poppy Seeds: ¼ cup (toasted) Cardamom (Elachi): 1 tsp ground
Remove from heat and place on paper towels to absorb excess oil. Repeat for the remaining portions. Expert Tips for the Perfect Poli
This recipe is inspired by the traditional Poli that Asha Maharaj might have made in her own kitchen. It produces approximately 27 medium‑sized pastries – perfect for sharing.
Boil the soaked chana dal in a pressure cooker until it is soft and tender but not mushy. asha maharaj poli recipe
Asha Maharaj's is a celebrated South African Indian sweetmeat, traditionally consisting of a thin, flaky pastry filled with a spiced coconut or lentil mixture and deep-fried until golden. Traditional Poli Ingredients
Rub in three tablespoons of oil or ghee using your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
The Ultimate Guide to Asha Maharaj’s Legendary South African Poli Recipe
Additional and cornflour (maizena) for layering and frying For the Coconut Filling 1 ½ cups desiccated coconut ¾ cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste) ¼ cup all-purpose flour (toasted) 1 teaspoon ground cardamom (elachi) ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg 2 tablespoons ghee This variation is especially popular during the Makar
Pour in the boiling water gradually, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon to avoid burns.
: To prevent the sweet filling from leaking into the hot oil, users recommend using a fork to crimp the edges or a decorative "rope" design for a more traditional look. Fry Temperature : Success depends on frying in medium-hot oil
Grind the warm daal into a completely smooth paste using a food processor, traditional parsing mill, or heavy potato masher. There must be no whole lentils left.
Remove from heat and stir in the sugar, cardamom, nutmeg, and nuts. Expert Tips for the Perfect Poli This recipe
Flip the poli over. Brush the cooked side generously with melted ghee or oil. Flip again, brushing the other side.
Making Poli is often a family affair – aunties and grandmothers passing down techniques that have been used for generations. The aroma of coconut, cardamom and sesame seeds frying fills the kitchen, creating memories that last a lifetime.
The dough must be softer than regular roti dough to allow for thin rolling.
This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later.