Tavsali in idli mould

Tavsali in idli mould/steamed cucumber cake/ukdun kelli tavsali :

Hello everyone,

Today let me take you to my kitchen to prepare Goan traditional sweet recipe  'Tavsali' basically known as cucumber cake. Usually tavsali is made by baking method. But my mother always made it by steaming method. Tavsali prepared by both methods tasted yummy but some prefer baked one whereas some love by steam method.

Once I had participated in a cooking contest wherein the first prize was awarded to a contestant who had prepared tavsali in a idli mould. We all got to taste it and it was awesome. That day my brain signalled me to try it this way one day. And that one day came today😊. I do not know how that contestant had prepared it but I tried my way and everyone liked it. 

For this tavsali you require those big fat cucumbers which are available in market during the Shravan month. 

So without much more writeup I shall take you to the recipe. 

Ingredients and method:

First wash, peel off the skin and grate 1 big fat cucumber. This makes approx 2 cups. Keep in a big bowl. 

Then add 2 cups grated jaggery in same and mix well and keep aside. Jaggery will melt well.

Heat a kadai add 2 tsp ghee and roast 2 cups regular rawa which you use to make sheera on medium flame till aromatic. Don't make it brown. I have used regular rawa. Some use rice rawa for tavsali. It's each one's choice. Then add 1 tsp salt, mix well. Keep flame low and add grated cucumber jaggery mixture and mix well. Add pieces of cashewnuts and 1 cup grated coconut. Mix everything very well and off the flame. Add cardamom powder and mix.

Now apply ghee to each idli mould. Pour this mixture in each idli mould.

Now steam for 15-20 minutes. 

Rest the steamer for 30 minutes atleast and then de mould the tavsalis from idli moulds ( you can call them cucumber sweet idlis).

Serve on Shravan thali as a sweet dessert item or as an evening snack.

Enjoy Goan delicacy😋

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