Ananda Naru

"Ananda naru" is a unique Bengali sweet that is rarely available in any shop. It is made at home on specific joyous occasions like wedding, Annaprasan or first-rice ceremony of a newborn, the thread ceremony or Upanayan that initiates a Brahmin boy into the formal world of scriptures. Hence the name "ANANDA" or joy. Unfortunately there is a traditional injunction that forbids the making of this sweet at any other time.Enterprising ladies circumvent this most unfortunate restriction by making the same sweet but referring to it as "ICHCHHA NARU" to celebrate the fulfilling of any wish irrespective of the occasion.

This naru  is a crispy sweet but can also be taken as a snacks like cakes or biscuits and can be eaten with tea also. It preserves well and can be easily be stored for up to a month

Ingredients :

Rice Flour : 600 gms
Jaggery : 500 gms
One Fresh, large Coconut (grated) : 2 cups
Sesame seeds (White) : 200 gms
Mustard oil for frying

(for making 30 such narus)

Procedure :

Kead all the ingredients thoroughly together except the mustard oil  and make balls (naru) from the dough. Deep Fry the narus in hot mustard oil till dark brown. Cool and store in an airtight container. It can be kept for a month if made in the exact ratio.