Jeera Poli – Sugar Syrup Pancakes

Jeera Poli is delicious South Indian dessert made by dipping layered fried Puris in Sugar syrup. “Jeera” means Sugar Syrup. “Poli” is more like flat bread. We make this on the day of Bohi, the day before Pongal festival. It is very simple and tastes yummy.

Ingredients:

• Maida/All Purpose flour – 1 cup
• Oil – 1 cup
• Sugar – 1 cup
• Cardamom – 4
• Yellow Color – 1 pinch

Method of Preparation:

1. In a bowl mix maida and 3 to 4 tbsp of oil. Add water litle at a time and knead a soft dough.
2. Keep it aside for 2 hours.
3. Heat oil in a small deep bottomed pan
4. In another pan add sugar and water till sugar gets wet. Do not pour excess water.
5. Sugar should be completely dissolved and when it starts boiling remove it from heat after 2 to 3 minutes. It should not become too thick.
6. Now add some ground cardamom and a pinch of yellow cooking color.
7. Now make small balls from the dough and spread it like a flat bread with a rolling pin.
8. While rolling, dip the balls in the plain flour and spread it so that it will not stick to the surface.
9. Deep fry it in oil (just like poori) and keep it aside.
10. Repeat the same procedure with the other balls.
11. While frying the flat bread, dip the fried ones in the sugar syrup. The pancake should be wet with syrup. Take it out immediately and keep it in a tray.
12. Both syrup and pancake should not be hot. It can be warm or cold.
13. Once it is done, arrage it in a tray and sprinkle the remaining ground cardamom and some saffron over it and serve.
14. After a few hours sugar crystals may form on top of the pancakes. It may be because the sugar syrup is a bit thicker than it has to be.
15. If that is the case, microwave for 15 to 30 seconds and serve the pancakes.