Bellam Pootharekulu

Bellam Pootharekulu.

Bellam poothareku is a variation of Pandara poothareku (made with sugar), which is a famous coastal Andhra sweet made with thin flaky sheets of paper made with rice flour. Here, soft jaggery is either grated or mashed and folded into these rice paper sheets.
Makes: around 5 Pieces of Bellam Pootharekulu.

Ingredients:

• Rice Paper Sheets 15
• Soft Jaggery (Grated) 1/2 Cup
• Cashews 5
• Pure Ghee 5 tbsps

Method of preparation:

Break the cashews into tiny pieces and roast them in a tsp of ghee until golden brown in color.
Melt the ghee and keep it aside.
Finely grate the jaggery onto a bowl and add cashews to it.
If jaggery is too hard, microwave it for around 10 seconds to make it soft.

Damp a kitchen towel with few splash of water.
Take a sheet of rice paper on the damp cloth.
Damp cloth helps to make the rice sheet little pliable.
Alternatively, sprinkle few tiny drops of water onto the sheet to make the folding easier.

Layer around a tbsp of jaggery mixture onto the first rice paper sheet.
Pour a tsp of ghee all over the rice sheet.
Layer another rice paper sheet on the first sheet.
Spread around another tbsp of jaggery mixture onto the second sheet.
Pour a tsp of ghee all over the rice sheet.
Spread around another tbsp of jaggery mixture onto the third sheet.
Pour a tsp of ghee all over this rice sheet.

Fold one longest side onto the center of the sheets.
Fold other longest side to overlap the first folded side.

Spread around another tbsp of jaggery mixture onto the folded strip.
Pour a tsp of ghee all over the rice strip.
Fold the ends of the sheet together once and fold the remaining part into a rectangular strip.
Repeat the same with remaining rice paper sheets.
Store the bellam pootharekulu in a tight jar and serve when necessary.
Notes: Rice paper sheets are prepared like this.

Suggestions: Adjust the jaggery according to taste.
Variations: Pandara Pootharekulu (ones made with sugar), Karam Pootharekulu (made with chili powder).
Other Names: Bellam Pootharekulu, Puthareku.