Thiruvathirai Kali

In ancient times, “Thiruvathirai Kali” was prepared in a brass vessel (Vengala Uruli). Jaggery is boiled with water and rice flour is added to it. The kali is then cooked on low heat, stirring occasionally. Nowadays, it is prepared in a “Pressure Cooker” or “Open Vessels”. I find this method easier, and the kali turns out softer. This Kali is typically served with Mixed Vegetable Kootu (Thalagam). It usually includes seven vegetables. This is also known as Ezhu Kari Kootu or Thalagam.

  • Thalagam

    Difficulty: Easy

    Learn how to make Thalagam, a delicious South Indian dish made with 7 vegetables. Perfect for festival days like Thiruvathirai and Pongal!

How to make

Thiruvathirai Kali is a traditional South Indian sweet dish made from rice flour, jaggery, and coconut. To prepare it, first, fry raw rice in a kadai until it turns light brown. Then, cool the rice and grind it into a powder. In a thick-bottomed vessel, mix the rice powder with boiling water and let it rest for half an hour. Meanwhile, fry cashew nuts in ghee and powder cardamom. Next, dissolve jaggery in water, bring it to a boil, and strain it to remove impurities. Add the jaggery syrup to the rice mixture, cooking it on medium heat until well mixed. Finally, incorporate grated coconut, fried cashews, and cardamom powder, mixing thoroughly before removing from the stove. This dish is often prepared for special occasions, celebrating the festival of Thiruvathirai.

Thiruvathirai Kali Recipe

Thiruvathirai Kali

Recipe by S Kamala
Course: SweetsCuisine: Indian, TamilDifficulty: Medium
Servings

5

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes

Learn how to prepare the traditional South Indian dish “Thiruvathirai Kali” and the modern techniques to make it even easier. Serve it with delicious Mixed Vegetable Kootu for a complete meal.

Ingredients

  • Rice – 1 cup

  • Jaggary powdered – 1 1/2 cup

  • Coconut gratings – ¼ cup

  • Cardamom – 5

  • Cashew Nuts – few

  • Ghee – 4 to 5 teaspoon

  • Water – 2 cups

Directions

  • Fry the rice in a kadai without oil till it turns light brown. Cool it and powder it in a mixie.
  • Add the powder in a thick bottomed vessel. Boil the water and pour it over the rice powder. Close with lid. Leave it for half an hour.
  • Meantime, fry the cashew nuts in a teaspoon of ghee.
  • Powder the cardamom.
  • Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup water to the jaggery powder (jaggery should be covered with water) and bring to boil. When it starts boiling, remove from stove and strain it.
  • Add this to the rice mixture and keep it on the stove.
  • Mix it thoroughly and cook on medium flame till the jaggery syrup and rice flour mixes well. Now add the coconut, fried cashew, cardamom powder along with ghee. Mix thoroughly. Remove from stove.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • If you require more sweet, then you can increase the quantity of jaggery to two cups. Also, two to three tablespoons of green gram dhal (fried without oil) also added along with rice.

10 Comments

  1. Wanted recipe of thalagam also

  2. which rice is used?

  3. Hi aunty
    for the first time i prepared thiruvathirai kali by myself.folliwed ur recipe nd the kali came out very well.thanks a lot

  4. Pl. mention rice and water measurement.

  5. Hi mam , the water measurement of 2 cups excluding the jaggery water or jaggery also dissolve using with tat 2 cups?

  6. Pingback: Exciting Thiruvathirai Festival Celebrations on January 3, 2026

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