Pakam Garelu are a festive Andhra sweet made by soaking crispy deep-fried minapa garelu (urad dal vadas) in warm jaggery syrup (pakam). These vadas absorb the syrup beautifully, becoming soft, sweet, and flavorful — a perfect blend of texture and taste often prepared during festivals like Sankranti or Dussehra.
Ingredients
For Garelu (Vada)
- Urad dal (minapappu) – 1 cup (soaked 4–5 hours)
- Rice flour – 2 tbsp (optional, for crispiness)
- Salt – a pinch
- Oil – for deep frying
For Pakam (Jaggery Syrup)
- Jaggery – 1 cup (grated or powdered)
- Water – ½ cup
- Cardamom powder – ½ tsp
- Grated coconut – 1 tbsp (optional, for garnish)
Preparation Steps
- Soak and grind dal
Soak urad dal for 4–5 hours. Drain and grind to a smooth, fluffy batter using minimal water. Add a pinch of salt and 2 tbsp rice flour (optional). - Fry Garelu
Heat oil in a pan. Wet your hands, take a small ball of batter, flatten it, make a hole in the center, and gently drop into hot oil. Fry on medium flame until golden and crisp. Drain excess oil. - Prepare Jaggery Syrup
In a pan, add jaggery and water. Heat until it dissolves completely. Filter to remove impurities and boil again till slightly sticky (not hard ball consistency). Add cardamom powder. - Soak Garelu
Drop the hot fried garelu into warm jaggery syrup. Let them soak for 10–15 minutes until they absorb the sweetness. - Serve
Garnish with grated coconut and serve warm or at room temperature.
Absorption Tip
- Cold garelu don’t absorb syrup well as they turn firm.
- Always soak hot garelu in warm syrup for perfect absorption.
- If they have cooled, reheat slightly before soaking.
- Syrup should be slightly sticky, not thick.
Rule: Hot vadas + warm syrup = soft, sweet, fully soaked Pakam Garelu.
Tips
- Use freshly ground batter for fluffy garelu.
- Avoid thick syrup to ensure better absorption.
- Add dry ginger powder (sonth) for extra flavor.
- Drizzle a little ghee before serving for aroma.
Variations
- Sugar Syrup Garelu: Replace jaggery with sugar.
- Dry Fruit Pakam Garelu: Add cashews and raisins to syrup.
- Coconut Milk Version: Mix 2 tbsp coconut milk in syrup for richness.
Health Benefits
- Jaggery is rich in iron and aids digestion.
- Urad dal boosts energy and provides protein.
- Ghee and coconut add healthy fats and nutrients.