Roshi Atrangada (in picture) is a HR professional living in Dallas, Texas. She grew up in Coorg, and after moving to the US, began craving Kodava food – leading to experiments in the kitchen, like trying to make nooputt from Chinese rice noodles!

Her husband and children love traditional Kodava food, particularly otti, and she is happy to oblige. The recipe she shares here is “Ell Adige” – a nutritious sesame halva for new mothers.

Says Roshi, “It’s normally given to women in Coorg after delivery as a part of postnatal treatment. Sesame seeds are great sources of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and copper, and replenish the essential minerals that your body needs to recover properly. A small bowlful is given to new mothers. Normally it’s given after 45 days from the birth of the baby. It’s said it helps in removing water retention from the body”.

Ell Adige

A nourishing sesame halva for new mothers

Ingredients :

• 1 kg black sesame seeds
• ¾ kg jaggery
• 1 full dry coconut (copra/kobbari) grated
• ½ kg ghee
• 1 tsp methi seeds (pan roasted and powdered)

Method:

Wash and dry sesame seeds, then roast and grind coarsely.

Make jaggery syrup of one string consistency.

In a wide, thick bottomed pan add jaggery syrup, ghee, sesame mixture, grated coconut and methi powder.

Mix well and cook on a medium flame stirring occasionally, until ghee leaves the sides.