GAVVALU/SWEET SHELLS

Gavvalu, this is a pure authentic sweet from South India. The shape is just like the sea shells, so is the name gavvalu….. sweet shells. These are made with maida. The small maida balls are rolled on a wooden tool used for making the gavvalu. Then these are fried in ghee or oil to golden brown and the dropped in thick sugar or jaggery syrup. The sweet syrup coats the fried crunchy shells and forms the best tasty evening snacks.

INGREDIENTS

• Maida                 2+1/2 cups
• Ghee                  3 Tsp
• Oil                      for deep frying
• Jaggery or sugar 1+1/2 cups
• Water                 for making dough and sweet syrup

PROCEDURE
In a large mixing bowl add the maida and ghee. Mix the two to form a crumbling mixture. Now add the water and form a dough same as the puri dough. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes. Add a couple of table spoons of oil while kneading if needed. Cover and  leave the dough for about half an hour.
 
Now if you have the wooden block which is used for making the shells use it. Or else use a fork or a grater. Take a small portion of the dough and roll on the wooden block or the back side of the fork. Form all the dough into small shells. See the figure below. In the mean time make the sweet syrup. In a large pan add the jaggery or sugar and a cup of water. I use half of the sugar and half of jaggery. Use any one which suits your taste. Boil the syrup on a high flame. The consistency of the syrup should be thick. In a small bowl take some water and add a drop of the syrup. The syrup should solidify and form a softball. This is what we call the vundapakam in telugu.  Add the cardamom powder and decrease the flame to very minimum.
Deep fry the shells in hot oil on a medium flame to golden brown. The frying process takes about 4 minutes. Do not fry on a high flame. Now add the fried shells into the syrup. Keep stirring for 2 minutes till the syrup solidifies and the remove onto a plate. When they are completely cooled they can be stored in a air tight container.

TIPS

• Can add a pinch of baking soda while making the dough to get crisper shells.
• Making the syrup and frying the shells should be done simultaneously to get perfect sweet shells.
• Half and half of the sugar and grated jaggery can be used if you like the taste.