Kulkul ~ A Mangalore Christmas Delicacy

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Kulkul,the name itself may sound strange.This is a mangalore christmas speciality and speaking about this makes me nostalgic.We were at Bangalore then,and my dad's cousins prepared this snack & I tasted it first at their place during Christmas.To us,as kids always referred this as sweet puzhu(worm).We all fell in love with the worm like shape,or you call it a shell like;my mom immediately jotted down the recipe and there after we had no Christmas without these cute shells.So,that's my deep relation to kulkuls,this is a sweet crunchy deep fried snack which can be kept on munching.And so, kids can help you roll these shells in this holiday season,Try making it with them and Enjoy!!



Ingredients
maida 2 cups(250 gms)
sugar  1 tbsp
warm oil 1 tbsp
egg 1 (optional)
coconut milk(thick) /whole milk /leuk warm water 1/4 cup
salt a pinch
for glaze(optional)
sugar 1/2 cup
water 1/4 cup



Method
-Sift the flour ,add salt,sugar,oil and egg.Knead the dough by adding coconut milk/whole milk/water in a smooth dough.The dough shouldn't be very sticky or too tight/dry.Leave aside for 10 mins.
-Make small marble sized balls.Keep the remaining dough cvered all timesUsing the back of a fork or cheese grater with small holes,flatten the marble sized dough on it.Press it down to engrave and roll it over like worms.Place the finished ones on a oil greased tray.


-Heat oil in a wok/kadai on medium flame.Slide the kulkuls into the oil (without the oil splattering).The kulkuls will remain down,wait till it reaches the surface.Turn both sides and keep mixing with a slotted spoon till its slightly browned.Drain on a paper towel.



-In another pan,heat the sugar and water in a pan.Let it come to boil and wait till it reaches the right consistency.The sugar coats the back of a spoon or when it reaches a one thread consistency,put off flame.
-Add the fried kulkuls in it and mix well so that it coats all of them equally.
-Wait till the sugar crystallises on the kulkuls.Serve hot with tea !!

Servings~ 2-3 adults(small batch)

NOTES
* If you are not glazing the kulkuls add about 2 tbsp more sugar in the dough and make dough.They taste good that way too.
* Some people add baking powder to the dough,I tried it once using that method too.But that gives chubby kulkuls and are softer to chew,somehow I didn't like that.
* You can omit the egg & prepare these too,Egg just adds an extra taste to it.
* You can replace the oil with butter but butter used ones may turn rancid during long storage.



Sending this to Priya & Divya's 60 days of Christmas
,Know your flour-Maida,Christmas event hosted by Divya @ Divya's Culinary Journey,Show me your HITS-Festive food hosted by Roshni@ Roshni's Kitchen