Anarsa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Anarsa

Course	Dessert
Place of origin	India
Region or state	Maharashtra, Bihar
Main ingredients	Jaggery, rice, poppy seed, ghee

Anarsa is a special sweet treat from India. It is a type of biscuit made mainly from rice. People often enjoy Anarsa during the Hindu festival of Diwali. It is also popular for other celebrations, especially in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Bihar.

This delicious dessert is made with simple ingredients. These include jaggery (a type of unrefined cane sugar), rice, tiny poppy seeds, and ghee (which is clarified butter).

How Anarsa is Made

Making Anarsa takes a few steps and a little patience. Here is how this traditional sweet is prepared:

Preparing the Rice Dough

• First, rice is soaked in water for several days. The water is changed often to keep the rice fresh.
• After soaking, the rice is drained and ground into a fine powder.
• This rice powder is then mixed with jaggery or sugar. This creates a soft dough.
• The dough is covered and left to rest for about four to five days. This resting time helps the dough mature and develop its flavor.

Shaping and Frying

• Once the dough is ready, small portions are taken.
• These portions are rolled in white poppy seeds.
• Then, they are gently pressed into flat, round shapes.
• Finally, these poppy-coated disks are fried until they turn a beautiful golden color. The side with the poppy seeds is usually fried first.

Different Kinds of Anarsa

There are a few ways Anarsa can be made.

• Sometimes, a banana is added to the rice-flour dough. This gives the Anarsa a slightly different taste and texture.
• In Bihar, Anarsa often looks rounder, almost like a ball.
• In Maharashtra, the Anarsa is usually flatter.

Anarsa is a wonderful example of India's rich and diverse food traditions.

See also

In Spanish: Anarsa para niños