Kalu dodol facts for kids
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| Course | Dessert |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Sri Lanka |
| Serving temperature | Cooled |
| Main ingredients | Jaggery, Rice flour, Coconut milk |
Kalu dodol (Sinhala: කලු දොදොල්, Tamil: தொடோல்) is a super yummy, sticky sweet treat from Sri Lanka. It's a special kind of dodol. This dark, chewy dessert is mostly made from kithul jaggery (a type of palm sugar), rice flour, and coconut milk. Making Kalu dodol takes a lot of time and effort. The Hambanthota area in Sri Lanka is very famous for making the best Kalu dodol.
Contents
What is Kalu Dodol?
Kalu dodol is a delicious dessert. It has a dark brown color. It's thick, sticky, and feels a bit like jelly. It also has a slightly grainy texture. The main ingredients are kithul jaggery, rice flour, and coconut milk. Sometimes, other tasty things like cashews, cardamom, and raisins are added to make it even better.
How Kalu Dodol is Made
Making Kalu dodol is a long process. It can take up to nine hours! First, kithul jaggery is mixed with thin coconut milk. This mixture is then boiled in a large pan until it reduces by half. Next, rice flour, thick coconut milk, and any other ingredients are added.
It's super important to stir the mixture all the time. This stops it from burning or sticking to the pan. Any oil that floats to the top must be removed. Once the mixture becomes very thick, it's poured into a tray. It's then pressed down and left to cool. After it cools and becomes firm, the Kalu dodol is cut into pieces and served.
The Story of Kalu Dodol
People believe Kalu dodol first came to Sri Lanka from Malay people. They might have brought it from places like Indonesia. Some also think the Portuguese introduced it. They were in parts of Sri Lanka a long time ago, in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Kalu dodol is a traditional sweet. It's often made and eaten during the Sinhala New Year celebrations. Because it's so hard and takes so long to make, most people today buy Kalu dodol from shops. It's easier than making it at home!
Hambanthota: The Kalu Dodol Capital
The Hambanthota area in southern Sri Lanka is very well-known for Kalu dodol. It's even called the "Kalu dodol capital"! Making Kalu dodol is a big business there. It helps many people in the area earn money.
Many visitors come to Hambanthota to buy Kalu dodol. This includes people visiting the nearby holy town of Kataragama. In 2011, the Sri Lankan government even helped the industry. They gave money to set up new Kalu dodol shops in Hambanthota. This was to help the business grow even more.
