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Aluwa
අලුවා (aluwa): firm diamonds of roasted rice flour and sugar syrup flavoured with cashew and cardamom
Pale, smooth and cut into precise little diamonds, aluwa brings a touch of order to the crowded Avurudu sweet tray, and it is often the first sweet children learn to help make because there is no deep-frying involved. Rice flour is roasted until it smells like biscuits, then kneaded with hot sugar syrup, chopped cashews and cardamom into a firm dough, rolled out and cut. The finished sweet is dense, slightly crumbly and not too sweet, with a gentle nuttiness, and it keeps for weeks in a tin to be offered to visitors with tea. The point where it goes wrong is the syrup: too thin and the aluwa never sets, too thick and the dough cracks before you can roll it, so aim for the one-thread stage. Chef's tip: roll the dough between two sheets of baking paper and cut it while it is still warm and pliable; once cold it breaks instead of slicing.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 20
Ingredients
For the aluwa
- 9 oz white rice flourplus extra for dusting
- 7 oz sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 ¾ oz cashewsfinely chopped
- 1 /2 tsp ground cardamom
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Dry-roast 9 oz white rice flour in a heavy pan over a low heat for 8–10 minutes, stirring constantly, until it is a very pale biscuit colour and smells toasty. Sift into a bowl.
10 minStep 3: Pour the hot syrup over the flour with 1 ¾ oz cashews and 1 /2 tsp ground cardamom and mix quickly with a wooden spoon, then knead with oiled hands into a smooth dough.
2 minStep 4: While still warm, roll out between two sheets of baking paper to about 1 cm thick.
Step 5: Cut into small diamonds with a sharp knife, dust lightly with rice flour and leave to dry and firm up for 2 hours. Store in an airtight tin.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 120 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 24 g
- Fat
- 2 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does aluwa take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 20 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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