KARJIKAI / KAJJIKAI ( DEEP FRIED DUMPLING ) - VINAYAKA CHAVITHI RECIPES I - STEPWISE

I am little late in posting Vinayaka Chavithi recipes :) I did not have much time to post them in detail. Here is the celebration of Vinayaka Chavithi/Ganesh Pooja we did this year. There is no need for an occasion to do this delicious treat, its perfect anytime of the year. It is absolutely delicious as a coffee or tea time snack.

Karjikai/Karjikayi/Kajjikai/kajjikayalu is a traditional sweet prepared during diwali and Ganesh pooja. It is prepared by making small balls made out of all-purpose flour. The small balls are rolled into thin puris and filled with a variety of fillings and deep fried. This can be stored for even 20 days in an air-tight container and it stays fresh. There are different variations in the filling and every one follows their family recipe or tweaks it according to their liking. Whatever the name and variation they are super delicious with light crispy layer and delicious sweet filling. I bet you can't stop by eating one. I made 2 types of Karjikai with different filling before the day of Vinayaka Chavithi. On the Vinayaka Chavithi day I made modak and seasoned bean with rice flour dumplings (Sundal with undrallu). I hope y'all will enjoy this Karjikai. As requested by everyone stay tuned for Layered fried dumplings with different filling....:)

KARJIKAI / DEEP FRIED DUMPLINGS
with coconut filling

Ingredients :

Ingredients for outer layer :

Maida/All purpose flour - 1/2 cup
Fine sooji/ Semolina - 1/8 cup
Rice flour - 1/2 tsp
Milk - 1/4 cup
Salt - A pinch
Hot ghee or oil - 1/2 tbsp (I used Ghee/Brown butter)

For the filling: (Coconut filling)

Dry Coconut - 1/4 cup
Sugar - 1/4 powdered cup
Cashew nuts - 5 chopped finely ( You can also use any nuts, dry fruits like raisins as well)
Poppy seeds - 1/2 tsp (slightly roasted in dry pan)
Cardamom a pinch