Holy Week- Pesaha Pal/Pal Kurruku- Mondy Thursday Sweet Drink

Yesterday was Mondy Thursday, the celebration of the institution of the Holy Eucharist at the "last supper" where Jesus broke bread with his disciples. In Syrian Christians homes in Kerala we have a tradition of preparing a coconut milk based drink called "Pesaha Pal" (passover milk) or "Pal Kurruku" ( thickened milk) .
I had called my mother for the recipe and planned to make it, but just didn't get around to making it.Since its so delicious I may just make it one of these days anyway! Here is the recipe :

Ingredients:

Coconut Milk ? 3 Cups ( can use tinned)
Jaggery ? 1/4 kg
Rice Flour ? 1/4 cup
Dry Ginger powder (Chukku) ? 1/4 tsp
Cardamom (Elachi/ Elakka) powdered ? 1/4 tsp
Cumin powdered? 1/4 tsp


Method

1. Melt jaggery by boiling it slowly in about 1/2 cup of water. Filter the syrup so that there are no lumps. Keep it separately.
2. Take coconut milk in a pan. Keep it on low heat and bring it to a boil stirring continuously.
3. Add the melted jaggery syrup to the coconut milk and stir for a few minutes.
4. Dissolve the rice flour in little water an add it to the above mixture so that the mixture begins to thicken.
5. Add the powders (Ginger, cardamom and cumin) and mix well.

It is delicious drunk either hot or cold, or you could also dip in chunks of unleavened bread (Kinnathappam or Kurushu/Cross appam )