In Bengali households winter is celebrated with Pithe Puli. There are various versions and types of Pithe prepared in both West Bengal and in Bangladesh. Mostly prepared during Makar Sankranti, Paus Parbon these Pithe Puli are true traditional Bengali delicacies. Till date in our Kolkata house Maa and my aunties prepare at least 8-10 types of Pitha during winters which includes Patishapta, Dudh Puli, Bhaja Pithe, Gokul Pithe, Rosh Bora, Nolen Gurer Payesh and many more! These are all Sweet versions of Pithe.. In my in law’s place apart from Sweet Pitha, my mother in law prepares Savoury Pithe as well. This year I thought to prepare Pithe for the first time and Mom suggested me to start with the easiest type which is Patishapta… And it came out superb! Patishapta is a delicious Bengali Pancake stuffed with Jaggery flavored Coconut. It is a Signature Bengali Sweet.
My Dida (Mom’s mother) used to prepare Patishapta during winters…However, Dida’s Patishapta was prepared with only All Purpose Flour and Semolina but I prefer to add Rice Flour to my Patishapta. I have used Patali Gur or Date Palm Jaggery in my Patishapta. If you are not available with Patali Gur then it can be substituted with normal sugar though date palm Jaggery gives best taste to Pithe.
- Rice Flour: 1 Cup
- All Purpose Flour: 2 Cup
- Semolina: 2 Tbsp.
- Patali Gur/ Date Palm Jaggery: 25g (this can be substituted with same amount of Sugar)
- Water: 1.5 Cup
- Milk: ½ Cup (optional)
- Grated Coconut: 1.5 Cup
- Khoya/ Mawa/ Dried Whole Milk: 1.5Cup
- Patali Gur/ Date Palm Jaggery: 100g (this can be substituted with same amount of Sugar)
- Ghee/ Clarified Butter: 1 Tbsp. ( for frying)
- Now it’s time to prepare the Crêpes.
- Take around 1.5 Cup water along with Patali Gur/ Date Palm Jaggery in a pan and cook in medium flame to dissolve the Jaggery completely.
- Switch the flame off and strain the Jaggery water and keep it aside. Patali Gur/ Date Palm Jaggery can be replaced with Sugar since it is not available all through the year and can be found in Bengali shops only if you are based out of West Bengal.
- Sieve Rice Flour, All Purpose Flour and mix Semolina with both the Flour in a deep Bowl.
- Now start adding previously prepared Jaggery water to the Flour mixture for preparing a lump free, thick paste. If required, little milk can also be added to the mixture. It took me approximately 1.5 Cup of Jaggery water and ½ Cup Milk to prepare the batter.
- Cover the batter and give it a stand of 30 minutes.
- Make small pieces of Jaggery and Khoya and keep those aside.
- Take freshly grated Coconut in a Frying pan (preferably non-stick) and cook in medium flame for around 5 minutes or till the water content of grated coconut reduced.
- Now add chunks of Jaggery and cook for around 5 minutes or till entire Jaggery dissolves completely. Same rule applies here also; Jaggery can be replaced with Sugar.
- Add Khoya to the mixture and cook in low flame till Khoya mix completely with the Coconut.
- Continue cooking in medium flame for around 5 minutes to get a thick mixture. You need to stir continuously in this stage.
- Switch the flame off and transfer the filling in a plate and allow it to cool.
- Now it’s time to prepare the Crêpes.
- Take a spoon and give the batter a stir.
- Now take a Non-stick Pan/ Tawa and heat it properly and grease the Pan with little Ghee.
- Take one ladle full of Batter and pour it in the centre of the pan and using the backside of the ladle spread the batter to prepare a Circular disk.
- Cover the Pan with a lid and cook in low flame for around 30-40 seconds or till the Crêpe turns golden brown in colour. We don’t need to cook the Crêpe from other side.
- Keep the flame low.
- Now place 2 Tbsp. of the filling at one side of the Crêpe lengthwise and start folding the Crêpe from the same side to roll it completely (as shown in the picture).
- Remove the Roll/ Patishapta from the Pan and following the same process prepare rest of the Patishapta.
