Noyakhli r Dudhpooli

Pitha-Pulis( Crepe and Dumpling) are Bengali delicacy consisting of rice or wheat flour, semolina, milk, jaggery, sugar and coconut. Bengali households prepare seasonal sweets during all winter months, specially to celebrate Makar sankranti on the last day of Bengali month Poush known as Poush parbon/ harvest festival in India and Bangladesh. More about Poush/Makar Sankranti read Sadhguru's article here.

This special Dudhpuli was staple in Poush months in my parents house. As long as Ma lived she never skipped making this heirloom Dudh puli with semolina, coconut and sugar simmered in thickened milk that hailed from her native land Noyakhali, Bangladesh. Now I take great pride simply following our family traditions I grew up with.  

Ingredients~

1 cup semolina 

1 1/4 cup dry coconut powder 

3/4 cup sugar or as per taste

1/4 tsp. ground cardamom powder 

1 bay leaf

4 1/4 cups 2% or whole milk 

Method~
First boil 4 cups milk in a heavy bottomed medium pan on low heat with bay leaf stirring continuously. Reduce it to half, then add 1/2 cup sugar and ground cardamom powder. While milk is boiling stir together semolina, coconut, 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup milk on low heat for ten minutes in a different pan. Mixture should come together and you will be able to make small firm balls. Let it cool for couple of minutes and make 35 small balls. Add in the pulis in the boiling milk and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir very gently or else they will break. Let it cool off for a while. Serve warm or room temperature. Wish you and your family a very Happy and Prosperous Poush/Makar Sankranti!!