Patishapta - Bengali dessert (Semolina and flour pancakes with coconut filling)

 Makar Sankranti, in my family, is mostly celebrated as a festival of making and eating special sweets, called Pitha, and usually I associate with it memories of a get together at my maternal grandmother's house, where we would all take part in making the pitha and devouring them as quickly. Pitha are generally made of flour and semolina with a coconut stuffing,but in some households rice flour is also used. Some of the Pithas are dipped in syrup, while others are eaten dry.

Patishapta is almost one of the mandatory sweets made on this occasion.It is simple to make, but one may not get it right the first time.Following is a recipe for the crepes as well as the filling. The measurements may not be exact, and may need a little tweaking as per the taste/ quality of base ingredients.

For the filling:

--------------

1. Grated or dessicated coconut - 100 gms

2. Sugar - 50 gms , add more if you want the mixture sweeter, can be substituted by jaggery also.

3. Water

Heat the sugar and coconut over a medium flame. Sprinkle water if the mixture gets too dry.Keep stirring all the time till sugar melts and the mixture sticks together a little.Keep aside to cool.

For the crepes:

----------------

1. Semolina/ Sooji - 75 gms

2. Plain flour - 100 gms

3. Sugar - 3 tsp (optional)

4. Water

Soak the semolina in water for around 30 minutes.Add the flour and sugar and add water to make it into a paste.Dissolve all lumps.Add water till it comes to pouring consistency (like cream).

Heat a flat frying pan/ tawa(preferably non-stick),and apply a little oil on the surface.Drop a ladle full of the crepe mixture onto the pan.Turn the pan to spread the mixture into a circular shape.When slight bubbles begin to appear below the surface,spoon a tablespoon of the filling onto the crepe.Start rolling the crepe to seal the mixture and form a cylindrical shape(as shown in the picture above).

These can be served hot/cold . A filling of fried spiced vegetables etc,can be substituted for people averse to sweets.