Dhondus

cucumber cake

The green cucumber called 'Tavas' is used to make this 'dhoundus'. This is generally harvested in the month of August/September or 'Shrawan'. This is very popular in Goa and Konkan.

Ingredients
1 cup grated cucumber with its juice(without skin)
1 cup water
1 cup grated jaggery
1 cup freshly grated coconut
4-5 chopped cashew nuts
1 cup rawa/semolina(preferably of rice)
1 tsp ghee
pinch of salt

Method

• Mix grated cucumber,water,jaggery,coconut,cashews and pinch of salt in a pan. Switch on the gas and let all jaggery dissolve and blend in the mixture.
• Simultaneously heat ghee in another pan and roast rawa till it turns golden brown.
• Mix the roasted rawa in the hot cucumber mixture and mix well. Cover with lid and let it cook on low flame.
• Once the water gets absorbed transfer the contents into a greased tin.
• Put on the gas on medium flame. Heat the griddle. Keep the greased tin covered on the griddle. Check after 5 minutes with a knife. (It should come out clean)

Note
If turmeric leaf is available. put it on the top of the mixture while baking the tin. The aroma of the leaf blends well with dhondus