Munthiri kothu

Munthiri kothu (முந்திரி கொத்து) is a unique festival sweet from Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, South India. It is also known as paniyaram (பணியாரம்) or payatham urundai (பயத்தம் உருண்டை) in Sri Lanka.

To prepare it, dhall is roasted in a kadai, possibly with a little ghee. This is then cooled and crushed into a fine powder. Sesame seeds and coconut flakes are similarly and separately roasted and powdered. These powders are then combined with cardamom and jaggery syrup. This is then split into marble-sized balls.

A batter consisting of maida flour, rice powder, turmeric and salt is made by adding water carefully to prevent lump formation. A kadai with ghee is heated, and the golf-ball-shaped fritters are deep fried.