In Maharashtra, Makar Sankranti is the time to make Til Burfi, Gul Poli and calling married women for Haldi Kumkum. Gul meaning Jaggery and Poli meaning Roti in Marathi. The gul that we make this poli taste so good by itself that you cannot stop yourself from having few spoons while making the Gul Poli. We usually make Gul Poli on Makar Sankranti but I made it today as my daughter is having a holiday from school and I have called her friends with their mom. Along with Gul Poli, I have made Khichdi (rice with lentil), Kadhi (yogurt mixed with besan and few other spices like green chili,ginger,turmeric, salt curry leaves), Pakora (fritters), Potato curry. Festivals have their real charm in the company of family & friends. So, let’s make Gul Poli. You can make the Gul (jaggery) ahead of time and store it in air-tight container till the time you are ready to make the poli.

 

For Gul, you will need:

•  Gul (jaggery) – 1 cup (I used Kolhapuri Jaggery)
•  Til (sesame) – ¼ cup
• Besan (gram flour) – ¼ cup
• 2-3 tablespoons – Oil
• ½ teaspoon- Cardamom powder

For outer covering:

•  All purpose flour- 1 cup
•  Whole wheat flour- 1 cup
• Besan (gram flour), optional- 2-3 teaspoons
• Pinch of salt
• Oil- 2-3 tablespoons
• Water- for kneading the dough

Dough Preparation:

• Mix all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, salt, besan. Make a well in the center. Add oil. Mix it nicely with the dry ingredients. Now slowly add water. Knead it to a medium-soft dough. Cover it and set it aside for at least 10-15 minutes.

Making of Gul (filling) for the Poli:

• Crush or grate jaggery with hands if it is soft. If the jaggery is hard then break it into pieces and give it a pulse in food processor.
• Dry roast sesame seeds until golden brown. Set it aside. Grind it coarsely.
  Roast besan in oil.
• Mix jaggery, roasted besan & dry roasted and powdered sesame seeds. Add cardamom powder. I used food processor for mixing all this.
• You can store this mixture into an airtight container until you are ready to make polis.

 

 

Let’s make poli:

• Divide the dough in 12 equal parts. Similarly divide the filling in 12 equal parts. If the filling does not come together in a ball, just sprinkle few drops of water and make a ball.
• Heat griddle on medium heat.
• Roll the ball into a small disc. Place the filling ball in the middle of the rolled disc. Bring all the ends together, press it gently. Press the filling while covering it.

 

 

• Roll this ball slowly and carefully. Make the chapati as thin as possible, but the filling should not come out of the dough.

 

• Roast both the side until golden brown. For this lightly coat one side with ghee, once you see small bubbles, flip it. Flip only twice. Do not flip too much. Make remaining polis.

• Your tasty Makar Sankranti delicacy form Maharashtra – Gul Poli is ready!!
• Enjoy warm or room temperature.

 

 

Notes:

• You can make your Gul Poli using all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour only or half-half.
• Do not stack polis when they are hot/warm. I prefer laying them down on a paper towel or news paper.
• Polis can be stored at room temperature for up to one week.