Doodanche Phovu
A warm, comforting Goan sweet made with flattened rice simmered in cardamom-infused milk and sweetened with jaggery. This creamy pudding-like dish is a beloved festival treat, ready in under 20 minutes.
For 4 servings
5 steps. 10 minutes total.
- 1
Prepare the poha
- a.Place the thick poha in a sieve and rinse it under cool running water for about 30 seconds, until it softens slightly. Shake well to drain all excess water and set aside.
- 2
Sweeten the milk
- a.In a medium saucepan, pour in the milk and bring it to a gentle boil over medium heat. Once it starts simmering, reduce the heat to low. Add the grated jaggery and stir continuously until it dissolves completely, which should take about 2-3 minutes.
- 3
Add flavorings
- a.Stir in the cardamom powder and the small pinch of salt. Mix well to combine.
- 4
Cook the poha
- a.Add the rinsed poha and grated fresh coconut to the sweet milk. Stir gently and let it cook on low heat for 3-4 minutes. The poha will absorb the milk and the mixture will thicken to a creamy, pudding-like consistency.
- 5
Finish and serve
- a.Turn off the heat and stir in the ghee for a lovely aroma and glossy finish. Garnish with chopped cashews, if using. Serve Doodanche Phovu warm.
What to keep in mind.
5 tips from the recipe — small details that make a real difference to the final dish.
- 1Always use thick poha for this recipe. Thin poha will disintegrate and become mushy.
- 2Rinse the poha just before you are ready to cook. Do not soak it for a long time.
- 3If you don't have jaggery, you can substitute it with an equal amount of sugar, but jaggery provides a more traditional, caramel-like flavor.
- 4For a richer taste, you can use full-fat coconut milk for half of the dairy milk quantity.
- 5This dish thickens as it cools. If you have leftovers, you can loosen it with a splash of warm milk before serving.
Adapt it for your goals.
Vegan
Replace dairy milk with an equal amount of coconut milk or almond milk. Use coconut oil instead of ghee.
healthyHealthy
Reduce the jaggery by half and add 1/4 cup of mashed ripe banana for natural sweetness. Skip the ghee to lower the fat content.
high proteinHigh protein
Garnish generously with a mix of chopped almonds, pistachios, and walnuts. You can also stir in a tablespoon of almond powder with the poha.
kid friendlyKid friendly
Skip the chopped nuts for very young children to avoid a choking hazard. You can add a few saffron strands to the milk for a beautiful color and aroma.