Podi Pola

{Ramadan Special} – Podi Pola by Rafeeda of ‘The Big Sweet Tooth

Allhumdulliah today is 10th day of Ramadan. Praying and hoping that fasts are going on fine for all. Rafeeda of ‘The Big Sweet Tooth‘ is one sweetheart buddy and Allhumdulliah been a regular contributor to this Ramadan Series of ‘Joy From Fasting To Feasting’ since three years now. As she has already shared most made recipes during Ramadan on her blog and in this event. She could not decide on what to guest post. Finally Rafeeda has decided to share with us Podi Pola, a Malabar sponge cake flavoured with cardamom. Isn’t it sounding yum…then read on the post to know more…

Rafeeda says,

Assalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakthuhu to all the lovely readers of Yummy Food…

Let me take this opportunity to wish all you a blessed Ramadan. The precious month has arrived for us to take advantage of His Infinite Mercy, the month when the devils are chained and only good pours, the month which has a day which is better than a thousand years, a month when every single good deed of ours can weigh heavy into our final book of records… May Allah give us the blessing of taking full advantage of this beautiful month… Aameen…

This is the fourth time I am being featured on Lubna’s Ramadan event. I cannot express how happy I feel each time she invites me over this lovely space of hers. I still remember how much I couldn’t believe myself when she invited me the first time around and that excitement still remain. Through the years, our friendship and respect has blossomed and Alhamdulillah, I have no doubt that hers is one of the most cherished friendships that blogging has given me. Over the past few years, I have given really lengthy posts to her, however, this time I really don’t know why that I am so time pressed. Either my responsibilities are increasing or my time management skills are getting worse. J I am just relieved that I am able to do a post for her and nothing matters more than that…

Ramandan at Rafeeda’s Place

Another Ramadan arrives, Alhamdulillah… As each Ramadan pass away, we come out of the month with takeaways. And we need to ensure that the takeaway is always a better us – spiritually, emotionally, physically. Over the past few years, Ramadan has become a time to heal my soul and take the healing process ahead. Life teaches us a lot of lessons and those lessons can either soften us or harden us. When we soften, we can assure ourselves that Allah is helping us to see matters on a larger scale, but when it hardens us, we need to reevaluate ourselves – are we closing ourselves to a future we are unaware of? If hardships have hardened us, then Ramadan is the right time to look into our past, and what we can do to correct our future InshaAllah. We are all accountable for what we do and say and each step taken into that direction with His help will only help us get better and better…

Iftar at Rafeeda’s House

While trying to figure out what to give Lubna, I ended up with a sweet dish. I am surprised that it happened very coincidentally – first was Masala Aleesa, a savory, then Kadala Pidi, a sweet, then the Jeera Kanji, a savory and this time a sweet! Hehe… It was definitely not intentional, I assure you… J What I decided to share is a very light snack that you can have for suhoor or after Iftar. In our house, we usually refrain from having fried stuff during Iftar. It is always fruits, tharikanji and some juice. Once we finish Maghrib, then it is chai time and this is the time we have something light as a snack. It maybe fried or baked but in little quantities.

Malabar Sponge Cake

Podi pola or Kumsi is a typical Malabar sponge cake flavored with cardamom. It is made by beating eggs and sugar, so that it fluffs up quite a bit, then add little flour and cardamom flavor and is cooked on stove top with a dash of ghee. I remember how my mattamma (umma’s mother) would make this for us when we were kids. Those were times with no egg beaters so that beating wooden ladle would be used. We would take turns in beating the egg, as it used to be so interesting but in no time, our hands would ache and we would wish the next person would come and take it from us.

Seeing our painful faces, mattamma would only take it from us and beat the eggs so much that it becomes so pale and fluffed up. The beating of the eggs gives its sponginess. The only drop of fat that goes in is the ghee used for greasing the pan, apart from this, there is nothing! These just melt in the mouth and are so light, that they are perfect with a mild cup of sulaimani for those little breaks. I tried asking mattamma for the quantities, but she operates on her eye-balled quantities, so I referred to my trusted Malabar Cookbook by Ummi Abdullah to make it, and I am so happy that it tasted exactly like how she makes it! J Off to the recipe…

Podi Pola | Kumsi – Malabar Style Sponge Cake

Serves 3

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 Eggs
• 50 gm Sugar
• 50 gm Flour
• 1/2 tsp Cardamom powder
• 8 Cashews, crushed
• 1 tbsp Raisins
• 1 tsp Ghee

How to make Podi Pola

PREPARATION:

• Beat egg and sugar till creamy and fluffy. Fold in the flour and cardamom.
• Heat a small saucepan or frying pan, add the ghee. Spread around the saucepan.
• Take out of the flame and pour the batter in. Sprinkle the cashew-nuts and raisins.
• Keep on low flame till the top is non-sticky while touched.
• Flip onto a plate, cut and serve!

Thank you Rafeeda for being part of this event and bringing in this wonderful cake.

You can find Rafeeda @ Facebook|Twitter|Instagram|Pinterest
Back in,
2015 – Joy From Fasting To Feasting – VIII – Bread Pockets by Febina
2014 – Joy From Fasting To Feasting – VII – Mitto Samosa from Shazia
2013 – Joy From Fasting To Feasting – VI – Chicken Kachori from Ambreen