In the Konkani language, flattened rice is called fov and ros means coconut milk or extract. Hence, this delicacy made by soaking fov in coconut milk is popularly known as Rosatle Fov.
In Goa, pohe (flattened rice) hold special importance during Diwali. It’s impossible to imagine a Goan Diwali without them. The festive platter is adorned with different varieties of pohe — doodh pohe, Batat fov, Rosatle Fov, dahi pohe, and many other delicacies. Yet, pohe remain the star of the Diwali feast. Traditionally, they are made using red, hand-pounded rice flakes.
So now, let’s see how to make this delicious pudding of flattened rice cooked in coconut milk and jaggery — the traditional Rosatle Fov.
Ingredients for Rosatle Fov
1 fresh coconut
¼ kg red pohe (hand-pounded variety)
½ cup jaggery (adjust to taste)
½ teaspoon cardamom powder
Dry fruits (cashew pieces, almond slivers, raisins, etc.)
Method
First, clean the pohe thoroughly, as they often contain husk or bits of bran.
Rinse them two or three times in clean water.
Transfer them to a strainer and let them rest for a while. The pohe should retain slight moisture — this keeps them soft and prevents drying.
Grate the coconut and blend it with about 1 to 1½ cups of water to make a thick paste.
Strain this mixture through a muslin cloth or fine sieve to extract the thick coconut milk.
Add another cup of water to the remaining coconut residue, blend again, and strain to get a thinner extract.
Repeat once more to extract a third, thin milk.
Take the second and third thin extracts in a pot, add jaggery, and cook over a low flame until the jaggery dissolves completely.
Once the mixture starts to simmer, add the soaked pohe and let them cook for about ten minutes.
Gradually pour in the thick coconut milk, stirring gently so that the pohe absorb the flavor.
When the mixture slightly thickens, add cardamom powder and dry fruits. Turn off the heat.
Savor this aromatic, sweet, and creamy preparation of Rosatle Fov, rich with the flavours of coconut and jaggery — a traditional Goan delight that adds sweetness to the Diwali celebrations.
