Roce Cookies (Rosette/Acchappam/Kokkisan/Rose Cookies)
You will need :
- Roce/Rosette/Rose Cookie Iron mould/form
- A wide & shallow bowl/soup plate
- A balloon whisk preferably
- A wide & heavy bottomed kadhai/wok
- A slotted/meshed spoon/ladle
Ingredients for the Roce/Rosette/Rose Cookie Batter :
- 100 gms. Maida (Refined Flour)
- 100 gms. Rice Flour
- 1 Egg (very lightly beaten)
- 200 ml. fresh Coconut Milk
- 70 gms. Caster Sugar/Sugar pwd.
- 1tsp. Vanilla Essence or ¼ tsp. fresh Cardamom pwd.
- 100 ml. Water
- ¼ tsp. Salt
- Vegetable Oil for deep frying
To extract Fresh Coconut Milk :
Grind one cup fresh grated coconut & cardamom (if you decide to use it instead of vanilla essence) in a grinder using about ½ cup water to a fine paste.
Transfer the contents onto a muslin/cheese cloth/fine strainer or mesh spread over a sufficiently deep vessel. Rinse the grinder with some warm water about 1/3 cup & add to the contents in the cloth/mesh.
If using cloth then bundle up the cloth & its contents & gently squeeze out the coconut milk.
If using a strainer/mesh then press with the back of a spoon or use your hands to extract coconut milk
Use this coconut milk for the roce cookie batter.
Procedure for preparing the batter :
In a sufficiently large bowl, first combine the dry ingredients – maida, rice flour, sugar & salt. Stir well.
First add the coconut milk & then a little water at a time to get a thick consistency.
Use a balloon whisk to stir.
Add in the egg & vanilla essence (if using) & stir to mix well. Do not agitate to form bubbles.
The prepared batter must be smooth & lumpless but thick like dosa batter consistency. It should be able to stick to the mould. It should not be too stiff & thick & neither thin & runny.
Process of Deep Frying the Roce Cookies :
Heat sufficient oil till hot in a kadhai/wok on a med. flame.
The quantity of oil should be enough for at least 3-4 cookies at a time. It also depends on the size of your kadhai. Also the cookies should be able to float when you are deep frying.
Dip the mould in the hot oil for about a minute or two.
This is a very important step or the batter will not cling/stick to the mould.
Lift the mould from the hot oil & drain to remove excess. Do not drain for too long or the mould will turn cold.
Dip the mould very carefully in the batter until the batter coats the mould about ½ or ¾ depends on your preference but make sure it does not cover the upper surface of the mould. If it covers the top then the cookie will not release in the oil.
It is also important not to leave the hot mould dipped for too long into the batter as the heat from the metal mould will cook the batter in the bowl. So be alert, quick & brisk.
Be completely focused & do the steps in quick progression…
Dip the hot drained mould in the batter briefly, covering it as mentioned above, shake off excess gently & immediately, carefully lower the battered mould in the hot oil.
The mould should be compeletely encased in hot oil but it should be suspended & not touch the bottom.
Adjust the flame if necessary… if the cookies are browning too quickly.
Wait for a few seconds till the cookie cooks & retains shape.
While it is dipped in the oil, gently shake in a tapping motion continuously. This helps the cookie to release itself from the mould & float in the hot oil.
Once the cookie is released in the oil, the process of frying & gentle browning continues.
In case it is difficult for the cookie to release completely then use a long tooth pick & pry the sides gently to release it.
Repeat the process & allow about 3-4 cookies to fry in the oil. This depends again on how many can be accommodated in your kadhai.
Fry the cookies till they start to look lightly pale pink – golden brown.
Flip over & fry the other side as well. Do not over brown.
Flip the cookies back to the right side facing up & lift them one by one with a slotted spoon.
Drain excess oil completely against the side of the kadhai & transfer on to a tray lined with absorbent kitchen tissue.
Prepare all the roce cookies in this way till all the batter is finished.
Cool the roce cookies completely & then store in an airtight container.
Enjoy at Christmas or at tea time or whenever you feel like eating them!
They keep well for about 2 weeks.