I wanted to make some Sri Lankan sweets this month. As I was browsing through some Sri Lankan food sites, I came across one that I wanted to try out. Coconut rocks are quite popular in Sri Lanka and are sold in most shops as well as occasionally made in homes. I decided to slightly adapt this recipe of Dhanish @My Sri Lankan Recipe, which merges semolina with the traditional sweet. I am bringing these scrumptious sweets to Angie’s Fiesta Friday.
Today’s music features some Grammy award-winning musicians from Mali. I have a couple of friends who are huge fans of music from Mali, which is how I was introduced to some of the music I am sharing here.
The first music clip features Toumani Diabate and Ali Farka Toure.
The second clip is a music video by the group Tinariwen. They performed at the recent London jazz festival.
The last clip for today is a music video from Amadou and Mariam.
Enjoy the music while trying out a piece of the semolina and coconut sweet!
Semolina and Coconut Sweet
Ingredients:
- Semolina – 150g
- Coconut – 50g, grated
- Coconut water – 4 tbsp
- Sugar – 4 tbsp
- Cardamom – 1 tsp
- Kesari powder – pinch
- Almonds – 1 tsp, chopped
- Vanilla essence – 1 tsp
- Cream or condensed milk (vegans can substitute with non-dairy cream) – 4 tbsp
Method:
- Heat the coconut water and sugar together over low heat until it thickens.
- Then add the semolina, while continuously stirring.
- Once all the semolina has been added and the mixture starts to thicken, add the fresh, grated coconut.
- Mix well and add the cardamom, kesari, chopped almonds and vanilla essence to the mix.
- Finally stir in the cream or condensed milk before removing the pan from the heat.
- Transfer mixture to well-greased tray and let the sweet cool before slicing and serving.
Recipe adapted from My Sri Lankan Recipe
A Taste of Sri Lankan cuisine 
It looks super yummy, Ahila, love this kind of dessert 🙂 Thank you for sharing the videos. Love the sound of the Cora, I suggest you to listen Touré Kunda, my favorite song is “Salya”, it reminds me my years in Africa… Have a wonderful weekend 🙂
Thanks, Linda 🙂 Listened to Touré Kunda and like their music. Thanks for the suggestion. Have a great weekend!
These look deliicous!!
Thank you, Naina 🙂
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Yummy! They look a treat!
Thanks, Loretta 🙂
These look so yummy, Ahila. Glad you brought them at FF. Thanks for sharing the videos as well. Happy FF and enjoy your weekend. 🙂
Thank you, Jhuls 🙂 Happy FF and a lovely sunday to you!
Yummy dessert!
Thanks, Sadia 🙂
hi Ahila love this coconut sweet! In India too we make something similar called as coconut barfi. I found this recipe interesting since you also added coconut water. That must give it a real coconutty taste! Lovely! Btw haven’t seen you in a while – how are you doing? I have also been busy hence have been missing posts by my friends unfortunately! Happy Fiesta Friday to you and happy holidays! 🙂
Hi Indu, I love coconut sweets as well but usually we don’t add semolina to it. I used coconut water simply because I had to use up a litre of it before the expiry date 🙂 Coconut water does enhance the flavour but the surprising fact I found was that when I used it to make muffins, it gives a very soft texture to the muffin which I loved. I am doing well, thanks. I have not had as much access to my mother’s recipes as I used to as I am currently away from home and will be for 2015 as well. However, I am trying to share a recipe at least once a month. Happy Fiesta and happy holidays!