Sugary Shells

Sugary Shells

For sugar shells, maida is mixed with a pinch of salt to make it into a soft dough. Once the dough is rested, small amounts of the dough is pressed on the gavvalu balla / gavvalu peeta (wooden block with ridges). Once the dough is formed into small shells, they are then deep fried till crisp and golden brown. Finally sugar syrup is tossed in the shells to caramelize the shells.
Makes: around 40 Teepi Gavvalu.

Ingredients

Plain Flour / Maida 1 Cup
Ghee 1 tbsp
Salt a small Pinch
Sugar 1 Cup
Oil for Deep Frying

Preparation

Warm up the ghee and keep aside.
In a mixing bowl, mix together plain flour, ghee and salt into smooth dough adding enough water.
Make sure the dough is soft but not sticky.
Cover the dough with a wet cloth and rest it for half an hour.
Divide the dough into approximately 40 balls.

Take a small dough ball, press it on the gavvalu balla (wooden block having ridges) and slide it down the gavvalu balla with help of a thumb to form the dough in shape of a shell.
Repeat the same with reamining dough balls.
Cover the prepared gavvalu with a wet cloth to prevent them from drying out.

Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan on medium heat.
When oil gets hot, slowly drop the prepared shells into the oil.
Fry on both sides till golden brown (about 7 minutes).
Remove the deep fried shells onto a absorbent paper.
Then transfer them to a mixing bowl.

Heat sugar in a sauce pot along with half a cup of water.
Let all the sugar melt and the syrup thicken.
When a drop of the sugar syrup is added to a bowl of water, it should form a very soft ball.
Scoop all of the prepared sugar syrup from sauce pot and pour over the deep fried shells.
Mix the shells while pouring the syrup to enable even coating.
When the shells are warm enough to handle, break them into pieces else they stick to each other.
Store tight and serve teepi gavvalu as a snack.
Notes: Use a long fork or a grater for the shell effect instead of using gavvalu balla.

Suggestions:If the dough is sticky, add more plain flour and knead well to mix. If the dough is too flaky, add a splash of water and mix. If the gavvalu (shells) are soft after removing from the oil, put them back in oil and deep fry again till crisp.
Variations: Jaggery Shells, Spicy Gavvalu.
Other Names: Sugar Shells, Teepi Gavvalu.