Ellu Bella: The Euphoric Mixture of Karnataka

Ellu Bella mix (sesame jaggery mix) is the traditional sweet trail mix of Karnataka, prepared for the celebration of Makar Sankranti. The delicate mixture is distributed to the neighbors and loved ones with some homemade sweets as the symbol of love and friendship.

Makar Sankranti is the harvesting festival for farmers in Karnataka. During this felicitous day, the owner gives a beautiful bath to their cows and groom them. Women exchange essential products such as sugarcane, Ellu Bella mix, Haldi, red berries, kumkum, and bananas.

Most importantly, the girls from different houses wearing new clothes visit the neighboring and loved ones' homes to distribute the Sankranti offering on a plate. 

Ellu Bella mix is always present on the plate. The word “ellu” means sesame seeds, and “bella” means jaggery. It is a mixture of sesame seeds, roasted groundnut, dry coconut, and jaggery. The jaggery is the product of the predominant sugarcane freshly harvested in that season.

Recipe of Ellu Bella Mix:

Ingredients:

• One cup Roasted Gram Dal 
• 1 cup Dry coconut, finely chopped and outer layers removed
• 1 cup Jaggery, finely chopped 
• 1/2 cup Sesame seeds 
• 1 cup Raw Peanuts 

Preparation:

• Heat the peanuts in a pan and roast them till it becomes slightly brown.
• Then, let it cool down.
• Place the peanuts in the center of the muslin cloth and wrap them up.
• Then, rub the peanuts against the cloth to remove the outer skin of the peanut. Keep the peanuts and remove the skin.
• Dry roast the coconut and keep them aside.
• Then, dry roast the sesame seeds.
• Now, mix all the ingredients and serve it.

There is a saying in Kannada-“ellu bella thindu olle maathadi" which means eat the sesame jaggery mix and speak good. It sanctifies loads of health and happiness to everybody. This season is for the celebration of sharing and worshipping the almighty. So, order now the traditional mix of love and happiness – Ellu Bella Mix.