Gujarati Meetha Pudla

Meetha Pudlas are sweet pancakes originating from Gujarat. They’re made with jaggery, flour, cardamom powder, saffron, saunf (fennel seeds), baking soda, ghee, almonds, and pistachios, with chironji (cuddapah almond) for garnishing. There’s also a savoury version of the dish called tikha pudla, which is as famous as its sweet counterpart.

Jaggery, the main sweetener of the dish, has been cultivated in India for thousands of years, making its way into several traditional, longstanding recipes. Over 5,000 year-old ayurvedic texts mention its benefits, including purifying the blood, improving digestion, and enhancing lung and bone health. Known as s´arkarã (sugar) in Sanskrit, in the 1600s, Portuguese travellers found it in Kerala, and from the Malayali cakkarã, they renamed it xagarã, which then became jaggery.

Today, many agree that jaggery is loaded with health benefits and a much better choice than white sugar. It cleanses the body, flushing out toxins and unwanted particles. Thishelps with constipation and regulating the digestive system. It also boosts metabolism, and builds muscles mass. It balances blood pressure and haemoglobin levels, also aiding with better joint and bone health. It also makes the skin fresher and boosts the immune system.