Okkarai is a traditional Diwali sweet made across households in Tamil Nadu after the early morning oil bath during Diwali. It features a mixture of roasted moong and chana dal, broken into small crumbs and cooked with jaggery syrup, coconut, ghee, and cardamom.
As Diwali approaches, tables in Tamil Nadu gleam with sweets like Okkarai (or Ukkarai), a humble yet heartwarming festive treat. Made with roasted moong dal, rice flour, jaggery, and ghee, this delicately sweet preparation features simple ingredients transformed into something truly special.
Okkarai is a traditional Diwali sweet made by steaming a mixture of roasted moong and chana dal, which is then broken into small crumbs and cooked with jaggery syrup, coconut, ghee, and cardamom.
It results in a crumbly and aromatic sweet eaten after the early morning oil bath during Diwali. Okkarai stands out for its crumbly texture and offers a lovely contrast to the syrupy sweets, such as laddus and halwas.
With its toasty aroma of roasted dal, richness of ghee, and the mellow sweetness of jaggery, Diwali Okkarai is a unique sweet you must prepare in your homes this Diwali.