Gopalkala is a Maharashtrian dish made on Krishna Janmashtami as an offering to Lord Krishna.
Krishna Janmashtami or Gokulashtami is the birth day of Lord Krishna and is one of the most important Hindu festivals. Hindus celebrate Janmashtami by observing fasts, praying and preparing special food as naivedya for Lord Krishna. Different parts of India celebrates this festival in different manner. Sweet dishes like Panjiri, Sweet poha, Til laddoos, Besan laddoos etc are prepared depending on the region you belong to.
In Maharashtra, a dish namely Gopalkala is prepared on Krishna Janmashtami as an offering to Lord Krishna. It is made using beaten rice, puffed rice, cucumber, curds and other spices.
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About Gopalkala
Gopalkala is healthy and  delicious dish which symbolizes the simple life led by Lord Krishna.  It is more than just a dish. It represents age old traditions and devotion. Gopalkala is a healthy, nutritious and cooling food as it contains puffed rice, curds, cucumber and spices.   It tastes more like curd rice and can be served as a breakfast dish too.
Gopalkala is prepared by soaking poha for few minutes. It is then drained and mixed with fresh curds alongwith puffed rice. To this mixture, chopped cucumber, fresh coconut and pomegranate seeds are added. Finally it is tempered with spices.
List of ingredients to make Gopalkala
Poha , Murmura
Curds
Cucumber
Pomegranate seeds
fresh coconut
Sugar, salt
Tempering : Ghee, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, asafoetida, green chillies and ginger
Garnishing : coriander leaves and pomegranate seeds
Step-wise recipe with pictures
Wash the poha and soak in water for 2 to 3 minutes. Drain the water and keep aside.
 In a mixing bowl, add curds, salt and sugar. Mix well.
Next add chopped cucumber, pomegranate seeds and mix.
Now, add puffed rice, soaked poha and grated coconut. Give a good mix and keep aside.
 For the tempering, heat ghee in a small pan. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. When the seeds start spluttering, add asafoetida, chopped green chillies and chopped ginger. Let it cook for few seconds.
Pour this tempering on the poha.
 Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and pomegranate seeds. Gopalkala is ready to be offered as naivedya to Lord Krishna.
Recipe Card
Gopalkala
Ingredients
- 1 cup flattened rice (poha)
- ¼ cup puffed rice (murmura/ kurmura)
- 1 cup curds (dahi)
- ¾ cup cucumber, chopped (kheera)
- ¼ cup fresh pomegranate seeds (taaza anaar daana)
- 3 tbsp fresh grated coconut (nariyal)
- 1 tsp sugar (cheeni)
- Salt as per taste (namak)
For tempering
- 1 tsp clarified butter (ghee)
- 1 tsp mustard seeds (sarson/rai)
- 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
- ½ tsp asafoetida (hing)
- 2 green chillies, finely chopped
- ½ tsp chopped ginger (adrak)
For garnishing
- 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves (hara dhaniya)
- 1 tbsp fresh pomegranate seeds (taaza anaar daana)
Instructions
- Wash the poha and soak in water for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Drain the water and keep aside.
- In amixing bowl, add curds, salt and sugar. Mix well.
- Next add chopped cucumber,pomegranate seeds and mix.
- Now, add puffed rice, soaked poha and grated coconut. Give a good mix and keep aside.
- For the tempering, heat ghee in a small pan.
- Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds.
- When the seeds start spluttering,add asafoetida ,chopped green chillies and chopped ginger.
- Let it cook for few seconds.
- Pour this tempering on the poha.
- Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and pomegranate seeds.
- Gopalkala is ready to be offered as naivedya to Lord Krishna.
Recipe Video
More Janmashtami recipes
Makhana Panjiri
Dhaniya Panjiri
Moong Dal Payasam
Madgane
Sweet Poha
Besan Laddoos
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