Ariselu () , is a traditional Telugu people sweet from the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, made primarily from rice flour and jaggery, deep-fried in ghee or oil, and often coated with sesame seeds. It holds deep cultural significance in Telugu people households, especially during major festivals such as Sankranti, Vijayadashami, and Diwali, as well as at weddings and other auspicious occasions.
Origin
Ariselu is considered to have ancient origins, with references to similar rice-jaggery confections in medieval
Telugu language literature and inscriptions. Culinary historians suggest that Ariselu evolved from early rice-based offerings made to deities during harvest festivals, symbolising prosperity and fertility. Its preparation method—steaming rice flour with jaggery syrup before frying, is thought to have developed in the agrarian communities of the
Andhra Pradesh region, where freshly harvested rice and jaggery were abundant post-harvest.
Variants of the dish are also found in neighboring states, Arisa pitha (), Kajjaya () in Kannada, Adhirasam () in Tamil Nadu, Neyyappam () in Kerala, Anarsa in Marathi, arsa or anarsa in Uttarakhand, Bihar and Jharkhand and pawa in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Ingredients
It is made out of
rice flour,
jaggery (
Bellamu in
Telugu language) and
ghee / edible oil.
Jaggery may be replaced with granulated sugar.
Preparation
A dough is first prepared out of rice flour or ground soaked rice and molten jaggery. The dough is kneaded first and then flattened in small portions in a similar fashion as making breads such as
poori or
chapatti. These flattened portions are fried in ghee or
oil. Finally, these are pressed in
gingelly or
sesame seed or
.
Arsa in Garhwal
Ariselu is also loved by the people of the Himalayas, the northern region of India. In north India, ariselu is known as "Arsa". Arsa mithai is very popular and one of the oldest sweets found in the entire nation by different names. In the
Garhwal division region of
Uttarakhand, arsa is often made on all auspicious occasions. Arsa is a very popular sweet in
Garhwal division, Uttarakhand.
See also
