Shirvale — Konkan’s Sweet, Homey Noodle Dessert
Shirvale — Konkan’s Sweet, Homey Noodle Dessert A sluggish dawn at the Konkan coast, a mild wind swaying the coconut trees, and a hot dish of soft rice-noodles basking in sweet, silky coconut milk. This is "Shirvale" — uncomplicated, soothing, and unbelievably reminiscent. What Is Shirvale? Shirvale is an old-fashioned dish from the Konkan/Malvani region. The main component is rice flour (sometimes ragi flour as well) which is then made into a paste, pushed through a noodle-maker(sev-maker) and finally steamed to be done in fine threads. Afterwards the noodles are placed together with the mixture of sweetened coconut milk, jaggery and cardamom - this mixture is known as naralacha ras. The variant using ragi (finger millet) is especially rich in nutritional value. It is a dish that requires great skill and patience, and it is usually made for special mornings or front gatherings. One nutritionist, for example, very fondly recalls the whole family involved in the making o...