Step 1: Make the Pastry Dough:
Ingredients:
1.5 kg plain flour
100 gms cornflour
200 gms of ghee
¼ tsp salt
Water (just enough to bind into a soft dough)
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk togher the plain flour, cornflour, and salt.
- Rub the ghee into the flour mture using your fingertips until it forms a uniform, coarse texture.
- Gradually pour in small amounts of water and knead until a soft, smooth dough forms. Cover with a damp cloth and set aside to rest while preparing the fillings.
Step 2: Make the Fresh Coconut Stuffing:
Ingredients
1.5 kg fresh grated coconut (4 fresh coconuts, finely grated)
1.5 kg sugar
1 cup water
6 tbsp ghee
100 g cashew nuts, chopped
100 g raisins
100 g roasted sesame seeds, toasted
6 cardamoms pods, finely powdered
Cooking Steps
- Make the syrup: In a heavy-bottomed pan, combine the sugar and water over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and forms a thick syrup.
- Cook the coconut: Add the fresh grated coconut, ghee, chopped cashews, and toasted sesame seeds into the syrup. Stir continuously as the mixture thickens.
- Add raisins & cardamons: Mix in the raisins and powdered cardamon. Keep Stirring over medium-low heat until the mixture turns quite dry and holds together well.
- Remove from the heat and allow the filling to cool competely before assembling.
Step 3: Option 2: Make the Semolina (Rava) Dry Filling:
Ingredients:
1.5 kg semolina (rava)
1.5 kg desiccated coconut
6 tbsp ghee
6 tbsp castor sugar
100 g cashew nuts, chopped
100 g raisins
100 g roasted sesame seeds
6 cardamom pods, finely powdered
Cooking Steps
- Roast semolina: Heat the ghee in a wide pan over low-medium heat. Add the semolina and roast, stirring constantly, until lightly golden and fragrant.
- Stir in coconut & nuts: Stir in the desiccated coconut and cook for another minute. Add the chopped cashews, raisins, toasted sesame seeds and cardamon powder, stirring well to combine.
- Add sugar & cool: Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the castor sugar until throughly incorporated.
- Allow the mixture to cool, stirring every 5-10 inutes as it cools down to ensure it stays loose and doesn't harden into clumps.
Step 4: Make the Neureos & Fry
- Divide dough: Divide the rested pastry dough into 4 equal balls.
- Roll thin: On a lightly floured surface, roll one of the dough balls into a thin, even circle. Use a biscuit cutter to cut out circles.
- Fill & seal: Place a generous spoonful of your chose filling (Coconut or Semolina) onto one half of the dough circle. Lighy moisten the out rim with water, fold the dough over to form a crescent(half moon), and press the edges firmly to sea, pressing out an trapped air.
- Trim & finish: Trim and decorative-crimp the sealed edge using a fluted pastry cutter or press with a fork.
- Deep fry: Heat oil in a deep frying pan over medium eat. Fry the neureos in batches, turning occasionally, until they turn crisp and golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
- To Store: Let the neureos cool completely before storing in an airtight container.