Meetha Paan

Few weeks back we performed Shri Satyanarayana Puja. I had bought betel leaves and had some left over, so made Meetha Paan for the friends who had come over. They were very well appreciated, so the next day I made the one pictured above with the only left over betel leaf I had.

Here's how I made it:

1. Trim off the lower broader end of the betel leaf and lay it with the shinier side down. My betel leaf did not have the top pointed end, but ideally that should be left on.

2. I have added the following on top of the paan - shredded coconut, roasted fennel seeds, mixed store-bought saunf mix (without betel nut), 1 cardamom pod, pinch of my badishoap pwd.

3. Top it off with a generous dollop or two of gulkand. I do not have the real gulkand, but have a jar of rose preserve that tastes pretty similar, which I used.

4. Folding technique is per the following pictures.

 

I pierced it with a clove to hold it together.

This Meetha Paan can be quite addictive. Even now as I write this post, I can taste it and want to pop one in my mouth right now!