Nagula Chavithi recipe · makes about 12
Chimmili for Nagula Chavithi (Sesame Jaggery Balls)
నాగుల చవితికి చిమ్మిలి · नागुल चविति के लिए तिल-गुड़ के लड्डू · तिलगुडगोलकाः · Nuvvula Chimmili · Til-Gud Ke Laddoo
Chimmili is a small Telugu sweet of roasted sesame and jaggery, ground coarsely and rolled into balls. It is one of the offerings made on Nagula Chavithi in Karthika masam, along with chalimidi and the milk poured at the snake anthill (putta). Sesame and jaggery sweets like it are made again at Sankranti.
Roasted sesame gives it a nutty, toasty taste, and cane jaggery a caramel sweetness. The texture is soft and a little crumbly, and each ball is gone in two bites. This recipe makes about 12.
- Prep15 min
- Cook10 min
- Total30 min
- MakesAbout 12
Total includes 5 minutes for the roasted sesame to cool.
In short
Make chimmili at home: roast sesame till it crackles, grind coarsely, pulse with grated cane jaggery and cardamom, shape into balls.
ఇంట్లోనే చిమ్మిలి: నువ్వులు చిటపటలాడే వరకు వేయించి, బరకగా పొడి చేసి, తురిమిన చెరుకు బెల్లం, యాలకుల పొడితో కలిపి ఉండలు చేయండి. నువ్వులు గోరువెచ్చగా ఉన్నప్పుడే బెల్లంతో కలిపి, త్వరగా ఉండలు చుట్టండి.
घर पर तिल-गुड़ के लड्डू: तिल को चटकने तक भूनें, दरदरा पीसें, कसा हुआ गन्ने का गुड़ और इलायची मिलाकर लड्डू बनाएँ। तिल हल्के गरम रहते ही गुड़ के साथ पीसें और जल्दी से लड्डू बाँध लें।
Ingredients makes about 12
- 1 cup white sesame seeds about 150 g
- ¾ cup grated cane jaggery lightly packed; soft jaggery binds best
- ¼ tsp cardamom powder
- 1 tsp ghee, for greasing your palms
Method
- Grate the jaggery and measure out the sesame before you start; once the sesame is roasted, the rest moves quickly.
- Heat a heavy kadai or pan on low heat for a minute. Add the sesame; no oil or ghee is needed.
- Dry-roast the sesame on a low flame till it crackles and turns light golden. Stir all the time; the seeds start to pop and smell nutty after 4–6 minutes. Do not let them turn brown.
- Tip the sesame onto a wide plate straight away so it stops browning. Cool it for about 5 minutes, until it is just warm to the touch.
- Grind the sesame coarsely in short pulses. Use the small jar of the mixer and pulse 3–4 times, a second or two at a time; stop while you can still see broken seeds.
- Add the jaggery and cardamom; pulse till it comes together. This takes 4–6 more short pulses; scrape down the sides once. A pinch pressed between your fingers should hold its shape.
- If the mixture is too dry to hold, add 1–2 tsp more grated jaggery and pulse once or twice again.
- Tip the mixture into a bowl and grease your palms lightly with ghee.
- Shape into small balls. Take a heaped tablespoon at a time, press it firmly in your fist, then roll it smooth. Work quickly while the mixture is still warm, as it turns crumbly when it cools.
- Leave the balls on a plate until they cool completely, about 15 minutes, then store them in an airtight jar.
Tips
- Roast on a low flame and keep stirring; sesame goes from golden to burnt quickly, and burnt sesame tastes bitter.
- Grind in short pulses only; long runs turn sesame into an oily paste.
- Shape while the mixture is warm. If it turns crumbly, pulse it once more with a teaspoon of grated jaggery.
- Soft jaggery binds best. If yours is hard, grate it finely so it blends in evenly.
Variations
- Palm jaggery: use the same amount of grated palm jaggery for darker chimmili with a smoky sweetness.
- Black sesame (nalla nuvvulu): roast and grind it the same way for darker, stronger-tasting balls.
- Peanut or coconut: pulse in 2 tbsp roasted peanuts or grated dry coconut with the jaggery.
- Without a mixer: pound the warm sesame and jaggery together in a stone mortar (rolu) until the mixture holds, then shape.
Serving
On Nagula Chavithi morning, offer chimmili with milk at the snake anthill (putta) or in your puja, then share them as prasadam. They also go well with evening tea.
Storage
Keeps a week in an airtight jar. Store the jar at room temperature, in a dry place.
Questions
Why is my chimmili not holding together?
The sesame may be under-ground, or the mixture may have cooled. Pulse it once more with 1–2 tsp extra grated jaggery and shape it while it is still warm.
Why does my chimmili taste bitter?
The sesame was roasted too dark. Roast it on a low flame only until it crackles and turns light golden, then tip it onto a plate at once so it stops browning.
Can I use palm jaggery instead of cane jaggery?
Yes. Use the same amount of grated palm jaggery (thati bellam). The chimmili will be darker, with a deeper, slightly smoky sweetness.
When is Nagula Chavithi in 2026?
Nagula Chavithi falls on Friday, 13 November 2026, in Karthika masam, a few days after Deepavali. Chimmili, chalimidi and milk are among the offerings made at the snake anthill (putta) that morning.
