Naralchi Wadi or Kopra Pak is a popular coconut-based dessert in Maharashtra, India. It’s easy to make naralchi wadi at home using this recipe.
One of my favorite easy to make at home sweets is the traditional Maharashtrian Naralchi Wadi or Kopra Pak. It hardly takes an hour to put together, and you could also prepare the kopra pak after your visitors have landed. Maybe show off some of your Indian cooking skills while entertaining them in the kitchen, eh?
What are the ingredients for Kopra Pak or Naralchi Wadi?
We don’t need too many things to make kopra pak. This is the short ingredient list for our version of the easy to make kopra pak or naralchi wadi.
Grated coconut, rich cream (we use this instead of mawa), sugar, milk or water, cardamom pods (crushed), grated pistachios, strands of saffron or kesar (we add a lot, but you decide how much you want to put in) and half teaspoon of turmeric powder.
If you want to make any of our other East Indian or Indian coconut desserts, here they are:
- Rose and Coconut Barfi
- Bol de Coc
- Coconut Cake
- Thali Sweet
- East Indian cordial
- Bolings
- Dark chocolate and coconut bites
How to make Kopra Pak without Mawa?
It’s really easy to make kopra pak. First start off by warming the milk or water, and adding saffron or kesar and leaving it to rest.
Now mix the grated coconut, sugar, cream, and turmeric to a kadai (deep dish pan) and stir on a medium flame for 15 minutes. Why do we use turmeric? Because we want to use a natural color instead of artificial coloring. If you don’t want to use turmeric, a few drops of yellow food coloring will work.
Next, add in the saffron (kesar) milk and crushed cardamom pods, and cook for another 10 minutes till it separates from the pan, this will happen as the mixture gets drier.
Once the kopra pak separates from the pan turn the stove off. Line a baking tray with tissue paper and pour the mixture into the tray, and flatten it out.
Last step, grate the pistachios and sprinkle them on top of the kopra pak. Refrigerate for 30 mins before chopping into pieces.
And that’s it! Your yummy Maharashtrian kopra pak is ready to serve!
Cooking Tips & Tricks
- Allow the kesar aka saffron to rest in warm milk for a while, to bring out its flavour and colour.
- Crush the cardamom pods to get the flavor out of them, save the skin, and put it in your teapot for flavour.
- If you do not have time to grate fresh coconut, you can use 2/3rd the amount of desiccated coconut.
- If you want some variety from the traditional recipe, we’ve created our own version using rose petals. Try this Rose and Coconut Barfi.
FAQ’s about Naralchi Wadi
How long can you store Naralchi Wadi?
You can store it for about 2 weeks if kept in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.
Can I use desiccated coconut? Can I use desiccated coconut?
Yes, you can use desiccated coconut if you wish, but you will need to either increase the amount of milk or water as the desiccated coconut will absorb this. Or use only 2/3rd the weight of the dessicated coconut for the same recipe.
Can I use condensed milk instead of cream?
Yes, you can use condensed milk instead of cream, but I would then recommend not adding the sugar or lessening the quantity, as the condensed milk will be sweet enough.
Is it okay to use food colour?
If you do not have turmeric powder around, you can replace this with yellow food colour.
Is it called Kopra Pak or Naralchi Wadi?
It is known as both Kopra Pak and Naralci Wadi and Narayal Pak, it is a traditional Maharashtrian dessert and in Gujarati it is called Topra Pak.
Other Recipes You Might Like to Try
- Date and Orange cake
- Christmas cookies
- Indian Custard Powder Cookies that are eggless
- East Indian Marzipan for Christmas
- Coconut Cake Recipe
- Chicken Tope
- Mustard Sauce
- Simple Purple Cabbage Recipe
- Pork Vindaloo
- Moulded Walnut Fudge for Christmas
- Tomato and Carrot Soup Recipe
- East Indian Vanilla Cream for Christmas
You can print off the list of ingredients and instructions to follow for making this recipe via the recipe card below (for home use only).
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Homemade Kopra Pak or Naralchi Wadi Recipe
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Ingredients
- 180 g Grated Coconut
- 45 ml Rich Cream (You can use mawa if available.)
- 75 g Sugar
- 30 ml Milk or Water
- 3 Green Cardamon Pods (Choti Elaichi) crushed
- 20 g Grated Pistachios
- Saffron (Kesar) We add a lot for that extra flavor, but you decide how much you want to put in.
- 0.5 teaspoon Turmeric Powder Or you can use a few drops of yellow food coloring.
Instructions
- Warm the milk or water in a small bowl, add in the saffron or kesar and leave it to rest.
- Mix the grated coconut, sugar, cream, and turmeric (or food color) in a kadai (deep dish pan) and stir on a medium flame for 15 minutes.
- Now add in the crushed cardamom pods along with the saffron (kesar) and milk mixture and cook for another 10 minutes till it separates from the pan.
- Once the mixture starts to leave the sides of the pan, turn off the stove.
- Line a flat pan or tray with tissue paper, pour the mixture into the tray, and flatten it out.
- Last step, grate the pistachios. You also have the option of slicing it into thin pieces with a vegetable and nut slicer. Sprinkle this on top of the kopra pak.
- Refrigerate for 30 mins before chopping into pieces and serving. That's it! Yummy saffron flavored coconut goodness!
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Notes
- If you do not have turmeric powder around, you can replace this with yellow food colour.
- Fresh coconut can be replaced with 2/3rd the weight of the dessicated coconut for the same amount of cream.
- If you have access to mawa, it tastes awesome. Just swap out the cream.
- If using condensed milk, reduce the sugar used considerably.
Equipment You Might Want To Use
Quick recipe. But doesn’t the turmeric make it bitter?
Hi Ankita,
No the turmeric doesn’t make it bitter. Just add a bit of it for color. You can also make kopra pak without the color. It’s just as tasty. Enjoy!
Abby
Just love kopra pak! Good recipe. We’ve always used mawa. But we tried this cream version and it turned out good too.