• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Cookilicious logo

  • About
  • Recipes
  • Podcast
  • Collaborate
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Collaborate
  • Podcast
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Desserts » Puran Poli with Sweet Potato

    Published: Oct 17, 2021 · Modified: Oct 17, 2021 by Priya * This post may contain affiliate links.

    Puran Poli with Sweet Potato

    Recipe Print
    a hand holding a tray of sweet potato puran poli and text at the top and bottom
    a hand pouring ghee over sweet potato puran poli and text at the top
    3 image collage of sweet potato puran poli with text at the top

    Puran Poli is a festive Indian sweet dish. This flatbread dessert called puranpoli is stuffed with sweet potato and served with vegan ghee.

    Try this innovative and fusion recipe this festive season! Everyone will love it.

    a hand pouring ghee over sweet potato puran poli
    Always serve it with ghee!

    Table of Contents

    • Sweet Indian flatbread
    • Trending now
    • One dish many names
    • Puran Poli memories
    • Favorite fusion recipes
    • The surprise ingredient
    • Sweet Potato recipes
    • Why make this
    • Ingredients needed
    • Here's how to make it
    • Serving suggestions
    • Tips, recommendations, and suggestions
    • To make them gluten-free
    • How to store them
    • Puran Poli with Sweet Potato

    Sweet Indian flatbread

    Puran Poli or Puranpoli is a sweet stuffed flatbread prepared in different parts of India. "Puran" means stuffing and "Poli" means flatbread or pancake. 

    The stuffing is traditionally prepared with lentils (chana dal) and jaggery that's cooked in ghee. It's then stuffed into a dough prepared with flour, flattened, and then cooked.

    Trending now

    The stuffed flatbread recipe is by large vegan except for the use of ghee and sometimes milk. Here I substituted ghee with vegan ghee and have not used milk.

    One dish many names

    The method of preparation varies from place to place. Some add coconut or nuts to the stuffing, the flour used can be different and even the thickness of these pancakes can vary.

    Different parts of India have different names for puranpoli. In Maharashtra, it's called Puran Poli and is mainly made of chana dal, sugar, and whole wheat flour.

    In Gujarati cuisine, it's called Vedmi, and it's made with toor dal, jaggery, and wheat flour. In Kerala, it's called Boli and is made with chana dal, sugar, and maida.

    It's called Boli/Sweet Poli in Tamil Nadu, Bobbatlu in Telugu, Obbattu, Holige in Kannada, and is made with chana dal, jaggery, maida, and sometimes even coconut.

    sweet potato puran poli served in a tray
    Perfect festive food!

    These are just my observations and the recipes can vary in every culture and household. There is no right or wrong way to make them.

    What's important is that these polis are a grand affair when prepared at home and are a cherished delicacy. 

    Feel free to play around with the ingredients and create your own variation of puranpoli like I did.

    Puran Poli memories

    Growing up, I was fortunate enough to devour both South Indian and Maharashtrian style Puran polis.

    Mom would make this sweet poli with coconut and jaggery stuffing while my Maharashtrian neighbor would make puranpoli with lentils and jaggery stuffing.

    I still can't decide which version I love the most because they both taste that good! I always wanted to feature this recipe on the blog but of course with a twist.

    That is why I decided to give the Indian Puran poli a new flavor!

    You all know by now how much I enjoy creating fusion recipes! I mean just check out the recipes below and you will know what I mean!

    Favorite fusion recipes

    • Mexican Pani Puri
    • Paneer Samosa Pizza
    • Chai Cheesecake
    • Tandoori Quesadilla
    • Carrot Halwa Ice Cream
    • Mexican Casserole with Gnocchi
    • Puff Pastry Samosa
    • Indian Curry Pasta
    • Thandai Chocolate Bark
    • Dabeli Pizza
    • French Loaf Vada Pav

    The surprise ingredient

    If it isn't obvious yet, I decided to go with sweet potatoes to make the stuffing. It's in season and why not! It's very easy to cook and can be used in sweet and savory recipes!

    Sweet Potato is a power food. It has antioxidants, anti-inflammatory nutrients, and blood sugar-regulating nutrients.

    Sweet Potato recipes

    I have many savory recipes with sweet potato but I didn't have any dessert recipes! That's why this sweet potato dessert was very important to share!

    • Sweet Potato Masala Puri
    • Masala Dosa with Sweet Potato Stuffing
    • Quinoa Sweet Potato Idli
    • Chole Chaat with Sweet Potato Tikki

    Why make this

    • vegan sweet flatbread recipe
    • a new and different flavor to try
    • simple and easy to make
    • a healthy sweet potato dessert
    • doesn't need any milk or nuts
    • needs basic pantry essentials
    • can be served for breakfast, snack and as a dessert
    • loved by all

    Ingredients needed

    all the ingredients needed to make sweet potato puran poli placed on a table with labels on them
    That's all you need!

    Flour - whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour/maida are used in this recipe.

    Sweet Potato - This is an unusual ingredient in Puran Poli but is also a delicious addition. Sweet potato brings a natural sweetness and an earthy flavor to this dessert.

    Coconut - Use freshly grated, desiccated, or shredded coconut. Unsweetened variety is fine. If using sweetened coconut, then reduce the amount of jaggery accordingly.

    Sweetener - Jaggery powder is what I have used here. You can easily find jaggery in an Indian grocery store. It's also available on Amazon.

    You can either get the blocks and grate them or get powdered jaggery. Feel free to use whatever kind of sweetener you have/want.

    Ground spices like turmeric, nutmeg, and cardamom give this Puran Poli an aromatic flavor.

    PuranPoli is incomplete without ghee. Since this is a dairy-free recipe, I have used vegan ghee. You can also use vegan butter. If you are not vegan, use regular ghee.

    Here's how to make it

    4 image collage showing how to make the dough for puran poli
    Dough it right!

    I have used my food processor to knead the dough. You can also knead it by hand.

    • In a food processor, add sieved whole wheat flour, and all-purpose flour. Then add turmeric powder.
    • Add oil, and salt.
    • Knead to a soft dough by adding water gradually and as needed.
    • Transfer the dough to a bowl. Cover with a damp cloth and set it aside for 20 minutes. You can keep it for a couple of hours as well.
    6 image collage showing the steps to make the sweet potato stuffing for puran poli
    It's all in the stuffing!
    • Prick a sweet potato all over with a fork. Transfer to a bowl and microwave it for 5 minutes. There is no need to add water to the bowl.
      • It's cooked if its turned soft and the skin comes off easily. Keep it for a couple of minutes more in the microwave if needed.
    • Take it out, peel the skin and mash the sweet potato using a fork or a potato masher. Ensure there are no lumps and it's smooth.
    • Add vegan ghee to a pan and add the mashed sweet potatoes. Saute for 2 minutes on medium flame. Then add the coconut and jaggery powder.
    • Continue to saute for another 3-4 minutes. Add nutmeg and cardamom powder. Mix it all together.
    • Cook till it becomes a homogenous mixture with no moisture and it doesn't stick to the pan anymore. Take it off the flame and let it cool.
      • You can even make this mixture the previous day and store in the fridge.
    4 image collage showing how to make sweet potato puran poli
    Let's make some sweet pancakes!
    • Divide the dough into golf-size balls. Flatten one at a time using a rolling pin. Dust flour as needed.
    • Place a golf ball sized portion of the sweet potato puran mixture in the center.
    • Start gathering the edges, and pinch in the center to seal. Dust flour and roll gently without much pressure into a thick flatbread.
      • Be careful while rolling so that the stuffing doesn't come out.
    • Heat a skillet or tawa. Cook the puran poli on both sides evenly till brown spots begin to appear. Keep the flame on medium. Smear vegan ghee on both sides when cooking.
    a hand holding a tray of sweet potato puran poli
    Let's eat!

    Serving suggestions

    Make other puranpolis the same way. Drizzle some vegan ghee on top and serve warm. You can serve it with warm milk or Paal Payasam on the side.

    These vegan flatbreads can be enjoyed as a snack for breakfast or with your evening tea. It can also be served as a dessert or as naivedyam during pooja.

    Make it for festivals like Pongal, Gudi Padwa, Diwali, Holi, Navratri, Ganesh Chaturthi but do not limit it to just Indian festivals. You can also make them for Thanksgiving or Christmas!

    These mini Sweet Potato Puran Poli/Pancakes are simply delicious. One cannot make out that the sweetness is due to the presence of sweet potatoes.

    Tips, recommendations, and suggestions

    Mix 1/4 cup cooked and mashed chana dal or toor dal in the sweet potato mixture to get the flavor of the traditional puranpoli.

    Add some oats powder or almond flour in the end when making the sweet potato stuffing if there is moisture in it.  Add milk/water if the mixture is too dry.

    Saffron can be added to the mixture to get a beautiful golden hue and ginger powder can be added to help with digestion. Fennel seeds powder can also be added for more flavor.

    Be a little patient when making Puranpolis. It takes a little bit of practice. It's alright if the stuffing comes out when rolling them. Dust some flour over it and try to fix it with your hands.

    Smear vegan ghee over cooked Puranpoli else it will feel dry when eating. Be generous with the ghee though!

    Leftover stuffing/Puran can also be added to your oatmeal or dosa batter.

    To make them gluten-free

    Instead of whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour, use jowar or sorghum flour and prepare this vegan flatbread the same way as mentioned above.

    How to store them

    You can store the leftover dough and stuffing in the fridge or in the freezer. Just store them separately in an airtight container.

    If you have leftover cooked Puran polis, you can store them in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze them as well. Reheat these vegan flatbreads and enjoy.

    sweet potato stacked one on top of the other
    Stack them up!

    Did you try this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out by leaving a comment below or sharing a picture on Instagram @cookilicious with the hashtag #cookiliciousveg. I love hearing your feedback! 

    You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious vegetarian and vegan recipes and what I’m getting up to.

    a hand pouring ghee over sweet potato puran poli

    Puran Poli with Sweet Potato

    Puran Poli is a festive Indian sweet dish. This flatbread dessert called puranpoli is stuffed with sweet potato and served with vegan ghee. Try this innovative and fusion recipe this festive season! Everyone will love it.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Indian
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Resting time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 12 puranpoli
    Calories: 232.19kcal
    Author: Priya Lakshminarayan

    Equipment

    food processor
    skillet

    Ingredients 

    For the dough

    • 1 cup maida/all purpose flour
    • 1 cup wheat flour
    • 1 tsp turmeric powder
    • 1/2 cup oil
    • 1/8 tsp salt
    • 1/2 cup water add as needed

    For the stuffing

    • 1 tbsp vegan ghee
    • 1 sweet potato
    • 1/2 cup powdered jaggery
    • 1/4 cup desiccated coconut
    • 1/8 tsp nutmeg
    • Flour for dusting

    Instructions

    To prepare the dough

    • In a food processor, add sieved whole wheat flour, and all-purpose flour. Then add turmeric powder.
    • Add oil, and salt. Knead to a soft dough by adding water gradually and as needed.
    • Transfer the dough to a bowl. Cover with a damp cloth and set it aside for at least 20 minutes. You can keep it for a couple of hours as well.

    To prepare the stuffing

    • Prick a sweet potato all over with a fork. Transfer to a bowl and microwave it for 5 minutes. There is no need to add water to the bowl. It's cooked if its turned soft and the skin comes off easily. Keep it for a couple of minutes more in the microwave if needed.
    • Take it out, peel the skin and mash the sweet potato using a fork or a potato masher. Ensure there are no lumps and it's smooth.
    • Add vegan ghee to a pan and add the mashed sweet potatoes. Saute for 2 minutes on medium flame.
    • Then add the coconut and jaggery powder. Continue to saute for another 3-4 minutes.
    • Add nutmeg and cardamom powder. Mix it all together. Cook till it becomes a homogenous mixture with no moisture and it doesn't stick to the pan anymore.
    • Take it off the flame and let it cool. You can even make this mixture the previous day and store in the fridge.

    To make the flatbread

    • Divide the dough into golf-size balls. Flatten one at a time using a rolling pin. Dust flour as needed.
    • Place a golf ball sized portion of the sweet potato puran mixture in the center. Start gathering the edges, and pinch in the center to seal.
    • Dust flour and roll gently without much pressure into a thick flatbread. Be careful while rolling so that the stuffing doesn't come out.
    • Heat a skillet or tawa. Cook the puran poli on both sides evenly till brown spots begin to appear. Keep the flame on medium. Smear vegan ghee on both sides when cooking.
    • Serve with ghee and milk.

    Notes

    Mix 1/4 cup cooked and mashed chana dal or toor dal in the sweet potato mixture to get the flavor of the traditional puranpoli.
    Add some oats powder or almond flour in the end when making the sweet potato stuffing if there is moisture in it.  Add milk/water if the mixture is too dry.
    Saffron can be added to the mixture to get a beautiful golden hue and ginger powder can be added to help with digestion. Fennel seeds powder can also be added for more flavor.
    Be a little patient when making Puranpolis. It takes a little bit of practice. It's alright if the stuffing comes out when rolling them. Dust some flour over it and try to fix it with your hands.
    Smear vegan ghee over cooked Puranpoli else it will feel dry when eating. Be generous with the ghee though!
    Leftover stuffing/Puran can also be added to your oatmeal or dosa batter.
    To make them gluten-free
    Instead of whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour, use jowar or sorghum flour and prepare this vegan flatbread the same way as mentioned above.
    How to store them
    You can store the leftover dough and stuffing in the fridge or in the freezer. Just store them separately in an airtight container.
    If you have leftover cooked Puran polis, you can store them in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze them as well. Reheat these vegan flatbreads and enjoy.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 232.19kcal | Carbohydrates: 28.67g | Protein: 2.58g | Fat: 11.88g | Saturated Fat: 2.76g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.75g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6.04g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 36.21mg | Potassium: 99.66mg | Fiber: 1.46g | Sugar: 9.43g | Vitamin A: 2671.91IU | Vitamin C: 0.52mg | Calcium: 12.7mg | Iron: 1.29mg
    Tried this Recipe? Share your creation by tagging me on Instagram @Cookilicious using #cookiliciousveg!
    Love watching recipe videos?Subscribe to my Cookilicious YouTube channel now to get your weekly recipe fix - Youtube

    Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a star rating below!

    Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. For more information on my Affiliate and Advertising Policy, please click here.

    « Paneer Naan Pizza Recipe
    Moong Dal Namkeen »
    761 shares
    GIFT FOR YOU

    Free Vegan Beginner's Guide

    Tips, recipes & secrets to transform your lifestyle.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Rate the Recipe




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    ABOUT ME

    Every recipe here tells a story that is simple, easy to follow and has a tasty soul. Come join me in my kitchen and let me take you on a gastronomical journey. Vegetarian & vegan cooking is so much fun! Read more...

    Follow Me

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    GIFT FOR YOU

    Free Vegan Beginner's Guide

    Tips, recipes & secrets to transform your lifestyle.

    SEARCH A RECIPE OR INGREDIENT

    Featured On

    Get my Cookbook

    We are on YouTube!

    New Year New You

    one big bowl of Vegan Teff Kheer Porridge with a small bowl of the same on the side

    Vegan Teff Kheer Porridge

    Instant Pot Masala Khichdi served in a platter

    Instant Pot Masala Khichdi

    a set of hands tossing Cherub Tomatoes Crouton Salad

    Cherub Tomatoes Crouton Salad

    Instant Pot Ven Pongal served in a leaf bowl with a wooden spoon in it

    Ven Pongal in Instant Pot

    2 Masala Dosa with Sweet Potato placed on a plate

    Masala Dosa with Sweet Potato

    3 bowls of Crunchy Moong Dal

    Moong Dal Namkeen

    TRENDING NOW

    3 Vegan Corn Tostadas served on a wooden platter

    Vegan Corn Tostadas

    a bowl filled with Veg Hakka Noodles and a fork in it

    Veg Hakka Noodles

    image of one forth platter of White Chocolate Thandai Bark served in a platter

    White Chocolate Thandai Bark Recipe

    3 glasses of Thandai Milkshake served next to a bowl of colors and rose buds

    Thandai Milkshake | Dry Fruit Milkshake

    a hand brushing Tomato Cheddar Scones with butter

    Tomato Cheddar Scones

    Dal Tadka served in a brass bucket with a spoon in it

    Dal Tadka in Instant Pot

    Footer

    Stay connected

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About Priya

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 Cookilicious

    761 shares
    • 22