Dry Fruit Putharekulu / Paper Sweet

Dry Fruit Putharekulu (or Pootharekulu), literally meaning ‘coated sheets’ in Telugu, is a renowned traditional sweet originating from Atreyapuram village in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. It is famously known as the “Paper Sweet” due to its unique, wafer-thin, paper-like texture.

• The Sheet: The outer covering is a delicate, almost translucent sheet (reku), meticulously made from a thin batter of a special type of Rice Flour (Jaya Biyyam). The technique involves quickly wiping a cloth dipped in the runny batter onto an inverted, intensely heated clay pot, leaving behind a fine film that is carefully peeled off.
• The Filling: The Dry Fruit Putharekulu variation features multiple layers of these delicate sheets coated with Ghee (Clarified Butter) and a generous filling of powdered Jaggery (Bellam) or sugar, along with a rich medley of Dry Fruits like finely chopped cashews, almonds, and pistachios.
• Significance: This sweet is highly sought after and is a staple during all major Telugu festivals like Sankranti, Deepavali, and for weddings and other auspicious occasions. It offers a rich, melt-in-your-mouth experience, combining the nutty flavor of dry fruits with the sweetness of jaggery/sugar, all wrapped in a uniquely light and delicate rice paper.