Hindus normally use urad dal, coconut water and coconut milk for fermentation.[1] Catholic Christian sannas consist of two types: Those made from the toddy of coconut flowers, and those sannas made using the sap-toddy of the coconut palm.[2] Though both of them require the same varieties of rice, sannas are commonly made with coconut for fermentation, unlike idlis made by adding yeast.[3][4][5] They are made on special days such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Sonsar Padvo/ Yugadi & Makar Sankranti,[1] Catholic Christians generally prepare them for church feasts, christenings and weddings. Sometimes a sweet version is made with jaggery, known as godachi sanna (Konkani: गोडाची सान्नां, goddachee sanna).[6]
Mangalorean Catholic cuisine on special days is incomplete without sannas. They are a much-loved delicacy and are served with bafat, a spicy pork curry prepared with a medley of powdered spices. Sannas are also served alongside chicken or mutton curries, and also with beef prior to the beef bans in India. They can be eaten for breakfast with coconut chutney or saambhar, or with coconut milk sweetened with jaggery and flavoured with cardamom.
In the present day, the unavailability or ban of toddy in certain places and the difficult and lengthy process of extracting fresh coconut milk have made the dish an occasional delicacy, prepared during Konkani celebrations only. Sometimes the dish is completely substituted by idlis, made of white rice and yeast-based batter.
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