Munthiri kothu (Tamil: முந்திரி கொத்து) is a unique festival sweet from Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, South India. It is also known as paniyaram (Tamil: பணியாரம்) or payatham urundai (Tamil: பயத்தம் உருண்டை) in Sri Lanka.

To prepare it, dhall (mung bean or moong dal) is roasted in a kadai, possibly with a little ghee. This is then cooled and crushed into a fine powder. Sesame seeds and coconut flakes are similarly and separately roasted and powdered. These powders are then combined with cardamom and jaggery syrup. This is then split into marble-sized balls.^[1]

A batter consisting of maida flour, rice powder, turmeric and salt is made by adding water carefully to prevent lump formation. A kadai with ghee is heated, and the golf-ball-shaped fritters are deep fried.