Upma Kozhakattai / Steamed Rice Dumplings.
This one is a super easy breakfast or an easy dinner item, it is a traditional south indian tiffin . Very easy to make , very appetizing to look at and delicious to eat. This was one of the items in the 'Special dinner' category in my mom's list, she used to make it in two different ways.
Traditionally rice is soaked in water and dried on a cloth, when it still has slight moisture, it is ground in to a coarse powder. Here I have replaced the coarse rice powder with idli rava. Idli rava is mixed with boiling water and seasonings and once it cools down slightly, balls are made out if it and steamed for 10-12 min. It is usually served with coconut chutney or some other spicy chutney.
Here is the recipe :
Ingredients :
1. Idli rava - 2 Cups.
2. Hot water - 3 1/2Cups.
3. Salt - to taste
4. oil - 2 Tbsp.
Seasoning :
1. mustard seeds - 1 tsp.
2. channa dhal - 2 Tbsp.
3. urad dal - 2 Tbsp.
4. Curry leaves - 1 sprig
5. red chillies - 2
6. green chillies - 1 or 2
7. coconut - 1/2 Cup
8. Carrot - grated - 1/2 Cup (Optional)
9. Asafoetida - a generous pinch
Preparation :
Time taken : 5 min.
1. Heat water till it comes to a boil.
Method :
Time taken : 20 min.
1. Heat a pan on the stove and add mustard seeds.
2. Once it splutters, add channa dhal , chillies, curry leaves and asafoetida.
3. Take the hot water in a vessel (off the stove ) and add the seasonings to it and coconut, carrot, ginger, asafoetida and salt.
4. Add the idli rava slowly in to this by stirring gently.
5. Once it cools down a bit, take a lemon sized portion of it and press it with your finger to get dumplings like the ones
in the picture. Do not make them too big or too small.
6. Steam them in an idli cooker or any other vessel for 10-12 mts.
Serve it hot with chutney. With minimal effort , this is a slightly rare tiffin item that gets ready in no time .
