Kara Kozhukattai / Rice flour Kozhukattai / Savory Steamed Rice Dumplings

Everyone is busy preparing for the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival. It is nothing but the Birthday of Lord Ganesh and we Celebrate this special day by offering  Modak/Modhagam, Sundal, Laddo, Sweet Pongal, Lots of fruits as Prasadham and adorn Ganesha Idol with Arugampul, Erukkam poo Mazhai. In India we Celebrate the day in grand manner but here i do with all the available things. In India the Chaturthi day started ie September 9, Monday. Here, we will do the Pooja tomorrow morning only. Wishing Everyone a Happy Ganesh Chaturthi Wishes and May Lord Ganesh Bring your home Prosperity, Happiness  & Fortune.

Now coming to the recipe, Kaara Kozhukattai - savory version of kozhukattai. This is very simple and easy to do kozhukattai. No need to worry about shaping, stuffing etc. You can even use store bought rice or Idiyappam flour. Quick Nivedyam or it can be even served as a breakfast with any spicy chutney or as a healthy tea time snack.

Ingredients

1. Rice flour or Idiyappam Flour    1 cup
2. Water     1 and 3/4 cup
3. Oil     1-2 tsp
4. Salt     to taste
5. Shredded coconut    1 tbsp or more
6. Cilantro    1-2 tbps (finely chopped)

To Temper

1. Oil      1 tbsp
2. Mustard seeds    1/2 tsp
3. Urad dal/Ulutham paruppu    2 tsp
4. Channa dal/Kadala paruppu    1 tbsp
5. Hing/Asafoetida       a pinch
6. Dry Red chilli    1 no.(broken finely)

Method

• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a sauce pan/kadai, when its heated add the tempering ingredients one by one fry well and add water, salt stir well and bring it to boil.
• Once it starts boiling add rice flour all at once, add 2 tsp oil and keep stirring. If u feel too dry then add couple of tbsp hot water and stir well.

• It should turn to upma consistency not a mushy upma.
• At this stage add shredded coconut and cilantro, mix well and remove from the stove.
• Keep covered for a minute, after that when its still warm roll it.

• Mean while 1 cup of water in a idli vessel and switch on the stove.
• Now grease idli plates and hand with oil and pinch a small portion of the dough and roll it to a ball.
• Or you can also make it as pidi kozhukattai by Pinch out a small lemon sized ball,keep in the palm and close finger tightly to make fist.

• After that arrange the shaped kozhukattais in the idli plate and steam it for 12-15 minutes or until the kozhukattai turns shiny and non sticky.
• Once done switch off the stove and leave it for few minutes.
• Then remove from the plate and its ready to serve or offer as Prasad.

This is off to Veena & Priya's Lets Brunch on Sundays Event.

Notes:
I used store bought Idiyappam podi - Nirampana Brand.
I tired it with just rice flour also.
The water quantity depends on the rice flour quality some require more and some need only less water so keep 1/4 cup hot water and add it accordingly or 1-2 tbsp rice flour when it is too mushy.
Before adding rice flour, i removed the red chilli pieces becoz it will give reddish tinge to the kozhukattais.