Rice Puttu
Puttu is a steamed rice cake from Kerala. Here, rice flour is used to make puttu. Traditionally, rice is soaked, dried in open air and then ground into fine powder. The powder is then made wet with water and filled in the puttu kutti (puttu maker). It is then steamed for the rice puttu. Alternatively, steam the rice flour in the regular idly moulds.
Makes: around a serving of Rice Puttu.
Ingredients
Rice Flour 1 Cup
Water 3/4 Cup app.
Shredded Coconut 3 tbsps
Salt to taste
Method
Dissolve around quarter tsp of salt into 3/4th cup of water.
Sprinkle water little by little into the rice flour and turn the rice flour into wet powder.
Divide the wet rice flour mixture into 3 portions.
Fill half of the bottom vessel of the puttu maker with water.
Take the cylindrical portion of the puttu maker.
Slide the perforated disk into the bottom part of the cylinder.
First add a tbsp of the shredded coconut to the cylinder.
Then layer it with one third of the rice flour mixture.
Add another tbsp of the shredded coconut on top of the rice flour mixture.
Repeat the layers two more times starting with the rice flour mixture.
Tap the cylindrical portion of the puttu maker couple of times if necessary.
Place the top portion of the puttu maker on the bottom vessel and cover with a perforated lid.
Place the puttu maker on medium high heat and steam for around 8 minutes.
Remove the cylindrical portion and push the perforated disk to slide the puttu onto the plate.
Alternatively, fill the idly mould with shredded coconut and then the rice flour mixture.
Steam the filled idly tray for 6 – 8 minutes.
If possible choose idly moulds that have perforations in them for better steaming.
Serve rice puttu with a gravy curry like kadala curry.
Notes: Make sure not to make the rice flour into dough by adding more water.
Suggestions: Don’t press the rice flour into the cylinder, in which case the steam doesn’t come from the top of the vessel but rather escapes from the bottom of the top part.
Variations: You can also mix the shredded coconut into the rice flour, which yields a rather loose puttu.
Other Names: Rice Puttu, Rice Flour Puttu, Puttu.
