Tamil Nadu breakfast — simple savoury steamed dumpling — Ganesh Chaturthi prasad.
Ingredients
- 2 cups main flour or batter base
- 1/2 cup fresh grated coconut
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 2 tbsp sesame oil or ghee
- Salt to taste
- Accompaniment chutney or sambar
Method
Make rice flour dough: Mix 2 cups rice flour with 1.5 tsp salt. Add 1.5 cups boiling water gradually while stirring with a ladle. Knead into a very smooth dough when cool enough to handle.
Add ghee: Knead 1 tsp ghee into the dough for softness.
Divide dough: Divide into 15-18 equal balls.
Shape into smooth balls: Grease your palms with a little oil. Roll each portion into a very smooth round ball.
Make the traditional shape: These are pure white smooth balls — ven (white) kozhukattai. No filling.
Prepare steamer: Fill steamer with water and bring to a strong rolling boil.
Grease idli plates or banana leaf: Grease each cavity or banana leaf squares with a drop of coconut oil.
Arrange: Place one smooth ball in each greased space. Leave room for expansion.
Steam: Cover tightly and steam for 12-14 minutes until the kozhukattai are firm and slightly translucent.
Serve: Ven kozhukattai should be pure white, smooth and soft. Serve with coconut chutney. These are the traditional prasad during Vinayaka Chaturthi.