DISH NAME : PAZHAM PUTTU ( STEAMED RICE CAKES WITH BANANA FILLING)

Preparation Time : 20 minutes

Cooking Time : 20 minutes

Description

Puttu (pronounced 'pu tu' ) is a South Indian, specially Kerala breakfast dish of steamed roasted rice flour layered with grated coconut and cooked in either cylindrical shaped steamer or in coconut shells or cylindrical bamboo steamers kept over a pot of boiling water. In this version chopped banana is used

Note

1) Use puttu flour to make puttu. Here i have used wheat puttu flour. Hence the brownish color.
2) I used a coconut shell shaped steel puttu maker which holds individual servings. After puttu is cooked i kept a plate on the opening of puttu maker after removing lid &kept an upturned plate & inverted puttu on to the plate.

Method

1) Mix rice flour,cumin, salt, ghee and water ,little at a time (see Notes). The mixture should resemble fine bread crumb consistency. when you press a fistful of flour in your hands it should hold shape.
2) Mix everything together & keep for about 30 minutes. At this time water will be absorbed by the flour. After the said time, if you find the mixture to be too dry, add a bit more of water till you attain the right consistency.
3) Add water ( about 2 or 3 cups) to the bottom vessel of the puttu maker and let it come to a boil.
4) Meanwhile add the perforated disc with holes (which comes with the puttu maker) to the bottom of the cylindrcal shaped steamer.
5) Mix grated coconut with chopped banana & sugar.
6) Add 2 tbsp. of grated coconut-banana mix to the bottom of the cylindrical steamer (on top of the perforated disc).
6) Then add about 1/2 cup of prepared flour on top of coconut. Continue layering with the top layer being grated coconut.
7) Place the lid on top of the cylindrical steamer and place the cylinder on the boiling water.
8) Steam on medium flame till steam comes through the hole on the lid of the cylindrical steamer.
9) Remove the cylindrical steamer from fire. Wait for about 5 minutes.
10) To unmould, hold the cylindrical steamer parallel to a plate. Remove lid and with the help of a skewer or ladle, gently push the bottom perforated disc, so that puttu slides onto the plate.

Serving Suggestions

Serve hot either as it is or with honey poured over.