DISH NAME : BEETROOT PUTTU (STEAMED RICE FLOUR CAKE)

Preparation Time : 10 minutes

Cooking Time : 10 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. Beetroot puttu is a good way to include veggies in your diet, specially for people/kids who are fussy in eating vegetables. Also beetroot puttu looks very attractive.

Note

1) Depending on how much the rice flour has been roasted, you may have to increase or decrease water. Use puttu flour to make puttu. It has slight coarseness which is suitable for puttu. In this puttu,since there is wetness from beetroot, you may not need water.
2) To check the wetness/moistness of the puttu mix, just take a fistful of the mix in your hands and press it and see if they hold together. Thats the doneness of the puttu mix.
3) Puttu flour is available in all supermarkets. These days flour made from ragi, corn, wheat etc. are also available. For all flours the basic technique in making is the same, the only difference being the quantity of water added. i have used wheat flour here.
4) I use a thoroughly roasted rice flour/ wheat flour, hence the amount of water. It varies from brand to brand. So add only little at a time.
5) You get to buy individual serving small puttu moulds either made of steel or coconut shell. If using this, keep on a pressure cooker (where you put the weight on) and cook till steam comes through the lid. To unmould, remove lid, keep a plate upside down on the mould and quickly invert the mould.
6) To mix beetroot well with flour, add the flour after preparing, to a blender and blend using the whip/ pulse button 2 or 3 times. Do not use the normal button. This step is important as beetroot will not be properly incorporated and will stand out as strings.

Method

1) Mix rice flour, and beetroot. (see Notes). Keep aside for about 15 minutes. After this time you will know whether to mix in water. If at all you need to add water, you may have to only sprinkle. It was not necessary to add water in my case.The mixture should resemble fine bread crumb consistency. When you press a fistful of flour in your hands it should hold shape.
2) In a blender, blend the puttu mix and use the whip/ pulse button 2 to 3 times to mix everything together. Do not use the normal button.
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) Add 2 tbsp. of grated coconut 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 with steamed bananas or plantains.