Ammini Kozhukattai / Seasoned Steamed Rice Flour Balls

Ammini Kozhukkatai is a traditional South Indian food. Cooked rice flour balls are steamed and seasoned with lentils, spices and fresh coconut to give this healthy, aromatic and flavorful dish which is served as breakfast or evening snack. Ammini Kozhukkatai is prepared as a festive snack during Ganesh Chaturthi Festival and is often made from the left over rice dough made for preparing sweet Modak. This is an onion garlic free, gluten-free and vegan dish with a simple recipe.

Ammini Kozhukattai can be prepared with homemade rice flour or store bought one. To make homemade rice flour, the rice is washed and spread on a kitchen towel and allowed to dry, after which it is ground to flour. Very little oil is used in this recipe and the rice flour balls are steamed, so this makes a very healthy dish. The spice and lentil tempering along with fresh scrapped coconut makes the dish all the more flavorful and aromatic. It is mildly spiced snack and tastes great in kids snack box as well without any accompaniment. I have used a steamer to steam the rice balls, you may steam them in idli plates as well. The shape can be spherical or oblong and addition of turmeric is optional. If not making it as naivedhyam (offering to Deity), you may add finely chopped onions along with grated carrots also while tempering. The recipe is easy to follow, only care you need to take is to monitor the steaming time as over steaming may make the rice balls hard. So let's get started.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 15

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup rice flour
• 1 cup water
• Salt to taste
• 11/2 tablespoon oil
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 2 red chilies halved
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon split black gram / urad dal
• 1 teaspoon Bengal gram / chana dal ( i have not used it)
• 2-3 tablespoon fresh scrapped coconut
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder (optional)

Method:

1. In a pan heat water with few drops of oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Once it boils, add the rice flour. 

 2. Stir it with a spatula or rolling pin and cook on low flame until all the water is absorbed. Put off the flame and cover the pan.

3. Once it has cooled down enough to handle, grease your palms with oil and knead the rice dough. Make small equal size balls using your palms. Meanwhile get the steamer ready. Grease the steaming plate or idli plate with oil and place the prepared rice balls on it. If using idli plates, do not over crowd it.

4. Steam the rice balls for 10 minutes on medium flame.

5.  Heat the remaining oil in a pan. When hot , add mustard seeds and curry leaves. Once the seeds splutter, lower the flame and add urad dal and chana dal . Fry the lentils until golden brown. Next tip in broken chilies followed by turmeric powder. Stir fry for few seconds.

6. Lastly add the freshly scrapped coconut and steamed rice balls and mix well with the tempering. Adjust the salt as per taste and serve while warm.

  Recipe Notes:

•  Ammini Kozhukattai can be prepared with homemade rice flour or store bought one. To make homemade rice flour, the rice is washed and spread on a kitchen towel and allowed to dry, after which it is ground to flour. 
• I have used a steamer to steam the rice balls, you may steam them in idli plates as well. The shape can be spherical or oblong and addition of turmeric is optional.
•  If not making it as naivedhyam (offering to Deity), you may add finely chopped onions along with grated carrots also while tempering.
•  The recipe is easy to follow, only care you need to take is to monitor the steaming time as over steaming may make the rice balls hard.
• I have not added chana dal in the tempering as my son does not like it. If using you may soak it for 20 minutes, to make it a bit soft.

Linking this delicious Ammini Kozhukattai to the Healthy Wellthy Cuisines Facebook group where the theme for this fortnight is Steamed Dishes. Checkout the following shares by fellow bloggers on this theme

Instant Mung Bean Dosa by Vanita
Instant Ragi Idli by Jayashree
Instant Khaman Dhokla by Swaty

                                     

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For more steamed recipes, chick out the following from this blog

• Instant Quinoa Idli

                                       

• Oats and Dalia Idli

                                      

• Instant Khaman Dhokla

                                      

• Ukadiche Modak

                                

• Puranache Dind

                                

• Vegetable Momos