Sunday morning started with a draft of blustery winds followed by gentle snow flakes which almost looked like rain drops to begin with soon turning into sleet on the roads.It has been awfully cold this past week.
The comfort of staying indoors has it’s own joys…… the need to make some comfort food to beat the cold was inevitable !
Some thing warm, something spicy, something comforting began to take shape in my mind. Quickly ran to the pantry to look for motivation, there sat a jar of rice powder waiting to be used in some form or another. Growing up in South India, where tiffin items were limitless, all I had to do is wrap my mind around one such dish to bring it into existence in my kitchen. This morning seemed like a good day to make some steamed spicy Kozhukattai, with some coconut chutney, so off I went mixing the rice powder in hot water, seasoning it with coconut chutney for brunch. Yes, brunch you heard it right ! …waking up a little later than usual is a treat I give myself on weekends, especially the cold rainy weekends, so it had to be brunch ! The ingredients were already there in my kitchen, so no running around for that, a simple delicious tiffin was set on the table in 20 minutes from start to finish.
Spicy Kozhukattai/Modaks
Ingredients
1 cup 1 Rice Powder
1 1/2 cup 1 1/2 Water ( bring to boil)
Salt- to taste
2 tsp 2 Oil
3 3 -4 Green chilies
1 1 Onion ( finely sliced)
A pinch Turmeric powder
- For seasoning:
1/2 tsp 1/2 Uradh Dhal
1/2 tsp 1/2 Channa Dhal
1/2 tsp 1/2 Mustard seeds
Directions
- Heat water in a vessel until it boils and set aside.
- In a wok add some oil and do the seasoning, to this add the green chillies & onions & saute a bit.
- Now add the rice flour & stir it a bit after adding salt to taste.
- Now gently add the hot water & keep stirring fast, lest it form mounds, it has to be a smooth uniform pasty mix.
- Remove from the stove top once all the powder has been mixed .
- Allow it to cool a bit ( not too much) grease your palm with some oil and start making round balls out the dough.
- Place it on a plate and steam it for 15 minutes( I used the pressure cooker to steam the rice balls)
- Serve hot with spicy coconut chutney.
Enjoy !
The sweet version of these Kozhukattai’s is usually made for Ganesh Chaturthi, as it is believed to be a favorite food of the Elephant God. Here is my link to the sweet version of this recipe, posted earlier on my blog.
stirringmyspicysoul.com/2016/09/05/sweet-and-savory-kozhukattaimodaks/
