ONION PUTTU (STEAMED RAGGI CAKE)

Puttu is one of the staple breakfast dishes in Kerala. It is a healthy non-fat and steam cooked dish. There are many variations to this dish of which Onion puttu is mentioned in this recipe.

Ingredients

1.    Raggi puttu powder – 1 cup

2.    Warm water – 1½ cup

3.    Coconut oil or any other oil – 1 Tbsp

4.    Shallots sliced – 8-10 (or finely sliced onion – 1)

5.    Ginger – ½ inch grated

6.    Curry leaves few

7.    Grated coconut – ½ cup

8.    Chilli flakes – 1 tsp

9.    Grated carrot – ½ cup

10. Salt to taste

Preparation

1.    Add one cup warm water to the puttu powder and mix well. Keep adding the rest of the half cup of water, little by little, till you get texture of bread crumbs. Cover and keep aside for 10-15 minutes.

2.    Heat oil in a pan. Add the sliced shallots. Sauté till light brown.

3.    Add grated ginger and curry leaves. Sauté well.

4.    Add chilli flakes and mix well.

5.    Add grated coconut and salt. Mix well and remove from fire. Let it cool and add to the puttu mixture.

6.    Add grated carrot and mix well. Adjust salt as required and keep aside.

7.    Boil water in a puttu maker. Add a layer of fresh grated coconut in the puttu mould and fill it with puttu powder mix. Layer little grated coconut on top and steam cook for 8-10 minutes.

8.    Serve hot.

Tips

1.    Corn puttu powder or rice puttu powder can also be used instead of raggi puttu powder.

2.    Quantity of warm water may vary while mixing the puttu powder depending on types/brands of puttu powder.

3.    After mixing the puttu powder with warm water it may be pulsed once or twice in a mixer-grinder for a softer puttu mix.