Ammani Kozhukatai(Savoury)

I made savoury ammini kozhukattai during Ganesh Chahurthi and this is my first attempt with this little rice balls beautifully shaped into marble sized. I got lending hands from my girls to roll the dough into tiny balls and they love doing it. Ammini kozhukattai comes in sweet and savoury version. If you noticed i had shared the sweet version with added jaggery in my earlier posting and now its time for savoury instead.

The steamed rice balls are really soft and goes well with the sauteed spices. The grated coconut balance the spicyness of the spices and dry chilly in the dish. The grounded dhal add a beautiful flavor to the steamed rice balls. Another perfect neivedhiyam for my beloved Ganesha.

Ingredients

For The Rice Balls

1 cup rice flour/idiappam flour
1 tsp ghee/oil
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 tsp salt

For Seasoning

1 tsp urad dal/split black gram
1 tsp mustard seeds
3 red chillies, chopped
4 tbsp grated fresh coconut
1/3 cup chana dhal(soaked overnight)
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp oil
1 sprig curry leaves
Pinch of asafoetida
Salt to taste


Methods

Boil water in a large pan and add salt and oil

Reduce flame to medium-low and gradually, add the rice flour and keep stirring continuously

When the rice flour leaves the sides of the pan and form into a dough, remove from heat.

Knead the dough while still warm to form a soft dough. Grease your palm with oil and shape the dough into a marble sized balls.

Steam the dough in a steamer over a medium flame for about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat and keep aside.

Drain water from the soaked chana dhal. In a dry grinder, place the chana dhal. Grind into a coarse mixture.

Add oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Once splutter, add curry leaves,dry chilly,urad dhal and grounded dhal. Saute for a minute.

Add asafoetida,grated coconut and salt. Stir well. Add the steamed rice balls and stir till all the ingredients well combined.Remove from heat.

Serve warm

.