Vennai Puttu

For this month's ICC-Indian Cooking Challenge, Srivalli chose Vennai Puttu, an authentic recipe shared by Priya Suresh. Apart from the link Srivalli gave, there were no posts on this sweet. Srivalli suggested Nirmala's post for reference. Once I saw that, I got a general idea about the puttu. I have never heard of this recipe. Even I asked my mom and she didn't know this. This recipe is from Priya's granny and I am so happy she shared this with us. The puttu was so soft and smooth just like butter. I stirred the mixture for an extra period to get it in pieces. This tasted like pongal in cube form and it was nice. 


Ingredients:
Raw Rice-1cup
Jaggery/ Vellam-1cup(the recipe suggested 1/2cup but it was so bland, so I added the extra 1/2cup)
Cardamom-1/2tsp
Channa Dhal-3tbs
Coconut grated-2tbs
Cashew and Ghee for garnish.

Procedure:
1. Soak channa dhal for 3 hours.
2. In a pan add enough water and bring it to boil. Add channa dhal and switch flame to low.
3. Cook till done. The dhal should retain shape. 
4. Soak rice for 3hours.
5. Grind it in the mixer grinder to a smooth paste. The batter should be like idli batter.
6. Add 1/4cup water to grated jaggery and bring it to boil. When the jaggery dissolves completely, strain the syrup and keep it aside.
7. Bring 2 cups of water to boil.
8. Gradually add the rice batter, continuously stirring the mixture. Switch flame to low, because the batter tends to go lumpy at this stage. Stirring is the most important procedure for this recipe.
9. When the rice flour is cooked, add the syrup and cardamom powder.
10. Keep on stirring until the mixture becomes a mass and leaves the sides of the pan.
11. Add channa dhal and coconut, mix well.
12. Grease a tin with ghee. Pour the mixture into the pan and level the mixture with the back of a spoon.
13. Heat 1/2tsp ghee and roast broken cashew for garnish. When golden, sprinkle it on top of puttu.
14. Allow it to cool completely.
15. Cut into small pieces and serve.


I used my rice cooker pan for the mould.


A closer look at the puttu.

Linking this to Anjali's Cakes, Cookies and Desserts.

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