Kozhukattai

Had to make this on Ganesh Chaturthi to please my favorite God. The first attempt (morning)was a small success, but the second attempt(evening) was a major hit with hubby and friends.

Ingredients:

Rice flour - 1 cup
Milk - 1/2 cup
Ghee - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Water - 1 1/2 cup


Filling:
Shredded coconut - 1 cup
Brown sugar - 1/2 cup
Sesame seeds - 1 tsp
Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
Oil/ghee as required


Steps:
1. Heat the ghee in a pan, add water, salt and milk.
2. Once the water comes to a boil, add little flour at a time and stir well. Stirring continously avoids the lump formation.
3. Remove from heat when the flour is mixed well with the water. Let it cool for sometime.
4. In the meantime, in another pan, pour oil, add the coconut, and stir for a minute.
5. Add the remaining ingredients and stir well. Do this for 2 minutes or until the mixture is cooked. Avoid over stirring this mixture, or else the sugar will caramalise and the filling will become hard.
6. Make a small round ball of the rice flour mixture, add little coconut filling and shape it either round, or triangular(traditional way). Repeat the same with the remaining flour and filling.
Note: Apply some oil to your hands before making the balls. To make perfect modaks, flatten the rice flour with your palms evenly, add little filling in the center and pull all the edges together to seal it. Alternatively, you can use your thumb and forefinger to get the shape. Moulds are available in the market to make this job easier.
7. Place the kozkukattai in a greased idli plate and steam in idli cooker/pressure cooker. If using pressure cooker, dont use the weight.
Serve hot.


Health Quotient:
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, well, coconut, is very good in destroying intestinal parasites, that we get from eating infected food. Coconut water is good for kidney and urinary bladder problems. Coconut milk has been found to help cases of sore throat as well as relieving stomach ulcers.

Try these kozhukattais to please one and all.