PIDI KOZHUKATTAI RECIPE - CHITRA POURNAMI RECIPES

I prepared this kozhukatai on Chitra pournami day and offered to God along with raw mango pachadi , panagam and neer mor.I am very happy,i tried this kozhukattai on my own for the first time.So far my aunty(MIL) was there with me and she used to make all these and i was just a listener.Now my in-laws are in my native,so i was in a position to do it..Thank God,i turned out so well..It dint break,,it was very soft as i expected.. 

Ingredients:

• Rice flour – 2 cups
• Powdered jaggery – 1 cup
• Water – 1/2 –3/4 cups (it varies)
• Cardamom powder – 1/4 tsp
• Grated coconut –1/4 cup

Method:

• Heat a pan with 1/2 cup of water and add the powdered jaggery to it.
• Let it melt and strain the impurities if any..
• The syrup starts to boil and becomes frothy ..now add the grated coconut,cardamom powder along with rice flour.
• Mix well till it becomes like a chapatti dough.If the water is not sufficient,add little hot water..(keep the hot water ready before this step).First i used 1/2 cup of water to make the syrup,then i added 1/4 cup of hot water.If u feel the water is more,add rice flour..No problem:)
• Now remove from the flame and let it cool.
• Grease the idly maker plates with gingely oil .
• Make oval shaped balls with the dough and just press it with ur fingers.(U can get an idea by looking at the picture)
• Steam it in the idly maker as u make idlies..

Sweet pidi kozhukkatai is ready!!

KITCHEN CLINIC:

Jaggery: Popularly known as the “medicinal sugar”, jaggery has various health benefits to help in overall wellness of a person. Jaggery is a pure, wholesome, unrefined whole sugar which contains the natural goodness of minerals and vitamins. Produced from sugarcanes, jaggery is a healthy alternative to white refined sugar. Given below are some reasons why jaggery should be included in one’s diet. Jaggery has sucrose and glucose but along with that, it also has good amount of minerals and vitamins needed for the healthy functioning of the body. While diabetic people are often advised replacing sugar with jaggery, you need to be careful as the latter may cause sudden spike of blood sugar levels. Jaggery is also known to be a good source of magnesium which in turn helps in relieving fatigue along with relaxation of muscles, nerves and blood vessels. It thus helps in relieving the symptoms of asthma, migraine, tension and soreness in muscles. Jaggery is also a good source of potassium and this along with low amounts of sodium helps to maintain blood pressure and reduces water retention. Not to forget, jaggery is very good for anemic people as it is a good source of iron that helps in increasing hemoglobin level in the body. It is also a very good source of manganese and selenium and thus acts as an antioxidant scavenging free radicals from the body. In addition, jaggery also possesses moderate amounts of calcium, phosphorus and zinc. Jaggery thus helps to maintain optimum health and it also helps in the purification of blood, along with preventing rheumatic afflictions and disorders of bile. Karippatti kaappi, or a palm jaggery coffee doesn’t have any trace of coffee, but has karippatti as main ingredient, with variable ingredients like tulsi leaves, pepper, thippali or Indian long pepper. The preparation is indeed very simple.  karippatti and water are taken in a vessel and heated till boiling. Add the other ingredients. Boil till the karippatti pieces dissolve completely. Drink it warm. A quick fix medicine for common cold, cough etc, it dissolves mucus and clears the throat. Sometimes sugarcane jaggery (jaggery) too is used for same purpose, but is far less effective. Why is it healthy? Jaggery, being a wholesome sugar, without doubt is rich in the vitally important mineral salts: 2.8 grams per 100 grams, that is to say 28 grams per kilogram, while only 300 milligrams per kilogram is found in refined sugar.  Magnesium strengthens the nervous system & potassium is vital to conserve the acid balance in the cells and combats acids and acetone. Jaggery is very rich in iron, which a composite of hemoglobin prevents anemia. Looking at the high nutritional value of jaggery and its numerous health benefits, one should eat this regularly to enhance one’s overall health.

TRIED AND TASTED : CHANNA PULAO

I tried this channa pulao from viki’s kitchen.It was very good.I made it for my husband’s lunch box.I just reduced the  number of red chillies ( i used only 3 nos) , rest the same.U can find the actual recipe here..Thanks viki.. i’ve got a healthy rice recipe  from u:)