Kozhukatta|Kozhukattai recipe|Kozhakatta recipe Kerala style

Kozhukatta/Kozhukattai/Kozhakatta are steamed rice dumplings made with rice flour - either with the sweetness of jaggery or sugar or with any spicy filling and are served as a staple breakfast dish or an evening snack in most of the mallus/Malayalee's home back in Kerala especially .These kozhukattas are celebrated more during Oshana\Hosanna ceremony by Christians in God's own country.

Kozhukatta's look-alike ,usually with a thick pointed top, like a Hershey's Kiss chocolate are called Modaks in Northern part of India and which is served as a traditional religious offering to God Ganesha (Lord's favorite food) during the festival of Ganesh Chathurthi .Different kinds of modakams with variety of fillings are prepared all over North India and also in Tamil Nadu .

In Tamil Nadu,Thennai Kozhukattai\Pillai Kozhukattai (exclusively for pregnant women) are famous and so is Manda Pitha in Orissa .Even momos ,another South Asian dumplings with vegetarian and non-vegetarian fillings are also well-known ,which appear to be like Kozhukatta cousins (if You ask me). (Credit:Wiki !)

Kozhukattas are as cute and sweet as their appearance and their sweet filling .They are like a sweet present hidden inside a cute ball - playing hide and seek - the sweet treasure they hold inside..

When I was little , being a curious child,kozhukatta fascinated me mysteriously...I used to impatiently dissect/cut the kozhakatta out ,just to eat the sweet filling hidden inside and secretly ,without my mom's notice ,if I get lucky ,I would try my level best to discard the outer cover made up of the rice flour somehow (The famous method was - dumping into my dad's plate with an innocent smile- Dad didn't mind -It was mission possible always !), which at that time ,I personally found tasteless annd useless ...though they are not,the kozhukatta must be enjoyed/eaten completely to enjoy it's authentic traditional taste ...

These sweet rice dumplings ,Kozhukatta is quite easy to make,if you prepare the dough correctly.So,how to prepare the dough for Kozhakatta is very important to get soft yet yummy kozhakattai.

This is how I make kozhakatta recipe Kerala style at home and I use Idli cooker as the kozhakkattai maker/achu here.

Kozhukatta\Kozhukattai recipe 

Makes 10-12 nos. approx 

Ingredients

Rice powder - 1 cup

Water - 2 1/2 cup

Salt to taste - 1 Tsp

Oil/Ghee - 1 Tsp

Coconut,grated - 1 cup 

Jaggery,grated/powder - 3/4th cup

Cardamom pods or powder - 1/2 Tsp (optional)

Cumin seeds - 1 Tsp (Optional)

Idli cooker

Water for boiling - 2 cups

Method: Pls watch my video that will guide you step by step how to make the dough for kozhukatta and how to prepare traditional kozhakatta properly .

Note : I made a very quick and easy kozhakkatta and kept it simple and didn't add cardamom or cumin seeds ,if you wish,you may add as mentioned in the recipe.

Now,look at those cute round sweet balls ,don't they look mysterious in a sweet way ..waiting to be opened ...and boooom...a sweet tropical affair begins ....