Ingredients for Seasoning: SAVORY MANI KOZHUKATTAI
1tspMustard seeds
1tspSplit Black gram/ Urad dal
1tspBengal Gram /Chana Dal
1/2tspCumin Seeds /Jeera
a pinchAsafoetida/ hing
2Red chilies, , broken
Curry Leaves, - few
grated fresh Coconut, - 3-4 tbsp
to tasteSalt
2tspOil
Ingredients for Seasoning: SWEET MANI KOZHUKATTAI
1/4 - 1/2cupJaggery, - based on your sweet level
1/2cupcoconut
2 - 3Cadamom / Elaichi, - powdered
Instructions
First make rice flour balls as below :
In a wide vessel boil water with salt and oil.
When water starts to boil ,lower the flame to sim. Slowly add the rice flour and keep stirring constantly.
The rice flour starts to form in to a dough, now switch off the stove.
When the dough is still warm, transfer it into a plastic bag and knead well with your hands to form a smooth dough. ** Refer Note
Grease your hands with oil ,pinch little dough and roll them into marble sized balls. Make small small balls .You can involve your kids to roll these balls.. they l like it...
Place these balls in a greased steamer vessel / idli stand .
Steam it in idli cooker for about 10 to 12 min in medium flame.Check if the rice balls are cooked. The balls should have glossy exterior and when we insert a toothpick, it should come clean if cooked right. Rice flour balls or Rice Flour marbles are ready . Keep them aside .
Now proceed to season these Rice flour balls:
SWEET VERSION :
Take a kadai / pan .Take jaggery , add little water and keep it to melt.
Once it melts, add coconut and cardamom. Mix so that coconut and jaggery combine well.
Next add cooked rice balls and saute in medium flame gently for 4 to 5 mins so that rice ball is coated well with coconut jaggery mix.
Turn off flame and yummy sweet mani kozhukattai is ready .Serve warm and enjoy...
SAVORY VERSION :
In a kadai / pan take oil. Add mustard seeds,urad dal n chana dal. Once they splutter ,add jeera,hing,curry leaves and broken red chilli pieces. Saute for a min.Next add salt mix well
Add cooked rice flour balls. Saute in medium flame gently for 4 to 5 mins so that rice ball takes in the flavors .
Finally add coconut.Give a mix and turn off flame.
Yummy Savory mani kozhukattai is ready .Serve warm and enjoy...
Notes
NOTE:
We have to knead the dough when it is warm to get lumpless and smooth consistency . Filling the dough into a polythene cover and later kneading will help your hands as the dough is hot .
Make sure you don’t overcook the rice balls they will turn rubbery and chewy when cooked for a long time.
When you have kept the rice balls to steam , meanwhile in 2 seperate kadais prepare the sweet n savory temperings. By the time rice balls gets cooked our seasoning is ready .you can just toss them in masala. This will save lot of time.
If you like the savory version to be spicy , you can add few green chillies or chutney powder n toss them .