Rice Rava | Healthy cooking with Mitha

I love cooking alone in the kitchen and look for the time when my kids are super busy with their naughtiness, then sneak myself into the kitchen to cook. When I cook, some dishes bring back such beautiful nostalgic memories that they bring so much happiness in my heart. Memories are really a wonderful way to relive those precious moments which can never come back but will be a treasure in us forever, bringing us joy when we think of them. ❤️

Sannamudhos were regularly made by my grandmother and I used to wait for it to be steamed to enjoy them as soon as it came out of the pedavan or steamer with coconut oil. Even now, when I make them, I eat them the same way just to relive those childhood memories. Here is a glimpse of the sannamudhos from the pedavan which my father had gifted me many years back when I was coming here to Qatar. Love it so much. Also, see how cute it looks. 😍

Here, even though we live in Industrial area, the residents have planted many variety of trees and one among them is drumstick tree. My husband plucks the leaves from a large tree near our house and I make sannamudhos as soon as I get them. The aroma of these idlis are one of it’s kind. The whole house smells heavenly when it steams. ❤️

Hope you all try and love them. Drumstick leaves are very healthy and medicinal. So I always try to add it regularly in our diet. Konkanis know this recipe but sharing for those who are new to it. Happy and healthy cooking! ❤️

RECIPE:

Ingredients: {Makes about 13 idlis}

2 Cups Drumstick leaves/ Moringa leaves/ Mashinga pallo

1 Cup Idli Rava/ Rice Rava

Salt to taste

For the masala paste:

1/2 Cup fresh or desiccated Coconut

1 tsp Tamarind paste

5 to 6 Kashmiri long red chillies or to taste (fried in 1 tsp oil)

Coconut oil to grease the idli plates

Step by step recipe:

1. Remove the leaves from the stems. Add to a bowl. Wash well. Drain and keep aside.

2. Take idli rava in a bowl. Wash well, drain and keep aside.

3. Now grind together coconut, fried red chillies and tamarind paste with little water to a smooth paste. Add this to the idli rava mixture.

4. Add about 1/2 Cup water (I wash the mixer and add that water.) to form a thick batter. Add salt and mix well.

5. Now mix in the drumstick leaves. It is a thick mixture just like how it is shown below.

6. Grease idli moulds with coconut oil and add the mixture evenly in the moulds.

7. Steam for 20 to 25 minutes or till a knife inserted in the center of the idli comes out clear.

**Just love this pedavan or steamer gifted to me by my dad 😍**

8. Enjoy it piping hot with coconut oil or with rice and dalitoy or rasam. Makes such an heavenly combo!

Notes:

* You can substitute drumstick leaves with Methi leaves or finely chopped palak leaves. This sannamudho can be made adding only onion or a mix of onion plus cabbage too.

* I add two cups of leaves for 1 Cup of idli rava. You can reduce the amount of leaves if you don’t have that much available but this quantity gives an amazing aroma as well as flavour to these idlis.

* The amount of red chillies I have mentioned is apt for us as the idlis turn out medium spicy. If you like them more spicy, then you can also add chilli powder before you mix in the leaves.

* Do steam them well atleast for 20 mins on high flame, else there can be rawness in the idli rava.

* Idli rava absorbs water when kept for a while. So if you keep the mixture to rest, it will absorb all the water and you might need to add a little more water to bring it to thick consistency. If steamed immediately, only 1/2 Cup water is needed.

* These idlis are traditionally had with rice and any curry like dalitoy (Konkani style dal) or rasam. You can also enjoy them as it is but don’t forget to dip in it coconut oil or drizzle over it for that heavenly flavour.

During my childhood days, our breakfast was a set schedule. Monday was any kind of dosas, Tuesday used be Chutney sandwich (my fav as a kid ❤️) or Puri Bhaji ( my fav even now ❤️❤️). Wednesday used to be Panpolos, Thursdays and Fridays were again dosa days. You can find all those dosa recipes in my Dosa corner page.

And then came weekends when Annama (my grandmother) and Amma used to make these special, aromatic undis along with my Annama’s special Piyava gojju which is still my most favourite. This spicy, tangy dip takes the undis to another level completely.

Amma taught me to make undis when she had come here to Qatar and I learnt the technique from her. So it’s definitely special for me as it’s something passed on to me by her. Hope I can pass on this to my kids too. If not me (owing to unpredictable life), maybe they will refer this blog and learn in future. 😀

Although all Konkani people know how to make it, this is for those who don’t know about it and my way to preserve our Konkani traditional recipes. Hope you all try and love it too. Happy and healthy cooking! ❤️

RECIPE:

Ingredients: { Makes about 40 small undis}

2 Cups Rice Rava or Idli Rava

4 Cups Water

1/2 Cup Desiccated coconut or freshly grated coconut

2 tsp Oil

1 tsp Mustard seeds

1 tsp Urad dal

1/2 tsp Methi seeds

Salt to taste

Step by step recipe:

1. Wash the rice rava well two to three times till the water turns clear. Drain the water and keep aside till use.

2. Heat oil in a thick bottomed steel or non stick pan. Add mustard seeds, Urad dal and methi seeds. Saute till mustard seeds splutter and urad dal turns light brown in colour.

3. Add 4 Cups Water (for 2 Cups rice rava). Also add salt and coconut. Bring it to a boil.

4. Now add the idli rava and keep mixing continuously on medium flame till the mixture leaves the sides of the pan and the rice rava cooks well.

**This is the initial stage right after adding rice rava.**

5. Remove from the flame and allow it to cool slightly.

**This is when the rice rava has cooked well and leaves the sides of the pan.**

6. When the mixture is still little hot but has cooled down enough to be handled, make small balls using hands and make a hole using finger as shown in the picture.

**Note:** *The mixture should not cool down completely. It will be hard then. It should be warm when making the balls*.

7. Repeat the same with the rest of the mixture.

8. Now steam in a steamer for about 15 to 20 mins. Remove and serve hot drizzled with coconut oil on top with Piyava Gojju or any chutney of your choice.

Notes:

* I use only coconut oil or ghee in my cooking and this recipe uses coconut oil like all Konkani recipes. Please try to use the same for authentic flavour.

* For people who are new to making undis, it needs steaming after making the small dumplings. Please don’t forget the last step.

* Rice Rava or Idli Rava is not regular upma rava. This is coarser in texture and is made of rice.

* The combination of mustard seeds, Urad dal and methi gives it a wonderful aroma. Don’t skip any of it.

* Some people add broken red chillies in the seasoning but my mother made this way.

* If rice rava is not available, just soak and grind the rice to a coarse mix and add instead of rice rava. Though I have not tried it myself, I know many people who do it as rice rava is not easily available in their place.

* Don’t allow the mixture to cool completely before making undis. Make when it’s still warm. ( I actually make when it’s still hot as my kids will be behind me for breakfast. Though it burns my hands, a mom’s love is so and now I understand it. ❤️😅)

* For the Piyava Gojju, take finely chopped onion (2 medium sized) and about 3 Tbsp coriander leaves in a bowl. Add 2 to 3 tsp tamarind paste, salt and red chilli powder to taste depending on your spice level. Mix well adding about 1/4 Cup water and drizzle a little coconut oil on top. (You can add finely chopped green chillies too but I avoid for my kids.)