It seemed like Navarathri started just now and it's already the 9th day, Saraswathi Pooja. Happy Pooja holidays everybody. We prepare a lot of sweets and sundals these holidays, but "puttu" is very important and our favorite too.
This puttu recipe is different from what the Keralites prepare. It's made with rice flour, grated coconut, and jaggery. The process is also time-consuming but worth every effort. Traditionally it's prepared by soaking raw rice in water, draining it, spreading it on a cloth and powdering the rice, while the rice is still damp.
But to make the process more simple store bought rice flour is used. This is especially prepared on a Friday and is distributed to everybody who visits our home to see the Golu.
I've prepared it successfully a couple of times 3 years back, but now I have totally forgotten the procedure. Fortunately, my mother is here and she prepared it this time. It came out very well and I wanted to record it before I forget it once again.
Recipe
Rice Flour Puttu Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Rice Flour
- As Required Water Hot
- A Pinch Salt
- ¼ Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 2 And ¼ Cups Jaggery Powdered
- 1 Cup Preferably Fresh Grated Coconut (Or Even Less)
- ½ Teaspoon Cardamom Powder
- A Pinch Pacha Karpooram
- ¼ Cup Cashewnuts Broken Into Small Pieces
Instructions
- Toast the rice flour in a dry skillet until hot.
- Boil little water (around 1 cup) with salt and turmeric powder.
- Sprinkle as much water as required in the toasted flour little by little. The correct consistency is, you should be able to form balls, but at the same time you should also be able to crumble it back into powdered form.
- Steam this flour mixture for 20 minutes. My mother filled little water in a big frying pan, placed a small trivet in the bottom and used the vegetable steamer which came along with my electric rice cooker to steam the flour. Wet a cotton cloth and pour the prepared rice powder in it and cover by bringing the ends of the cloth over the flour and place it on the vegetable steamer and close the frying pan with a lid.
- Once the flour is steamed, transfer this mixture to a big plate and spread it. If it has lumps sift it using a sieve.
- Meanwhile in another vessel add the jaggery and water just enough to cover the jaggery and melt it.
- Sieve the jaggery solution to get rid of any impurities.
- Again pour it back in the vessel, add the coconut, cardamom powder, and pachakarpooram and let this mixture boil.
- When a drop of the jaggery syrup is dropped in cold water, you should be able to form it into a ball. When you reach this consistency switch of the stove and remove the vessel from the stove.
- Now add this mixture little by little to the steamed flour and simultaneously mix the flour and jaggery syrup with the other hand using a spatula. I have a big wooden fork which is simply perfect for this job. Be careful because the syrup will be very hot and it will scald your skin if it drops.
- In a dry skillet toast the cashew pieces and add it to the prepared Puttu.
My Notes
- The above measurement gives a fairly big portion of Puttu. You can try it on a small scale with 1 cup of rice flour, ¾ cup of powdered jaggery and ¼ cup of grated coconut.
- Cashew nuts can be toasted in ghee. Heat 1 tablespoon of ghee and fry the cashews in it and add it to the Puttu. This keeps well for a week.
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Sowmya says
Hi Madhu, I love puttu n mom used to make ragi puttu as well which is a big hit among my fnds... I wanted to try this for a long time n got instructions from mom via Skype but was very unsure. Then came across ur post n followed it but substituted rice flour wid ragi flour n made ragi puttu!!! Wow if tasted as good as mom's... Was very happy! I owe it to u n ur explanations... Thank u!
Madhuram says
You're welcome Sowmya. I too tried it with ragi flour recently and it came out great.
dodz says
Hi!
May I please know why the nos. 1 and 2 in the procedure are needed and should be sprinkled in the rice flour?
Thank you.
Madhuram says
I don't know the reason, but that's how it is done for store bought rice flour. I guess to freshen it up. This procedure (toasting the rice flour) is not required if you are preparing rice flour at home fresh. To prepare the rice flour, you have to wash the rice, drain the water, dry it and then powder it. Not simply powdering the rice in a blender.
Dr Aruna Iyengar says
Rice contains a good amount of starch. And it forms lumps when mixed with water. Hence little by little the starch mixes in without forming lumps if done by sprinkling with water.
Gayathri says
You Golu looks absolutely appealing. I have the same "Kajuraho" set - The 6 pink dancing dolls that I got in Madurai Meenakshiamman temple. I was excited to see those dolls for I haven't seen it in many places.
Of course the puttu is very very appealing. I am gonna try that soon. Will let you know the outcome. 🙂
It's around 25 years old Gayathri. My father got it from Kasi, I believe.
Srivalli says
Madhu..thats such a lovely kolu..so beautiful...thanks for sending the entry!
Jayashree says
I love puttu. Have never tried making it so far because I've always thought it is too time consuming.
hemamalini says
such a beautiful golu and excellent look madhu. Dont u invite me to have the puttu on golu day. perfect combo.
Priya says
Golu looks marvellous Madhuram..feel like home..really miss everything, really with work and other stuffs am missing everything here..delicious puttu, my mom used to prepare this puttu..love them like anything..Happy to see the golu pictures..
Thank you very much Priya. I also miss Chennai a lot. Even though we try to keep up with the traditions it's simply not the same.
Vaishali says
The golu looks divine. How talented you are, Madhuram! And thanks for this lovely, lovely entry to Sweet Vegan. I've never made puttu before, and this sounds delicious.
Vrinda mahi says
yes madhu ,u can get this at Ushas store ,malvern....look for Puttu Podi..(kerala products) u can use as such no need to fry
regards
vrinda
Anila says
The dish looks great.Must try it.I loved your golu very much.Wishing you a very happy vijayadesami.
Thank you very much Anila. We all loved S so much.
Aparna says
Belated Seasons' greetings.
We make this specially for the function celebrated when girls come of age.
Bharti says
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing dear. Happy Dushera.
Uma says
Beautiful golu! Thanks for sharing.
Bhawana says
A Very Happy Dusshera to you and Your Family Madhuram
Lakshmi says
You are the best Madhu! I was craving like anything for this puttu. Hopefully with your detailed instructions I will be able to make it and enjoy it 🙂
Thanks!
Lakshmi (Glaksh's friend)
You're welcome Lakshmi. Both my husband and myself love this puttu. Laksh got to taste it also.
Vrinda mahi says
Happy navrarti Madhu,i think i missed ur puttu.. 🙁 ?The procedure up to 4 is same as our puttu,but v use puttumaker to steam it.If possible try it with puttu powder instead of rice flour..enjoy
I have not tried Puttu powder. Is it available in the Indian store?
jayasree says
Beatiful golu. Puttu has come out perfect. Love this. Yet to make it myself at home.
Roma says
Madhu, the golu looks so beautiful. Very creative indeed!
Cilantro says
Nice golu display, I would like to know where you got the steps for the Golu from? Thanks for the puttu recipe.
Thanks Cilantro. I used a shoe stand for 2 steps, diaper boxes and stuff to complete it. More than arranging the dolls and decorating it, building the steps was time consuming. It was also very tricky. I'm thinking of getting golu padi from India next time.
raaji says
lovely decoration.....bommala koluvu has a traditional feel and look.....
Sonu says
Hi Madhuram,
Happy Navratri and Dusheraa!!!
Nice decoration for Golu. very beautiful and eye-catching. 🙂
sandhiya says
Santa and Saibaba,in same steps...it's unique..and your circus set is cute...As well as the Riceflour puttu
Emmadhamum Sammadham, Sandhiya.
Mansi says
Lovely photos Madhu! its interesting how different the navratri celebrations are in different cultures! 🙂
DivyA Vikram says
Lovely golu madhu..and amma makes this kind of puttu..I just love them..
kamala says
Beautiful Golu Madhu..I too make Puttu the same way..
vineela says
Beautiful koluvu pictures.
love that circus setting.
vineela
Cham says
Happy Saraswathi Pooja and Vijayadashami Madhu 😀 We make puttu like this one , looks tasty!
Nice car track and golu!
Purnima says
Madhuram,
Happy Navaratri and Dusshera to you! Loved the GOLU and ur style of puttu! Very different! (Tks for visiting the nutritious recipes on my blog :D..do try the brown rice barley dosas..they feature on a weekly basis here!:)
Purnima, I did check the tofu I'm buying, it's organic and it doesn't have any emulsifiers. Thanks once again for the heads up. I'm going to try the dosas very soon. Actually I have bookmarked a couple of recipes from your blog. I loved your dosa collection.
anudivya says
Beautiful golu... very homely! Puttu just adds to the theme. Saw your message pretty late Madhuram... so couldn't make the lace cookies, wil try it sometime later 🙂
Divya, thank you very much.
sangeeth says
oh! I luved ur golu...especially the park! Its real fun! did u get those from india? i mean the dolls. Is that your saree on the steps?
Thank you very much Sangeeth. The dolls in the park are plastic and got everything from the nearby Dollar Store. One is circus and the other one is amusement park. The green color cloth is my silk dupatta.
Sweatha says
Happy Navaratri,Madhu
Thanks Sweatha.