Ammini kozhakattai

Ammini kozhakattai or wonder rice pearls traditionally prepared as a remnant of rice batter prepared for sweet kozhakattai (modak) for ganpati. In many households this is prepared when small kids start crawling and cross the threshold (vashapadi). Now this is a snack item breakfast or evening or sometime even as accompaniment (starter) to main course. People are innovating with different tastes and coming up with yummy versions.

Here below I give u the simple instant version which is spiced with green chilli and ginger. This is also prepared by soaking rice and grinding it. (Will cover in future posts)

My mom makes this favorite snack of mine and crisps it up on the tava ..it's too delicious.

Ingredients
Rice flour - 1 cup
Water - 1 &1/4 or 1 &1/2  cups
Green chilly  - 2-3 finely chopped
Ginger - half inch piece
Scrapped coconut -1/2 cup
Salt to taste
Coconut oil
Mustard seeds, udit dal, chana dal and kadipatta.

Method.
1) Make a coarse paste without water of ginger and chillies.
2) In a kadai boil water. Once it starts boiling add salt, coconut oil (1 tsp), ginger chilli paste and then slowly add the rice flour and mix vigorously so that no lumps are formed. 
3) Now switch off the gas and let this mix cool till you can handle with your hands.
4) Take the mass on a plate and need well till it is a dough with no lumps.
5) Make small balls and steam them for just 10 minutes. Let it cool.
6) In a pan add oil and heat. Put in mustard seeds, when they splutter add the dals and let it fry till golden. Take care not to burn it. Add in the steamed balls and a cup of coconut grated and mix all this well.
7) Serve hot ..dish is ready.
If you like in the pan the kozhakattais can be crisped up.

The different flavours to be added in this can be
Red chilli , lemon, kadipatta powder, coriander chutney, usli, coconut , jaggery. Will try to cover these flavours in the coming posts.