Irachi Puttu

Puttu is Kerala's time-honored breakfast and is a comfort food for every Malayali.This humble steamed breakfast is now becoming a gourmet dish and puttu festivals are very popular in Kerala.There is a whole range of puttu with different flavors to try.This one is a spicy version with a delicious chicken masala filling.You can try different fillings like prawns masala, fish masala,or vegetable masala or sweet fillings like chakka/jack fruit  or caramelized plantains/ ethapazham. A special thanks to my friend Swathi for sending me Puttu podi :)

Ingredients
Puttu Podi/ Rice flour- 1 1/2 cup
Grated coconut- 3/4 cup
salt- 1/3 tsp
Sugar- 3/4 tsp
Water - 1/3- 1/2 cup

For the chicken Masala
Chicken(  minced or finely chopped) 250 grams
Onion- 1 medium
Chopped cashew nuts- 2 tbs (optional)
Finely chopped tomato- 1
Chopped ginger and garlic- 3 tbs
Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp
Coriander powder- 3/4 tsp
Chilly powder- 1/2 tsp
Pepper powder-a pinch
(or according to your taste)
Garam masala- 3/4 tsp
Coriander leaves- a little
Curry leaves- a few
Lemon juice- a few drops
salt to taste

To make the masala

Wash and mince meat or chop into small chunks. Finely chop onions,ginger and garlic and set aside.
Heat oil in a pan and add minced,ginger, garlic,curry leaves and chopped cashew nuts, slightly roast and then add onions and salt and fry till golden brown. Add tomatoes and cook till soft. Next add the coriander powder, turmeric powder and chilly powder and saute till oil separates. Add the minced/chopped meat and stir fry for three to four minutes. Sprinkle two to three tbs of water, cover and cook for two minute or till all the liquid is absorbed and the meat masala is dry. Finally add garam masala, chopped coriander leaves and lemon juice. Allow this to cool.

To make the puttu 

Take rice flour in a bowl and rub in coconut using your palm (reserve two to three tbs coconut for later use). Mix sugar and salt.Sprinkle water little by little into the flour and mix well ( it will take around 1/2 cup). The mixture should be course and damp( like wet sand) without lumps. To test whether the moisture has spread evenly press handful of mixture into balls. It should hold together and also easily break off when crumbled.
Take the puttu maker/puttu kutti and fill the bottom layer with grated coconut and  fill 3/4 with the rice coconut mixture and top with chicken masala. Bring one liter of water to boil in the pressure cooker and close the lid.Place the puttu maker on the nozzle and allow it  to steam and cook. Let it steam for around four minutes till you see steam escaping from all sides on the top. This recipe will make three chiratta puttu.Serve warm.