Varities Of Puttu

Puttu is a popular staple dish for both breakfast and dinner. It is traditionally steamed in a bamboo 'kulal'. This is a foot length of bamboo, about three inches in diameter, cut about an inch below a node. The lower part is 'turbaned' with a long piece of cotton cloth wound round it, while the rest of it is wound spirally with coir string. Resting on the node inside is a circular, perforated piece of coconut shell. The kulal rests on a vessel of boiling water and the puttu is steamed in it. It is really quite an attractive piece of kitchen equipment. The other 'puttu steamer' is a neethu-petti woven out ofpalm leaf. This is like a conical hat and the apex rests on the vessel of boiling water. Modern aluminum or stainless steel puttu steamers may not have the romance of these traditional ones but they do the job just as well.
Food processors are also used to mix puttu instead of the traditional 'hands on' method.

Rice Flour Puttu - Arisi-maa Puttu

Ingredients

4 cups roasted rice flour (white or red rice flour)
2 tsp salt
4 cups boiling water
1 cup freshly grated coconut

Method
1. In a large bowl, mix flour and salt with boiling water with a wooden spoon. As mixture cools mix flour with your hands to form a pebble-like texture.
2. In a kulal or puttu steamer, layer the flour mixture with a handful of grated coconut. Repeat the process till the kulal is almost filled. Finish with a layer of coconut.
3. Steam and serve hot.

Raagi Flour Puttu - Kurakkan Puttu

Kurakkan (Raagi or red millet) is grown commonly in the northern areas of Sri Lanka. Red millet flour is dark in colour and the puttu has a pleasing warm, dark tone as a result of this. Affectionately called "the black puttu", it is eaten with freshly scraped coconut and pieces of jaggery.

Ingredients

1 cup red millet (raagi, kurakkan) flour
1/2 cups grated coconut Warm water as required Salt to taste

Method

1. Add salt to the warm water. Add water slowly to flour, stirring it with a wooden spoon to form a paste.
2. Using your hands, work mixture till it breaks into small round pieces.
3. Add grated coconut.
4. Steam in a puttu steamer—either the kulal or a neethu-petti.

Semolina Puttu - Ravai Puttu

Ingredients

2 cups semolina
Salt to taste
1 cup water
11/2 cups grated coconut

Method

1. Roast semolina slightly. Set aside to cool.
2. Add salt to semolina.
3. Add water and mix. Allow it to stand for half an hour.
4. Work the semolina with your fingers into small pebbles-like balls.
5. Add grated coconut.
6. Steam in the puttu steamer—either a kulal or a neethu-petti.

Aalanggai Puttu

Though called a puttu, this is also a sweet snack. It takes its name from its shape—like the fruit o f the Aalai' (banyan) tree.







Ingredients

1 cup roasted rice flour (white or red rice flour) 1/2 tsp salt
2 cups thin coconut milk
1/4 cup roasted black gram (urad dal) flour 1/2 cup jaggery pieces }
11/2 cups thin coconut milk syrup

Method

1. Mix rice flour and salt in a bowl.
2. Boil coconut milk.
3. Pour into flour and stir till smooth.
4. When the mixture has cooled add black gram flour and mix well. j 5. Form into small balls, about 2 cm in diameter.
6. Steam in neethu-petti or any steaming vessel.
7. Boil the jaggery pieces and coconut milk into a syrup.
8. Add to the puttu. Stir and serve.

Sugar Puttu - Seeni Puttu

Ingredients

1 cup roasted rice flour (white or red rice)
1/2 cup roasted split green gram (moong dal)
11/2 cups water
1 cup coconut milk 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup grated coconut
2 tbsp ghee
1/2 tsp cardamom powder (pounded cardamom seeds)
11/2 cups sugar

Method

1. Wash the green gram and cook in water. Do not overcook—it should be whole, not mushy.
2. Drain and grind fine.
3. Boil coconut milk and salt.
4. Place rice flour in a bowl. Add the boiling coconut milk and stir to a grainy texture.
5. Add the ground green gram and grated coconut. Mix well.
6. Steam till cooked.
7. Transfer to a serving bowl. Add ghee, cardamom powder and sugar immediately. Mix well.
8. Serve warm.

Black Gram Flour Puttu - Uluthammaa Puttu

Ingredients

2 cups roasted white rice flour
1 cup roasted black gram (urad dal) flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 cups water
2 cups grated coconut

Method

1. Boil water with salt.
2. Add to rice flour and mix to form a grainy texture.
3. When cool, add black gram flour and mix.
4. Add the grated coconut and mix together.
5. Steam in a puttu steamer.

Spinach Puttu - Keera Puttu

Ingredients

1 cup red millet (raagi/kurakkan) flour 200 grams spinach, chopped fine Cold water as required
2 green chillies, chopped fine
4 medium-sized onions, chopped fine 1/2 cup grated coconut
tsp salt

Method

1. Mix red millet flour and spinach.
2. Sprinkle water and mix to form pebble-like balls. Sprinkle more water if required.
3. Add remaining ingredients and mix together. Ensure that the mixture retains its pebble-like consistency.
4. Steam in a puttu steamer.

Tapioca Puttu - Maravalli Puttu

Ingredients

1 cup tapioca flour, slightly roasted 1 cup grated coconut
3-4 green chillies, chopped
1 medium-sized onion, chopped fine 1/2 tsp salt

Method

1. Mix together tapioca flour, grated coconut, green chillies, onions and salt. Sprinkle water as you mix with your fingers, forming a grainy texture.
2. Steam in a puttu steamer.