GOING BANANAS!
VAAZHAIPAZHA KOZHUKATTAI
Idlies, Kozhukattais, Vadaes, Chitraanna and Paayasam are the five traditional prasaadams we prepare for the Varamahaalakshmi Pooja every year. This year since we are 'GOING BANANAS!', I want to offer a banana dish to the Goddess on the auspicious day.
INGREDIENTS FOR THE FILLING
Ripe bananas - 2
Crushed jaggery - 1/2 cup
Ghee - 1 tbsp
Cardamom powder - 1 pinch
TO MAKE THE FILLING
1. Peel and slice the bananas.
2. Heat a pan and add ghee, sliced bananas and the crushed jaggery.
3. Cook on low flame stirring now and then till the whole sweet mass comes together.
4. Mix in the cardamom powder and allow to cool.
INGREDIENTS FOR THE DOUGH
Rice flour - 3/4 cup
Water - 1 cup
Salt - 1 pinch
Gingelly oil - 1 tsp
TO PREPARE THE DOUGH
1. Boil water with salt and oil.
2. Add the rice flour gently into the boiling water stirring continuously.
3. Decrease flame and stir till the dough is cooked.
4. When the dough comes together into a ball, switch off flame and tightly cover with a lid.
5. Let the steam subside.
6. When the dough is still warm but cool enough to handle, remove it into a bowl and knead it well into a smooth ball.
7. Take a small lime size ball from the dough, knead and shape it into a cup.
8. Place a spoon of the sweet banana filling inside the cup.
9. Fold the edges of the dough cup over the filling, press them together and seal the kozhukattai.
10. Make all the kozhukattais similarly using the entire filling and the dough.
11. Arrange the koozhukattais in a greased steamer and steam in a pressure cooker for fifteen minutes without using the weight.
Offer the steaming hot Vaazhaipazha Kozhukattais to Varamahaalakshmi and savour the prasaadam with your near and dear ones.
