RED RICE SWEET PUTTU/SIGAPPU ARISI PUTTU RECIPE

Red rice sweet puttu is a healthy and delicious dish which is made quickly and easily with few ingredients. It can be served as sweet along with breakfast or we can have it for evening snacks too. It is loved by all ages. The red rice puttu (salt version) is low in calories and helps to lose weight. Red rice is also very rich in essential nutrients, iron, vitamin, phosphorus and fiber.

 PREPARATION TIME : 5 minutes

 COOKING TIME         : 15 minutes

 INGREDIENTS: (serves 3 persons)

•  Red Rice flour        - 1 cup (250 ml)
•  Grated coconut     - 1/2 cup (125 ml)
•  Sugar                       - 1/4 cup (62.5 ml)
•  Ghee                       - 2 spoons
•  Water

 DIRECTIONS:

1. Get ready with all the ingredients.

2. Take red rice flour in a mixing bowl. Sprinkle water little by little to the flour and mix well until it turns crumbly.

3. When you try to hold the puttu flour in hand it has to form shape and when given little pressure it has to crumble. This is the correct consistency of puttu flour.

4. Add the puttu flour to a cloth and steam it in idli maker for 15 minutes in medium flame.

5. Remove from steamer and transfer to a bowl.

6. Add grated coconut, sugar and ghee to the steamed puttu flour.

7. Mix all the ingredients with a spoon. The delicious sweet red rice puttu is ready. (Tip: The ghee gives nice taste and aroma to the puttu.)

Preparation of homemade red rice flour:

1. Soak the red rice for 2 hours in water, drain the water, and spread the rice in the cloth for drying.

2. Grind the red rice to flour in mill or mixie. (Tip: Grind in rice mill for better results.)

3. Roast the red rice flour in low flame for a minute to remove moisture.

4. Sieve the red rice flour to remove lumps if any.

5. Store the red rice flour in airtight container.

 ADDITIONAL TIPS:

=> You can make salt version of red rice puttu. Add salt to the red rice flour and mix well. Add water little by little and form a crumble mixture. steam in idli cooker and serve it with kadala curry, banana, jaggery or coconut milk.

=> I used homemade red rice flour. You can also use store bought red rice flour.

=> The specified amount of sweetness is sufficient for me. If you need more or less sweetness, adjust the sugar quantity accordingly.