Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Recipes: Kerala-Style Ragi Puttu

Last updated on: September 03, 2022 14:54 IST

For World Coconut Day -- celebrated on September 2 -- Anita Aikara brings you the ultimate Kerala recipe that makes perfect use of this sweet, creamy tropical fruit and will also get your palate Onam-ready.

Puttu requires four ingredients -- rice flour, coconut, salt and water. You will also need a puttu kutti or a special steamer.

The healthy version provided below, with ragi or finger millet powder, is high in proteins and calcium.

Traditionally puttu is had with mashed pazham or bananas. In Kerala, people enjoy it with ripe njali poovanpazhan or elaichi bananas. On special occasions, these oblong steamed rice cakes are had with nadan kadala (black channa) curry and a glass of kattan chaya or black tea.

Puttu also makes a winning combination with a leftover coconut-based meat, kozhi (chicken) or mutta (egg) curry. It can also be had all by itself or with pappadam or just a sprinkling of sugar.

If made well, puttu can be eaten hours after it was steamed, but it's best served hot.

Photograph: Anita Aikara

Ragi Puttu

Serves: 2

Ingredients

Method

Editor's Note: Pair the Puttu with Prasanna Pandarinathan's Chicken Curry.

ANITA AIKARA