Kadalai Paruppu Pooranam Kozhukattai, also known as Chana Dal Modak, is a traditional South Indian sweet dish made with a sweet lentil filling and a rice flour outer covering. It is often prepared during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi. Here’s the recipe:
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Ready in: 50 minutes
Ingredients:
For the outer covering:
- 1 cup rice flour
- 1.5 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon oil
For the sweet lentil filling:
- 1/2 cup chana dal (split Bengal gram)
- 1/2 cup jaggery, grated
- 2 tablespoons grated coconut
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
- A pinch of salt
For tempering:
- 1 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter)
- 1/4 teaspoon mustard seeds
- A few curry leaves
Instructions:
- Wash the chana dal thoroughly and soak it in water for about 2 hours. Drain the water and cook the chana dal in a pressure cooker with enough water until it becomes soft and mushy. Once cooked, drain any excess water and set aside.
- In a pan, heat ghee and add the mustard seeds. Allow them to splutter, then add the curry leaves. Saute for a few seconds.
- Add the cooked chana dal to the pan and mix well. Add grated jaggery, grated coconut, cardamom powder, and a pinch of salt. Mix everything together and cook on low heat until the jaggery melts and the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and let it cool.
- In a separate pan, bring water to a boil. Add salt and oil to the boiling water. Reduce the heat to low and gradually add the rice flour while stirring continuously to avoid lumps. Cook the mixture until it thickens and forms a dough-like consistency.
- Remove the pan from heat and let the dough cool slightly. Knead the dough well until it becomes smooth and pliable.
- Divide the dough into small lemon-sized balls. Flatten each ball with your fingers or using a rolling pin to form a small disc. Place a spoonful of the sweet lentil filling in the center of each disc.
- Carefully fold the edges of the disc over the filling, pinching and pleating them together to seal the filling inside. Repeat the process for the remaining dough and filling.
- Steam the filled kozhukattai in a steamer or idli cooker for about 10-12 minutes until the outer covering becomes soft and cooked.
- Once cooked, remove the kozhukattai from the steamer and let them cool slightly before serving.
Kadalai Paruppu Pooranam Kozhukattai is ready to be served as a sweet treat. Enjoy these delicious dumplings as a snack or as a festive dessert.
