Steaming Puttu: Using Your Pressure Cooker

Puttu is a traditional breakfast dish from Kerala, India. It is a steamed rice cake made with rice powder and coconut steamed in a cylindrical steamer called a puttu kutti or puttu maker. Puttu can be steamed over a pot of water or on the nozzle of a pressure cooker. In this article, we will discuss how to steam puttu in a pressure cooker.

How to make the batter for steaming puttu in a pressure cooker

To make the batter for steaming puttu in a pressure cooker, you will need the following ingredients:

• Rice flour (or puttu podi)
• Grated coconut
• Salt
• Warm water

The quantities of these ingredients may vary depending on the number of servings, but a common ratio is 1 cup of rice flour to 1/2 to 1 cup of grated coconut. You will also need about 3 cups of water to fill your pressure cooker.

• Mix the rice flour and salt together in a large bowl.
• (Optional) You can mix in 1 tablespoon of grated coconut with the rice flour and salt.
• Slowly add warm water to the mixture, a little at a time. Use your hands or a spoon to mix until the flour is moist and crumbly, resembling breadcrumbs. Be careful not to make the mixture lumpy—it should hold its shape when pressed but crumble easily afterward.
• Your batter is now ready to be steamed in a puttu maker or a cylindrical vessel with a lid and a hole for steam to pass through.

Note: If you are using a puttu maker, you can layer the grated coconut and rice flour mixture, starting and ending with coconut, as per the steaming instructions.

How to layer the puttu maker with grated coconut and rice flour

To layer the puttu maker with grated coconut and rice flour, follow these steps:

Firstly, add 2-3 tablespoons of fresh grated coconut to the cylindrical vessel of the puttu kudam and spread it evenly. Then, gently add the puttu flour until it reaches about halfway up the vessel. Next, add another layer of 2-3 tablespoons of grated coconut and spread it evenly. Finally, add the remaining puttu flour and cover the top with 2-3 tablespoons of grated coconut.

It is important to note that the puttu kudam has two sections: the base for heating water and the top cylindrical part for steaming the puttu. The perforated disc should be placed inside the cylindrical vessel before adding the grated coconut and rice flour.

Additionally, when preparing the rice flour, it is crucial to achieve the right consistency. The flour should be moist but not lumpy, with a crumbly texture. To check this, gently press a small portion of the flour between your palms. It should form a lump, and when you press it further, it should crumble and break apart. This step ensures the puttu has a soft texture.

How to steam puttu in a pressure cooker

Puttu is a traditional breakfast dish from the Indian state of Kerala. It is a steamed rice cake, usually served with Kadala curry, though it can also be served with chicken curry, papadum, or green gram stir fry.

To steam puttu in a pressure cooker, first add 3 cups of water to the pressure cooker and close the lid. While the water is heating, prepare the puttu by mixing rice flour and salt in a large bowl. If you wish, you can also add a tablespoon of grated coconut to the mixture. Sprinkle water into the mixture and mix until it resembles bread crumbs.

Next, add a tablespoon of grated coconut to the bottom of your puttu maker, followed by the rice flour mixture, and then another two tablespoons of grated coconut. Place the puttu maker on the nozzle of the pressure cooker and cook for around 5 minutes, or until steam is released through the holes of the puttu maker.

Carefully remove the puttu from the maker and serve warm with your preferred sides.

How to know when the puttu is cooked

Puttu is cooked when steam is released through the holes of the puttu maker. This should take around 5 minutes, but the timing will depend on the size of the puttu maker. If you are using a large puttu maker, it may take up to 9 minutes.

To check if the puttu is cooked, you can also test the consistency of the flour. Take a small portion of the moistened flour and press it between your fingers. When you release the pressure, the mixture should have just enough moisture to hold together without crumbling.

What to serve with puttu

Puttu is a popular breakfast dish from the Indian state of Kerala. It is traditionally served with kadala curry (chickpeas curry) but there are many other options to serve alongside it.

As puttu is a dry dish, it is recommended to serve it with something wet. Puttu is often served with ripe banana—smashed and mixed in, or served on the side. Other fruit options include jackfruit, mango, and chikku.

If you would prefer to serve puttu with another curry, any curry will work as puttu is a neutral-tasting rice cake. Some popular options include chicken curry, beef curry, duck curry, egg curry, and moong dal curry. For a vegetarian option, you could try a potato stew.

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