Mooligai Kozhukkattai (Mixed Herbs Dumplings)

Ingredients

Par Boiled Rice/Idli Rice - 1 cup
Green Chillies - 2 or 3
Scraped Coconut - 1/4 cup
Chopped (assorted) Greens/Herbs - 1/2 cup or more
Salt - 1 tsp or to taste
Mustard Seeds - 1/4 tsp
Urad Dal - 1/4 tsp
Channa Dal - 1/4 tsp
Oil - 2 tsp
Water - 3 cups


Procedure

Wash and soak rice in 3 cups of water for a minimum of 1 hour.

Then, drain the rice and save the soaked water.

In a mixer jar, add green chillies, salt, and rice and grind coarsely adding the soaked water as needed.  Add the rest of the soaked water and keep aside.

In a kadai, heat 1 tsp of oil and saute the assorted chopped greens slightly and keep aside.  I used the various types of greens grown in my home garden, viz., curry leaves, mint leaves, coriander leaves, karpooravalli or omavalli leaves(ajwain leaves), tulsi, lime leaf, betel leaves, etc.  You can add any other greens of your choice viz., spinach, drumstick leaves, etc.

In the same kadai, add 1 tsp of oil.  Temper mustard seeds, urad dal, and channa dal.

Add the sauteed greens, scraped coconut, and the coarsely ground rice mixture and stir continuously until it becomes thick like upma.  Switch off the flame and allow to cool slightly.

Grease your hand with oil.

When the mixture is warm and bearably hot, take small portions and press between your fingers and palm to form cylindrical shape kozhukkatais.  Repeat the same process for the entire mixture.

Place these kozhukkatais in a greased plate/cooker vessel and steam them in a cooker or broad vessel with lid closed (with water at the base) for 10 to 15 minutes.

Serve hot with desired chutney or pickle.  I served them with Red Onion Chutney.

These mooligai kozhukkatais are a rich source of nutrients as they contain all  the goodness of herbs and greens, carbohydrates from the rice, and is steamed food that is good for health.

The specks of greens in these kozhukkattais looks like jewels sparkling here and there.  Yes, they indeed are nutritious and health boosting jewels much needed for us.

The aroma of these kozhukkattais enhanced from the herbs fills the air around.

Try this recipe and experience the goodness of it. 


Notes:

Plain rice kozhukkattais can also be made by avoiding the herbs and greens and using all other ingredients with the same measurements.

Whole wheat rava (brown rava) can also be used to do these kozhukkattais.  Skip the soaking and grinding steps.  When using wheat rava, temper mustard and dals, add water and allow to boil, add the wheat rava, salt, scraped coconut, and ground chillies along with sauteed greens.  Continue the rest of the process in the same manner.

Scraped coconut can be added while grinding also.  It can also be avoided if not desired.

Par boiled rice can be replaced in part or as a whole with millets like samai, thinai, varagu, etc. to make these dumplings more healthier.