How to Make Pidi (Kerala Style Rice Flour Dumplings)
Pidi | Kerala Style Rice dumplings is a traditional South Indian dish that is popular in Kerala. It is a cooked rice dumpling that is typically served with spicy gravies or curries. Pidi is a perfect breakfast or dinner dish and is easy to prepare once you get the hang of it. In this article, we will explore the step-by-step process of making this at home and some tips to enhance its taste and flavor.
Tips to Enhance the Flavor of Pidi
- If you prefer a stronger coconut flavor, you can increase the amount of grated coconut used.
- Additionally, you can also adjust the quantity of cumin seeds and garlic based on your preference.
- Serve it with spicy curries like chicken or mutton curry for an authentic taste.
How to Make Pidi (with Puttu Podi)
Ingredients
For the Pidi Dough
- 2 1/2 cups Roasted Puttu Podi
- 1 1/2 cup Grated Coconut തേങ്ങ ചിരണ്ടിയത്
- 4 Cups Water വെള്ളം – 1 Litre
- 1 Teaspoon Salt ഉപ്പ്
For Grinding
- 4 Nos Shallots ചെറിയ ഉള്ളി
- 6 Cloves Garlic വെളുത്തുള്ളി
- 1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds ചെറിയ ജീരകം
For Cooking Pidi
- 6 Cups Water 1½ Litre
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
Instructions
Prepare the Rice flour for Pidi
- To make pidi dough, first, mix roasted puttu podi and grated coconut together with your fingers.
- Cover the mixture and let it sit for an hour.
- Next, in a wide and deep heavy pan, roast the mixture on low heat while stirring continuously until lightly roasted, which may take around 10-15 minutes.
- Take it off the heat and let it cool down. If there are any large lumps, pulse them in a mixer grinder.
Grind Cumin Garlic Mixture
- Then, grind garlic, cumin seeds, and small onions together with a little water.
Make The Pidi Dough
- In a pot, boil 4 cups of water and add 1 tsp of salt and the ground garlic-cumin mixture to it. Let it boil for 2 minutes over medium heat.
- In a mixing bowl, add rice flour. Add hot boiling water little by little into it while stirring with a spoon until the dough comes together. Note: Do not add all the water at once. Only add enough water to make the flour moist, similar to the way we make dough for Idiyappam. Typically, you will need around 2 1/2 – 3 cups of boiled water to make the dough, but the amount can vary based on the type of rice flour.
- After 1-2 minutes, when the dough has cooled down a bit, mix it well with your hands until it forms a soft dough. Reserve the remaining hot water with ground cumin mix.
- Knead the dough while it's still hot to make it softer, which should take around 3-4 minutes of kneading.
- If the dough is too sticky, apply a little oil to your hands while kneading. If the dough is too wet, add more rice flour as needed.
Shape the dough in to small balls
- While the dough is still warm, take small portions of it and shape them into small balls. You can sprinkle some of the reserved flour (2-3 tbsp) on top of the balls so the balls don’t stick together.
Cooking the Pidi
- In a deep bottomed pan add any remaining water that boiled earlier with the cumin and garlic mixture. Add 6 more cups of water and 1 tsp of salt to it.
- When the water boils, add the rolled balls to it. DO NOT stir the balls, wait for the water to boil again.
- Once the water boils again, you can stir the balls lightly to prevent sticking to each other and at the bottom of the pan. Keep the flame medium-high and cook for 10-12 minutes or until it starts to thicken and all the rice balls are cooked through. The cooking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of the Pidi balls.
- Turn off the heat and set aside.
- serve hot with your favorite gravy or curry.
Notes
How To Serve Pidi
Serve it with spicy curries like Varutharacha chicken curry or mutton curry for an authentic taste.
- Varutharacha Chicken Curry | വറുത്തരച്ച കോഴിക്കറി
- Varutharacha Kadala Curry | വറുത്തരച്ച കടല കറി| Kerala Style Chickpea Curry
- Kerala Style Nadan Chicken Curry from Scratch
FAQs
Yes, you can store leftover pidi in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Reheat them in a steamer or microwave before serving.
No, rice flour is the main ingredient required to make pidi. Using any other flour may not give you the desired results.
Yes, you can use brown rice flour instead of white rice flour. However, the texture and taste of the pidis may differ slightly.
Yes, you can make pidi in advance and freeze it. When you want to serve them, steam them for a few minutes until heated through. The texture may be better when you serve it fresh.
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