Uppu Kozhukattai–Ganesh Chathurthi Recipes (உப்பு கொழுக்கட்டை)

Uppu Kozhukattai is a traditional neivedhiyam prepared during Vinayaka Chathurthi. It is one of the difficult foods to prepare. Vinayaka Chathurthi is celebrated on the birthday of Lord Ganesha. There are many forms of kozhukattai and uppu kozhukattai is one of my favorites.

Ingredients for the maavu / dough:
Rice Flour – 1 cup (No need to roast)
Water 1 ¼ cup
Salt – ½ tea spoon
Sesame Oil – 2 tea spoon

Ingredients for the pooranam / stuffing:Ulutham Parupu / Urad Dal – 2 table spoons
Kadalai Parupu / Channa Dal – ½ table spoon
Green chili – 3 - 5
Mustard Seeds – ¼ tea spoon
Sesame oil – ¼ tea spoon
Curry leaves – 6 - 8
Lemon Juice – 1 table spoon

Method
For Maavu / Dough:
Heat water in a pan
Add oil and salt to it
Once the water comes to a boil, add the rice flour and blend it well
Stir it continuously till it becomes into a soft dough
Remove from heat and close with a lid and keep aside

For Pooranam / stuffing:

Soak the lentils in warm water for an hour
Grind the soaked lentils with green chili, salt and asafetida
Steam cook this for 10 minutes
Remove from the cooker and crumble them to small pieces
Heat oil in a pan and add oil and mustard seeds
Add curry leaves and then the grinded mixture
Mix all well and allow it to cool and add the lemon juice


For the Kozhukattai:
Coat the palms with little sesame oil to avoid the sticking
Make small balls of the maavu
Press the balls and make a small choppu (like a small cup)
Keep the stuffing inside and seal the top making it look like a kozhukattai
Do the above for all the maavu and stuffing
Grease the idli plates with little sesame oil
Keep these kozhukattai on it and steam cook it (without weight) for about 10-15 minutes
After 10 minutes, check status.
Kozhukattai is done when it looks like it has sweat.
Generally it takes about 10-15 minutes to be done in steaming
Remove the Kozhukattai from the idli plate and is ready!!