Hi friends, Today being Palm Sunday, I am sharing the traditional foods that we associate with this important day in the Christian calendar. In Kerala, India, one popular dish for Palm Sunday is the sweet rice dumpling known as Kozhikatta. Made from simple ingredients like rice flour, jaggery, and coconut, Kozhikatta is easy to prepare and has a delicious, comforting flavor that's perfect for a holiday celebration. In this post, we will see a brief history of kozhikatta, the ingredients and techniques you'll need to make this delightful sweet treat for your own Palm Sunday celebration.
Kozhikatta has a long and rich history in the Indian state of Kerala, where it is a popular sweet dish prepared for various festivals and special occasions. Though we stayed in Bangalore, my mom always made this sweet on Palm Sunday and at other times. For me it was a delightful experience as I have a sweet tooth. The soft and fluffy rice dumplings with a sweet coconut and jaggery filling are a match made in heaven.
The origins of Kozhikatta can be traced back to ancient times when rice was a staple food in Kerala. The dish is believed to have been inspired by the traditional rice dishes of the region, which were often sweetened with jaggery (unrefined cane sugar) or coconut.
Kozhikatta is particularly associated with Palm Sunday in Kerala, which marks the beginning of Holy Week in the Christian calendar. According to tradition, Kozhikatta is prepared by Christian families on this day. The dish is also popular among non-Christian communities in Kerala, who enjoy it as a sweet treat on special occasions.
Over time, Kozhikatta has evolved to include a variety of flavors and fillings. While the traditional version is made with a mixture of rice flour, jaggery, and coconut, modern variations may include ingredients like nuts, raisins, and cardamom. Despite these variations, Kozhikatta remains a beloved dish in Kerala, and its popularity continues to grow beyond the region, with food enthusiasts around the world discovering its unique flavor and cultural significance.
Sweet Rice Dumpling or Kozhikatta Recipe
Cusine: South Indian
Makes around 12 dumplings
Section 1: Ingredients required
for dumpling
1 cup rice flour
1 and 1/4 cup water
1/4 tsp salt or to taste
1 tsp coconut oil
for filling
1 and 1/4 cup shredded coconut,
3/4 cup jaggery powder
1/4 tsp cardamom powder
1/4 tsp dry ginger powder (optional)
Section 2: Equipment required
Steamer or cooker to steam the dumplings
Section 3: Instructions
For the Dumpling:
In a saucepan, bring 1 and 1/4 cup of water to a boil.
Add a pinch of salt and 1 tea spoon of coconut oil to the water.
Reduce the heat to low and slowly add 1 cup of rice flour, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
Mix well until the rice flour forms a smooth dough.
Remove the pan from the heat and cover it with a lid. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes to cool down.
For the Filling:
In a separate bowl, mix 1 and 1/4 cup of shredded coconut, 3/4 cup of jaggery powder, 1/4 teaspoon of cardamom powder, and 1/4 teaspoon of dry ginger powder (optional).
Heat a pan on medium heat and add the mixture to the pan.
Stir well until the jaggery is melted and the coconut mixture is well combined.
Turn off the heat and let the filling cool down.
To Assemble and Cook:
Divide the rice dough into 12 small balls and also the fillings to 12 even size balls.
Now, grease the hands with oil and flatten each ball in the middle to form a hollow container shape
place the filling mixture onto the center of the shape.
Fold the top layer to form a ball again, seal it tightly.
Repeat the process with the remaining rice dough and filling mixture.
Heat a steamer or idli pot on medium heat.
Grease the steamer plates with oil to prevent the dumplings from sticking to the plates.
Arrange the dumplings in the steamer plates and steam them for about 10-15 minutes or until the dumplings are cooked and firm.
Remove the plates from the steamer and let them cool down for a few minutes.
Serve the Kozhikatta warm and enjoy!
Section 4: Conclusion
There you have it, folks! A delicious and easy-to-make Kozhikatta recipe that's perfect for celebrating Palm Sunday or any other special occasion. Hoping you will give this recipe a try ? Don't forget to let me know how it turned out in the comments below. Happy cooking! And a blessed Palm Sunday to all Christians who are celebrating Palm Sunday.
Thank you.
Stay healthy, stay happy!
Yummily,
Vinitha
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