About:

These dumplings are an alternative to famous Idli’s from south India. Idli’s are made with a white rice using fermented batter. This is the easiest way of making dumplings without any fermentation. These are double cooked so they are hearty and filling. They can also be cooked in stew/soup gravy for an induced taste instead of pressure cooker.

Serves: 2-3
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:

• White maize meal-1 cup
• Salt- as per taste
• Water- 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups

Procedure:

• In a heavy saucepan bring water to boil, add salt stir and then gently add corn meal/maize meal stirring continuously with a long ladle to avoid lumps from forming.
• Reduce the heat to low and add coconut and continue to stir well.
• If the mixture will appear to be too smooth and paste like just continue to simmer for few minutes.
• When the mixture begins to leaves the sides of the pan, remove it from the heat and transfer onto the plate. Allow it to cool a bit may be for 4-5 minutes.
• Then by dabbing your fingers in a bowl of warm water Or Oil.
• Make a lime sized portions of the mixture and roll them to smooth balls and using your thumb form an impression in the centre of each dumplings.

• Once the dumplings are done it has to be steamed in the steamer/cooker:
• Prepare the steamer- place sufficient water in a idli/dhokla steamer and bring the water to a boil.
• Grease idli plate and place the dumplings on it and place the plate inside the steamer cover the lid and steam for 8 – 10 minutes. (even if you don’t have a stand use a regular steel bowl to arrange the dumplings and place in the cooker)

• When done remove carefully

Serve hot with Cabbage Chutney.

Note:

• It can also be steamed In the microwave- arrange the dumplings in a single layer without merging and cook for 2-3 minutes (time may vary as per the power) and when the toothpick inserted comes out clear then you can stop cooking.
• Corn meal OR Ground rice OR Semolina can used instead of Maize meal