‘Spread the batter as thin as possible’ – heard Amma’s advice amidst toddler screams. Even though I have been seeing Amma prepare these pattoli’s for years now and roughly know the way it is prepared, I never went ahead and prepared. Always helped her in cleaning the leaves or spreading the choornu(inner filling). So when I heard her say this I had already spread thick batter on a few leaves which I had to correct later 😁 Khotto, chutney, patrado, haldi panna pattoli, kheeri and batate humman has been the menu for nagara panchami in our house. Mainly because we do not fry anything or add tampering (phanna) on this day.
As I was spreading the batter and carefully placing the choornu in the middle so many thoughts crossed my mind. Nagara panchami marks the beginning of the festive season. Also it is the time rains starts reducing. The food which is being prepared on this day has variety of leaves involved and also most of the things are steamed. How thoughtfully our Ansistors have curated the festive menu as per season!
Well, even though I took bit longer than Amma finally I got the things together and the pattolis came out well. Cooking is definitely an art! Interest and experience are the additional ingredients every well cooked food item. Here is how we make Pattoli.
Ingredients required –
- Rice – 1 cup
- Grated coconut -1/4(batter) + 1/2(choornu)
- Jaggery – 2/3 cup(or as per sweetness preferred)
- Poha – fistful
- Turmeric leaves – around 25
- Salt – 1/2tsp
Method of preparation :
- Soak the rice overnight
- The next morning grind the rice along with 1/4 coconut, salt and fistful of poha
- Add very little water the batter should be thick – to spread on the turmeric leaves
- Prepare choornu(the inner filling) with jaggery and 1/2 grated coconut
- Clean the leaves and keep them ready
- Once batter and choornu are ready, spread a thin layer of batter on the leaf
- After spreading batter on leaves, place the choornu in the center as shown in the picture.
- Fold the leaves and stack them on a plate
- Pre heat the steamer(pedavana). You can put water in the steamer, switch on the gas and start putting batter and choornu to manage time better.
- Place the plate with stacked pattolis in the steamer and steam for 20min.
- Once done enjoy the pattoli with ghee or as it is.
