Ela Ada/ Rice Dumpling In A Leaf

Ela Ada- ela means leaf and ada could be translated as dumpling I think. A classic Keralite dish.

This is mostly steamed in banana leaves, but I prefer the tumeric leaves. The aroma of the tumeric leaf while this dumpling is being steamed is simply lovely. The other reason being I only need to pluck the leaves from my tumeric plant in my kitchen garden.

Ingredients-

For the dough-

2cups fine rice flour

1/2tsp salt

boiling water

For filling-

grated coconut

grated jaggery

cardamom powder

Preparation-

•  Pour boiling water into the rice flour and stir with the straight end of a spoon.
  
• Collect the dough together. It does not require much handling.
• Wash the leaves clean and pat dry. You can either use the entire leaf if its small or cut it into half.
• Dip your fingers in some water and spread the dough on the leaf, place the filling in the center.

 

• Fold it across and press the edges to seal. Make sure you seal well else the jaggery will melt and ooze out when it is being steamed.

 

• After steaming peel open the leaf and serve hot.

 

• If you use the entire leaf your dumpling will look like this.

• Or you can slice it and make it fancy for the picky eater. Makes a sweet dish for the school lunch as well.

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