Samai Arisi Pidi Kozhukattai |Traditional Tiffin Recipe from Tamilnadu | How to make Pidi Kozhukattai | Vegan and Gluten Free Recipe

Hi Supermoms,

We are always in the look out for easy, healthy tiffin recipes for breakfast or dinner , is'nt it ?

At home, we avoid eating rice at night and I make  simple and healthy tiffin dishes. Today I am sharing an interesting and traditional tiffin item from Tamilnadu. Though broken rice is used to make this recipe, I have tried it with millets.

Little Millets are called  'Samai' in Tamil. Millets are wonder grains , a storehouse of nutrients, fibre and minerals. These grains are healthy and gluten free and are ideal even for Navratri Vrat fasting.  'Pidi Kozhakattai ' means dumplings shaped using the gentle pressure of the palm. The millets aand lentils are cooked over the stove top and then shaped and steam cooked. Minimal use of oil makes this dish a low calorie meal. Use of lentils along with grains makes this tiffin wholesome. You can serve the pidi kozhakattai along with your choice of chutneys or sambar. Idli Milagai Podi is also a great accompaniment to this tiffin. 

Instead of Little millets , you can also use Godhumai ravai /Dalia to make this pidi kozhukattai. It is equally yummy. 

Samai Arisi Pidi Kozhukattai ( Traditional Tiffin Recipe from Tamilnadu):

Preparation time : 30 minutes

Cooking time: 40 minutes

Serves : 4

1 Cup = 250 ml

Special Vessel/equipment : Steamer or pressure cooker without using the whistle, wide pan/kadai

Ingredients :

1 cup little millets/samai/sama/kutki

1/4 cup moong dal/ husked and split green gram

salt to taste

For tempering :

2 teaspoons sesame oil

1 teaspoon mustard seeds

1/2 teaspoon jeera/cumin seeds ( coarsely powdered)

1/2 teaspoon channa dal/bengal gram

1/2 teaspoon urad dal

1" ginger ( peeled, grated or finely chopped)

3-4 peppercorns ( coarsely powdered)

3-4 green chillies ( roughly chopped)

1 sprig curry leaves ( roughly chopped)

Method :

1. Wash and soak Samai Arisi in water for 30 minutes.

2. Wash and boil the moong dal and set it aside.

3. Heat a wide pan with oil over low flame and temper with ingredients given under' for tempering'.

4. Once tempered, add water ( approximately 2 cups) to the pan.

5. Sprinkle the required amount of salt .

6. Drain the soaked samai rice and add it to the pan.

7. Let the samai rice cook over low flame for 7-8 minutes.

8. Add the cooked moong dal and mix well.

9. Let the mixture come together and all the excess water absorbed.

10. Switch off and allow it to cool for 5-7 minutes.

11. Grease you hands with oil and start to shape the dumpings ( you can shape them into oblong or round shape).

12. Once you have shaped the entire mixture, arrange them in a greased vessel/steamer and steam the dumplings for 10 minutes.

13. Switch off.

Your tasty and delicious traditional Tiffin is ready to be served !

Have you tried my Godhumai Dosai Recipe and Visiri Dosai Recipe ?

Happy Cooking !

With love,

Masterchefmom