Karadaiyan Nombu Adai / Nombu Adai / Steamed Rice Doughnuts (Savoury/Jaggery)

Tomorrow is "Karadaiyan Nombu" in Tamil Nadu. Its believed that Savitri brought back her husband Satyavan from Yama on this day (First day of Panguni Month).
For more info click here : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savitri_and_Satyavan

Women pray for the long life of their husbands and unmarried girls pray for a good husband(future).

I am sharing the recipe for the two customary dishes which are prepared and offered to God on this day. Women and girls after their prayer eat this first. Other family members get to eat it only after the womenfolk are done.

As I child I remember my brothers waiting for me to complete my food so that they can get to have their portion of this yummy food. I used to eat as slow as possible just to irritate them. Later on, they waited only till I had the first bite. :)

This is made as a tiffin item too on a normal day. My nephew loves this so much that my sister-in-law makes it very often as a tiffin.

There is a sweet as well as a salt version. As this dish is steamed, its very healthy.

UPPU ADAI (Savoury Doughnut)

Traditional Method

Ingredients:

Ratio 
Raw rice flour : Water
1                      : 1.25

For making 6 pieces

Raw rice : 1/4 cup
Cooked black eyed bean (Karamani) : 1 table spoon 
Water : 1/4 cup + little extra
Coconut pieces : 1 spoon
Salt (as per taste)

For seasoning
Mustard seeds (Kadugu)
Urad dal (Ulundu)
Green chilli pieces
Curry leaves
Asafoetida : 1 pinch

Procedure

- Wash and dry the rice. Once dried, roast it on a pan (Colour shouldn't change).
- Fine grind the rice in a mixer.
- Take a pan, heat little oil, add the seasoning. (Mustard seeds first. Once it spatters, add the other ingredients)
- Add the boiled black eyed bean, coconut pieces, water and salt to the pan.
- Once the water starts boiling, add the powdered rice. (Keep stirring with one hand as you add the rice powder)
- Remove from flame and allow the mix to cool.
- Knead the mix. If its crumbly, sprinkle some hot water and knead.
- Make small patties with a hole in the centre.
- Grease plates/idly mounds, place the patties and steam them.
- Serve hot with butter.

White ones are the Uppu Adai

VELLA ADAI (Jaggery Doughnut)

Ingredients

Ratio : 
Rice flour : Jaggery : Water
1               : 3/4         : To melt the jaggery

For making 4 pieces

Raw rice : 1/4 cup 
Cooked black eyed bean (Karamani) : 1 table spoon 
Jaggery : Little less than 1/4 cup
Coconut pieces : 1 spoon
Cardamom powder : 1/4 tspn

Procedure

- Wash and dry the rice. Once dried, roast it on a pan (Colour shouldn't change).
- Fine grind the rice in a mixer.
- Take a pan, melt the jaggery with little bit of water.
- Add the boiled black eyed bean, coconut pieces and cardamom to the pan.
- Once the mix starts boiling, add the powdered rice. (Keep stirring with one hand as you add the rice powder)
- Remove from flame and allow the mix to cool.
- Knead the mix. If its crumbly, sprinkle little hot water and knead.
- Make small patties with a hole in the centre.
- Grease plates, place the patties and steam them.
- Serve hot with butter.

Brown ones are the Vella Adai

Alternate method

Readymade rice flour can be used instead of washing, drying, roasting and fine grinding raw rice.

Tips
- One cup of raw rice on fine grinding gives one cup of rice flour.
- Keep aside little hot water. While adding the flour to the hot water, if you feel water is less, you can add little to it.
- While adding the rice flour to the boiling water, keep stirring and add it slowly. This helps avoid the formation of lumps.
- While kneading the dough, sprinkle little hot water if it is crumbly.
- Grease your palm while making the patties. 
- Best way to make the patties is by patting them on Banana leaf or Aluminium foil.