Palakkad special Ela Adai
Palakkad special Ela Adai is a traditional dessert from Kerala. It is an oil free, gluten free and vegan dessert.Traditionally the prepared dumplings or Adais are steamed in Banana leaf parcel which lends a very nice aroma to the recipe.
Ingredients
Ingredients for the stuffing
- 1 cup Ripe jackfruit pods. This is optional. You can skip adding any fruit or you can add Nendra pazham (long plantain from Kerala). For some variation, try adding apples.
- 1 cup Grated fresh coconut
- 1 cup Jaggery
- ¼ cup Water
- ⅛ tsp Cardamom powder
Ingredients for the Batter
- 1 cup Idli Rice or any other variety of Raw Rice soaked for 4 hours
- ⅛ tsp Salt
- ⅛ tsp Cardamom powder
Other Ingredients
- 6 piece Banana Leaves or Parchment Paper-9x9 inch
Instructions
Prepare the stuffing
- If using ripe jackfruit pods, then peel and cut the pods into small pieces. Please check the video if you want to know how to work with jackfruit pods.
- Add jaggery and water to a pan and let it boil.
- When it boils, strain into another pan and continue to boil.
- Add chopped jackfruit pieces or banana or apple and cook for a few minutes.
- Add the grated coconut and mix everything.
- Cover and cook for about 5 minutes.
- Uncover and check if all the moisture has evaporated. If not, then cook for a few more minutes.
- Turn off the flame. Add cardamom powder.
- This stuffing can be stored in the refrigerator for upto a week. Can also be kept in a deep freezer for many months.
Prepare the Batter
- Grind soaked rice to a fine paste by adding water as required.
- Add cardamom powder and salt and mix thoroughly.
Make Ela Adai
- Cut about 9x9 inch pieces of Banana leaves.
- Remove the hard center stem to make it flexible.
- Wash and wipe dry the leaves.
- Wilt the leaves over direct flame.
- You can also wilt the leaves by dipping them in hot water for a few minutes. Or, you can bake them @200°c/400°f for 10 minutes.
- Wilting helps to make the leaves very flexible. That way they don't tear while rolling .
- Brush a little oil on a wilted leaf.
- Spread a ladleful of batter.
- Put a tbsp of the filling in the center.
- Fold the leaves from all 4 sides to make a parcel. Please check the video if you need help here.
- If banana leaf is not available, then you can do the same procedure on a parchment paper.
- Heat water in a steamer.Arrange all prepared parcels on a plate and keep in the steamer. You can also use idli mould.
- Cover and steam for 15 minutes.
- Remove all parcels from the steamer. Serve as it is (in the leaf).
