Puttu is a tasty crumbly & filling dish made by steaming rice flour & coconut in layers with or without a puttu maker. Puttu is a traditional & popular breakfast of Kerala and commonly relished with Kadala Curry. Puttu Recipe with & without puttu maker is explained in this post with step by step pictures.
Puttu can be made with different type of flours and can be enjoyed with wide variety of side dish. Puttu is a good alternate tiffin when we wish to try different dish from roti /chapati / idli & dosa. Puttu is a great with kadala curry which is a popular combo too.
About Puttu
Puttu is a steamed healthy food that can be made for breakfast or dinner. Puttu is commonly made with raw rice / red rice flour or ragi flour and can be made with other flours like corn, poha (aval), sathumaavu and millets. You can use homemade rice flour for making puttu but make sure to grind rice flour a bit coarse.
It is worth to try all these variations of Puttu at home if you like Puttu! Puttu drizzled with ghee & coconut tastes out of the world and the family will come for more.
Puttu 3 ways
I have shared 3 methods of steaming puttu:
- Method 1 : This method uses the cherati puttu maker and is ideal for making individual puttu and serve it, kids will love it a lot because of the cute size.
- Method 2 : This is the most traditional kuzha puttu method. Traditionally puttu kudam is used for making kuzha puttu. I have used the kuzha attachment.
- Method 3 : This method is best when you do not have any puttu maker. As most of us have idli steamer at home and we can make use of it for making puttu.
Puttu with & without Puttu Maker
Puttu can be cooked with Puttu Maker or Puttu Kudam as it is specifically called. The flour is filled in the cylindrical drum and water in the bottom kudam / vessel of the Puttu maker. The water boils in the bottom vessel and steams the flour in the upper container. Puttu Maker is available in kitchen utensils stores and online in Amazon, Flipkart & more.
Puttu can also be made without Puttu Maker by using idli pan. The prepared rice flour is spread on a cloth and steamed in idli pan just like idlis.
The left one is the cherati puttu maker and the one on the right is kuzha puttu maker. For puttu kudam check here.
This is the idli steamer, you need to place a cloth and add puttu flour. You can even use bamboo steamer but again place a cloth over it and add puttu flour.
Puttu – Rice & Ragi versions
Puttu with rice flour in Puttu Maker is published here. Puttu tastes amazing with ragi flour too! Ragi Puttu as it is called when we make with ragi flour is healthier and I have published the recipe earlier.
Puttu Flour
Puttu does not need any special flour preparation – raw rice flour is the puttu flour. However for an authentic preparation, we can coarsely grind the rice instead of grinding finely. At stores, you can try Nirapara or any other make PuttuPodi if you cannot make rice flour at home. Similarly ragi, corn, aval (poha) can be powdered to flour for making the respective varieties of puttu.
Puttu Ingredients
- Rice Flour: I have used homemade rice flour for this recipe. If you are making rice flour just for puttu, grind it coarsely. Store bought Puttu Podi / Puttu Flour or rice flour is also good for making puttu.
- Coconut : Fresh grated coconut is recommended for this recipe though we can use desiccated coconut, grated coconut available in the super markets as well when fresh coconut is not available. Scrap the white fleshy part of coconut without brown part for better taste.
- Sweetner: Sugar / Cane Sugar / Powdered Jaggery is used as an additional side for puttu and not involved in the making of puttu.
- Flavours: Adding cardamom powder gives a nice aroma to the puttu – hence sprinkle it a pinch if you like the flavour.
Puttu Recipes
More puttu / kozhukattai recipes
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Puttu
Ingredients
- 2 cups puttu flour
- 1 cup coconut
- 1.5 cups water as required to sprinkle
- salt as required
Instructions
- To a mixing bowl : Add 2 cups puttu flour, 2 tbsp coconut and salt to taste.
- Mix this well first.
- Add water little by little totally you may around 1.5 cups.
- Keep adding water and keep mixing until you get a slightly wet crumbly mixture like this.
- If you hold and see it should hold its shape.
- It should not fall apart on its own.
- And when you press it slightly it should crumble easily, we call this 'pidicha pidikanum vita uthuranum' in tamil.
- This is the perfect consistency. Puttu flour ready.
- Method 1: This method is using the cherati puttu maker. Place the plate inside the puttu maker first.
- Add 2 tbsp coconut to the puttu maker, slight pat it.
- Add puttu flour till almost 3/4th of the puttu maker. Slightly press it without applying too much pressure.Close with lid and set aside.
- Add water to pressure cooker, let it boil.
- Close with lid no whistle needed.Cook until steam starts to come out.
- Now place the puttu maker over it. Cook for 3-5 mins or until steam escapes through the holes, this indicates the puttu is cooked. Switch off and remove.
- Remove, open the lid and gently invert.
- Cherati puttu ready.
- Method 2 : This method uses kuzha puttu maker. Place the plate inside.
- First layer : add 3 tbsp coconut.Slightly press it without applying too much pressure.
- Second layer : Add puttu flour till half. Slightly press without applying too much pressure.
- Third layer: Add 2 -3 tbsp coconut again.
- Fourth layer : Add puttu flour till almost 3/4 th of the puttu maker.Press slightly with a laddle.
- Fifth layer: Add coconut again and press slightly.
- Close with lid. Place it on the cooker.
- Cook for 7-10 mins or until the steam escapes through the holes. Switch off and remove.
- Open the lid then using a stick push gently to demould.
- Kuzha Puttu ready.
- Method 3 : This method is most commonly used by those who do not have puttu makers. Take a idli plate, place a slightly wet cloth on it. Add prepared puttu flour in it.
- Meanwhile heat water in the idli steamer.
- Now place the idli plate.
- Close and cook for 5 mins.
- Open and your soft puttu is ready. Transfer to a plate, add coconut and serve.
- Serve hot with kadala curry.
Video
Notes
- If you dont have puttu maker then just sprinkle it in idli pan and steam it for 10mins.
- Adding elachi and sugar is optional when you have kadala curry as side dish.
Puttu Recipe Step by Step
1.To a mixing bowl : Add 2 cups puttu flour, 2 tbsp coconut and salt to taste.
2.Mix this well first.
3.Add water little by little totally you may around 1.5 cups.
5.Keep adding water and keep mixing until you get a slightly wet crumbly mixture like this.
6.If you hold and see it should hold its shape.
7. It should not fall apart on its own.
8.And when you press it slightly it should crumble easily, we call this ‘pidicha pidikanum vita uthuranum’ in tamil.
9.This is the perfect consistency. Puttu flour ready.
10.Method 1: This method is using the cherati puttu maker. Place the plate inside the puttu maker first.
11.Add 2 tbsp coconut to the puttu maker, slight pat it.
12.Add puttu flour till almost 3/4th of the puttu maker. Slightly press it without applying too much pressure.Close with lid and set aside.
13.Add water to pressure cooker, let it boil.
14.Close with lid no whistle needed.Cook until steam starts to come out.
15.Now place the puttu maker over it. Cook for 3-5 mins or until steam escapes through the holes, this indicates the puttu is cooked. Switch off and remove.
16.Remove, open the lid and gently invert.
17.Cherati puttu ready.
18.Method 2 : This method uses kuzha puttu maker. Place the plate inside.
19.First layer : add 3 tbsp coconut.
20.Slightly press it without applying too much pressure.
21.Second layer : Add puttu flour till half. Slightly press without applying too much pressure.
22.Third layer: Add 2 -3 tbsp coconut again.
24.Fourth layer : Add puttu flour till almost 3/4 th of the puttu maker.
25.Press slightly with a laddle.
26.Fifth layer: Add coconut again and press slightly.
27.Close with lid.
28.Place it on the cooker.
29.Cook for 7-10 mins or until the steam escapes through the holes. Switch off and remove.
30.Open the lid then using a stick push gently to demould.
31.Kuzha Puttu ready.
32.Method 3 : This method is most commonly used by those who do not have puttu makers. Take a idli plate, place a slightly wet cloth on it. Add prepared puttu flour in it.
33.Meanwhile heat water in the idli steamer. Let it boil.
34.Now place the idli plate.
35.Close and cook for 5 mins.
36.Open and your soft puttu is ready. Transfer to a plate, add coconut and serve.
Serve hot with kadala curry.
Expert Tips
- If you do not have puttu maker then just sprinkle it in idli pan and steam it for 10mins.
- If you are using ragi flour, make sure to dry roast it for 3 minutes.
- Adding elaichi and sugar is optional when you have kadala curry as side dish.
Serving & Storing Suggestions
Puttu tastes best hot or warm. You can refrigerate puttu and heat it for next day morning use! Puttu is relished with kadala curry commonly or with powdered jaggery & grated coconut or with kurma.
FAQs
1.What is Puttu?
Puttu is a filling & healthy dish made by steaming rice flour & coconut in layers with or without a puttu maker. Puttu is a traditional & popular breakfast of Kerala and commonly relished with Kadala Curry.
2.How do you make Puttu?
- Prepare the flour like a coarse powder by sprinkling water little by little and allow it to rest for for 30 mins-1 hr.
- Boil water in the puttu maker. Meanwhile grease the puttu maker and start filling it with the flour mixture then coconut layer alternatively till you reach the rim of the puttu maker.
- Now attach it the cooker and steam it for 5-7 mins in low flame.
- Turn off heat and then gently push it with a wooden ladle or the skewer such that the puttu comes out clean.
3.Is Puttu healthy?
Yes Puttu is healthy as it is steamed and oil is not used. It is more healthier with ragi flour.
4.Is Puttu Kudam mandatory for making Puttu?
No Puttu Kudam is not mandatory for making puttu. We can spread the flour in the idli pan and steam like idlis.
5.My flour is becoming sticky & like dough – what should I do?
Water would have been added in excess – making flour sticky & feel like dough. Add more flour till you achieve coarse powder form. The right consistency is when you take the prepared flour and close it with your fist it should form a shape.
Sudha Sabarish
Thats a mouthwatering dish.This kadala curry also goes very will with appam too.Even this combo i had in allepy.It was also extraordinary.
Prathibha
Nice n yummy combo..looks delicious..:)
Laavanya
A favorite at our home.. and forms a filling weekend breakfast. I make kadala curry very similarly too.
Suja
Love this combo so much..kadala curry looks spicy and delicious..yummy breakfast
Sushma Mallya
Looks mouthwatering ..this is my fav its been such a long time since I prepared this 🙂
Reshmi Mahesh
A delicious breakfast…love this combo…Adding sugar to puttu while cooking is new to me…
Paaka Shaale
The puttu and the kadala curry looks way too perfect Sahrmilee. Wonderful clicks as usual 🙂
Vimitha Anand
Love this combination a lot. Urs looks so tempting and tasty..
Shanavi
I've an puttu maker here, still not used it Sharmi..Ur amma made it perrrrfect !!! Awesome combo..
manjooo
my mouth is watering 😛
Yummy Team
Love the puttu and kadala combo..Tempting clicks! Your step pictures are also awesome.
DD
I heard of it but never got a chance to taste it!!! looks yumM!!!!
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Manju
Glad you liked the kadala curry recipe..tempting pics indeed 🙂
layaa
I am a great fannnnnnnnnnnnn of kuzha puttu.Thankkkkkkkkkkk uuuuuuuuuuuuu soooo mucchhh for this wonderfullll recipe.
Nithya
I have never had puttu before but have heard a lot about it. The rocket machine brings an excitement to me always 😛 Got to experiment this sometime. Looks damn delicious and the combi of kadala curry is fantastic too 🙂
schmetterlingwords
Just yesterday, I was telling my husband that I have a craving to taste puttu and kadala curry. Did you read my mind?? Wow, this looks amazing and you are making me yearn for it more. In my home1 (mom's place), we have banana, sugar and ghee to accompany puttu. In my home2 (inlaw's place), we have kadala curry to accompany puttu. I love it both ways. I do not have puttu maker here. So, have to wait till the next time I go home. Whenever I get the craving again, I shall visit your page here and drool… 🙂
ANU
OMG! this looks awesome…my hubby loves this combo and he would kill me if he sees this…as he is asking me to make it from a long time!
poor guy will surely make for him now …bookmarked dear!
http://anuzhealthykitchen.blogspot.com/2011/07/event-berries-strawberry-desserts.html
Uma
Yummy recipe. Makes me hungry and grab one.
Cheers,
Uma
divya
superb…Tempting clicks..
Torviewtoronto
delicious combination with the puttu looks wonderful
Divya Kudua
I love how you say Kuzha puttu,sounds cute:).Puttu-kadala-pappadam is a standard Sunday breakfast for us!
priya ravi
wow.. delighted to see my favourite recipe. My mom makes this kula puttu with kadalai and green gram curry. I love them very much . Though i have puttu maker at home, i have never tried once :(. But after seeing urs, i hv decided to make it this weekend 🙂
RAKS KITCHEN
Its such a classic combo, I never had this combo yet, sounds delicious and comforting too 🙂
ചേച്ചിപ്പെണ്ണ്
just two three days back i got this blog! ( through ur comment in vazhayila .Now I am a great fan of ur dishes!
Nice to read about Puttu kadala , and i really happy to know that u too love this 'malayali prathal'
By hearty wishes to the upcoming post!
Gayathri NG
i never had puttu and kadalai curry before surely will try. Thank u so much such for introducing a traditional receipe. Looks very delicious….
jeyashrisuresh
never had this combo, though i have heard about this a lot. pictures are too good
Kalpana Sareesh
wow my fav kerala dish..i am longinf to try these n buy puttu steamer..
Mitha
Wow nice one sharmi
its my hubs favourite Put kadala and pappadam
but we fry coconut bits too while sauting onions.
that too in coconut oil.
its truly a kerala dish
TheYummyMorsel
Yummy! I just love this dish. Its one of my favorites!
Sharmilee! :)
@Reshmi: Adding sugar is purely optional but we like it that way 🙂
@schmetterlingwords : Thanks so much, give a try at ur home3(ur kitchen:))its the super tasty combo
Ramya
U know this is my fav breakfast:-)U hav done it really well:-) especially the kadala curry, looks soo appetizing:-)OOo i am craving for some..
Pavithra
This is my fav one from my childhood days.. cos I had so many Mallu friends .. started liking this when I first had in their home.. this is too good and tempting.
Angie's Recipes
A very mouthwatering curry dish!
Vijitha
I am a big puttu fan and my mom makes pacha payaru curry with it. That's my most fav combo. Your clicks makes me grab a plate and sit with you for lunch. Its 11.45 am here and I am getting early hunger pranks because of you Sharmi!!! 🙂
Madhavi
WOW amazing post..and Puttu is new for me, love this recipe.
Lavanya Selvaraj
Wonderful combo and excellent clicks.
-Lavanya
My Recent Post: Peanut Butter Pillows
Sia
comfor food at it's best! one of the beautiful pics of puttu and kadla curry I have come across!
Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal
Puttu is something new for me but the kadala curry looks simple delicious 🙂
Sharmilee! :)
@Vijitha : Come join me 🙂
@Sia : Aww….thats a great compliment from you 🙂
S.Menaga
இதுவரை இந்த காம்பினேஷனில் சாப்பிட்டதில்லை,படங்களை பார்க்கும்போதே சாப்பிட ஆவலா இருக்கு..
Preethi Sriram
Wow, Wonderful combi…. i tried your kadala curry and my hubby loved it…
I will update it soon.
Please so check and follow my blog and post your valuable comments.
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kalyani
Tried this Yesterday and came out really well..my hubby loved it,,,:)Credits to you Sharmi 🙂 But I got confused with the Step(3) while making the Kadala curry as adding the ground paste given twice. Please clarify and correct me. Anyways thanks a ton to you sharmi:)
Sharmilee! :)
@Kalyani: Good to hear that….yes yes now updated it pls check :))
Meenal Ramanathan
is it that we have to dry roast everything for kadala curry or only coconut
Sharmilee! :)
Its is full list under 'to roast and grind'
someone2share
Tried this recipe today with appam for my husband's birthday 🙂 It came out well.. Just one thing Sharmi. Tomato, red chilli powder and coriander powder are not listed under ingredients but are included in the stepwise recipe.. Thought you might want to correct that.
sharmila dhandapani
hi sharmi, i tried this puttu today… but puttu is felt sticky in mouth…. i dont know were i went wrong… i cooked in idly cooker ….. 🙁 is this because of cooked n idly cooker or the water consistence in rice flour..?
SHARMILEE J
If its sticky then I think its not fully cooked…..Cook for few more mins..If you cook in idli cooker the timing may vary accordingly….
sharmila dhandapani
Thanks sharmi, i tried it again it came out well:):)
Unknown
My grandmother adds roasted jeera or jeera powder in the rice powder mix. Gives the puttu an awesome flavor.
Swetha Sukumar
When filling my putting maker, should I again fold it tightly (make a mould) with my palm and then fill or just using my fingers (like sprinkling)?
Sharmilee J
Just sprinkle but make sure it is tight so press it well after adding
Online user
can i use puttu flour for making idiyappam ?
Sharmilee J
We use the same homemade rice flour for both puttu and idiyappam not sure of the store bought ones but guess it should work too