Puttu Recipe (Kerala Puttu)

Name: Puttu Recipe | Kerala Puttu
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 cups puttu flour; 1 cup coconut; 1.5 cups water (as required to sprinkle); salt ( as required)

Last Updated On: Mar 16, 2024 by Sharmilee J

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Puttu also known as Indian rice cake is a popular breakfast dish in and around South India, Puttu is a traditional and popular breakfast of Kerala and commonly relished with Kadala Curry. Learn to make Puttu Recipe with and without puttu maker with step by step pictures and video.

puttu served with banana and kadala curry

Puttu also known as rice cake or Kerala funnel cake can be made with different types of flours and can be enjoyed with wide variety of side dish. Puttu is a good alternate breakfast for roti or chapati or idli dosa. Puttu is great with kadala curry which is a popular combo too.

What is Puttu?

Puttu also known as Indian rice cake or Rice puttu is one of the staple breakfast in Kerala. Puttu is made by first mixing raw rice flour with salt and sugar until crumbly texture then latering the flour with coconut and steaming it until cooked. Traditionally puttu is served with kadala curry, banana, coconut and sugar.

Puttu is a steamed healthy food that can be made for breakfast or dinner. Puttu is commonly made with raw rice flour which is slightly coarse than the regular flour, this is called puttu podi. Puttu podi is available ready made in supermarkets like red rice flour or ragi flour, millets, broken wheat, broken corn etc.

With just few tips and tricks you can make perfect soft puttu everytime. Puttu can be served with many variations however puttu kadala curry is a popular combo. Other than that it can be served with banana, green gram curry or pacha payaru, sugar, ghee, papadam etc.

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.

More Puttu Recipes

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 but make sure to use a slightly coarse flour. You can either use homemade puttu podi or buy it from stores. Similarly ragi, red rice, corn, aval (poha) can be powdered to flour for making the respective varieties of puttu.

Puttu Ingredients

Rice Flour: You can use either homemade rice flour or buy puttu podi from stores. 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.
Sweetener: Sugar / Cane Sugar / Powdered Jaggery is used as an additional side for puttu and not involved in the making of puttu.
Flavors: Adding cardamom powder gives a nice aroma to the puttu – hence sprinkle it a pinch if you like the flavor.

How to make Puttu Step by Step

1.To a mixing bowl : Add 2 cups puttu flour, 2 tablespoon 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 tablespoon 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 tablespoon 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 tablespoon 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.

place puttu flour on a cloth on idli plate

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

Flour – The rice flour used for making puttu should be coarse to get soft puttu.
Flour consistency – While mixing it with water make sure it should not be too tight else your puttu will become hard after steaming. While pressing it should hold its shape and fall crumble when slightly pressed this is the perfect consistency.
Puttu Maker – If you do not have puttu maker then just sprinkle the prepared mixture in idli pan and steam it for 10 mins.
Variations – Adding elaichi and sugar is optional when you have kadala curry as side dish. You can even pulse the flour in mixer for even mixing of water then steam it for more soft puttu.

Serving & Storing Suggestions

Puttu tastes best hot or warm. You can refrigerate puttu and heat it the next day for breakfast! Puttu is relished with kadala curry commonly or with powdered jaggery & grated coconut or with kurma.

FAQS

1.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.
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 to 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.

2.Is Puttu healthy?

Yes Puttu is healthy as it is steamed and oil is not used. It is more healthier with ragi flour.

3.Is Puttu Kudam / puttu maker 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.

4.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.

If you have any more questions about this Puttu Recipe do mail me at sharmispassions@gmail.com. In addition, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest ,Youtube and Twitter .

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