Poopidi

Poopidi – etymology: poo means flower and pidi means fistful in tamil; it is white in colour and is given shape by pressing inside the fist. Sometimes, I use cookie cutter to give it different shapes. This is akkama’s (my paternal grandma’s) delicacy that remind me of her every time I do it; this is one other simple and tasty dish. But there are variants in the same name which I shall share in one of my future posts.

Ingredients:

1.       Broken rice – 1 cup (We call this Upma kappi )

2.       Water -2 cups

3.       Salt as per taste

4.       Cumin seeds – 1 tsp

5.       Pepper – 2 tsp

6.       Coconut chopped finely – 1 tbsp

7.       Oil – 1 tbsp

Method:

Step 1: Heat water with salt in a heavy bottomed pan. When it starts boiling, add the broken rice to it and stir constantly to avoid lumps.

Step 2: Heat oil in a small tadka ladle, crakle cumin seeds, broken pepper in it and keep aside.

Step 3: When the entire water is absorbed, add cumin seeds, pepper and coconut; then mix well and switch off the stove.

Step 4: When it is still hot, make small portions of it into your desired shapes; it can be moulded by pressing inside your fist or by making small balls or by patting them into small patties or moulded in small cups or using cookie cutters shape them.

Step 5: Steam these portions in a steamer and serve hot with chutney or idly podi.