Making puttu in a coconut shell is a very old method used by our grandmothers. It is a healthy, oil-free steamed breakfast that is very soft and fragrant. This method is very easy for anyone to try at home using a regular pressure cooker, even if they do not have a modern puttu maker.
Ingredients for Chiratta Puttu
- Rice flour (roasted) – 2 Cups
- Grated coconut – 1 Cup
- Water – As needed
- Salt – To taste
- Cleaned coconut shell – 1 (with one of the “eyes” pierced open)
How to Make Chiratta Puttu
- Take the roasted rice flour in a wide bowl and add a pinch of salt. Mix well.
- Sprinkle water little by little onto the flour. Use your fingertips to mix it gently so the flour becomes moist but does not turn into a dough.
- To check if it is ready, press a handful of flour in your palm; it should hold its shape but crumble easily when pressed harder.
- Take a cleaned coconut shell that has a small hole in the bottom (one of the three eyes).
- With one of your fingers keep the hole of the shell closed and put 1 or 2 spoon of grated coconut into the shell first to cover the hole lightly.
- Fill the shell loosely with the prepared rice flour. Do not press the flour down, or the steam will not pass through. Top it with another layer of coconut.
- Fill your pressure cooker with some water and bring it to a boil. Place the cooker lid on, but do not put the whistle (weight) on.
- Place the filled coconut shell directly over the nozzle.
- Cover the top of the shell with a small heavy lid to trap the steam, if the lid is not heavy make sure there are small holes to let the extra steam go out otherwise with the force of the steam the lid may fall off.
- Steam for about 2 to 3 minutes until you see a lot of steam coming from the top of the shell.
- Carefully remove the shell and invert it onto a plate to release the hot, steaming puttu.
Serving Suggestions
This dish is best served warm as part of a traditional breakfast. It pairs wonderfully with Kadala (Chick pea) curry, Cherupayar (Green Gram) curry, any meat or fish curry. You can eat it with a ripe banana too.
Recipe Details
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes Recipe Yield: 3-4 servings. Dish Type: Traditional Breakfast.
Nutritional Notes
Prepared using steaming and traditional ingredients, this dish offers balanced nourishment and is very easy to digest.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is this suitable for everyday meals?
Yes. Chiratta Puttu is a very healthy steamed breakfast suitable for every day.
Can other flours be used?
Yes. You can follow the same method using ragi (finger millet) flour or wheat flour for a healthy variation.
What if I don’t have a coconut shell?
You can use a small steel bowl with a few small holes poked in the bottom, but the coconut shell gives a much better traditional flavor.
Final Note
This is a traditional breakfast dish meant for everyday healthy family meals, prepared with balance and familiar flavors.
Grandma’s Holistic Wellness 