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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Ela Ada (Ethakka filling) / Steamed Soft Rice Cakes with ripe plantain filling

'Ela Ada' is a commonly used malayalam word for steamed soft rice cakes prepared using banana leaf jackets and is filled usually with coconut and jaggery with a touch of cumin powder or cardamom powder.It is prepared either as breakfast or as snack.These days we get ready made ones in the frozen section of Indian grocery stores.But friends,this is a very simple but very healthy recipe for kids as an evening snack.Now,getting banana leaves may be a question in many of my US friends here,right?? I too had this in my mind,but now am aware that we can get it in the mexican stores here.So, what's stopping you to prepare this oil free,guilt free healthy food ?Go ahead and give a try!!


Related post : Ottada



If you have no access to the mexican stores,you can prepare them using the regular aluminum wrapping foil.I tried one with that too; you need to oil the foil and then apply the rice flour dough evenly.However,when you compare the softness its not as soft as the ones cooked in banana leaves but the taste is good. At times you crave for an ela ada in a place away from Kerala,you can adjust a bit right regarding the texture using aluminium foil too,Isn't it? I prepared the ela adas using ripe plantain as the filling instead of jaggery. I should admit that it was a big hit like my Plantain Pan cakes and Sweet Plantain Puffs.So not boring much with the write up,just check this out !!!


Note the change in colour of banana leaf once steamed


Ingredients
rice flour 1 1/2 cups
ripe plantain 2
coconut grated 1/2 cup
sugar 3 tsp (optional)
cardamom powder 1/2tsp
salt
boiling water 1 cup



Method

  • Take the rice flour in a bowl ,add salt.Keep aside.
  • Boil the water in a pan and add slowly to the flour ,make a soft dough like for chapati.
  • Boil the sweet plantains with the skin intact in a steamer or idly cooker.
  • Mash the plantains after removing skin and add the grated coconut ,sugar, cardamom powder.


  • Wash and clean the banana leaves  and cut out small pieces.
  • Keep a small bowl ready with water and dip your fingers into it ,take a small ball of dough .
  • Place it in the centre of the leaf and spread both sides.If the dough starts sticking to your hands,apply a small amount of water by dipping your fingers into the bowl.


  • Then ,place the filling on one side and fold the other half on top of it as a jacket.
  • Place an idli cooker or steamer and place the filled leaves into it .
  • Steam for about 10- 15 minutes till the ada start to leave the leaf and there is change in colour of banana leaf.

Note the change in colour of banana leaf once steamed

  • Serve it hot as breakfast or a healthy snack.
Servings  12 adas

NOTE
* If you are using a aluminium foil wrap,then oil it before applying the dough to get the correct texture.


Sending this to The Kerala Kitchen hosted by Divya of Easy cooking  for this month



23 comments:

JishasKitchen said... Best Blogger Tips

ohh...ethu ende fav aanu...varshangal aayi ethu kazhichittu....kandittu control pookunnu...:)

Chaitanya said... Best Blogger Tips

This recipe is new to me..very yummy, healthy and steamed ...will try this thanks for sharing
www.rajafood.blogspot.com

Sangeetha M said... Best Blogger Tips

The outer cover is same like the dough we use for modhak n the filling is very new n interesting...so yummy filling too...really steaming with banana leaves is a healthy choice..thanx Julie for sharing such authentic recipes from Kerala cuisine...
Thanx for the info. that banana leaves r available in Mexican stores..will chk it out..thanx dear!!

Julie said... Best Blogger Tips

Thanx all for your Quick responses..

Suja Manoj said... Best Blogger Tips

Healthy and yummy snack..looks so tempting

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips

literally drooling over this post! I grow my own banana plants - not big ones but small and bring them in for the winter - It makes a big difference in taste to use them - Awesome post Julie - I am coming over :)

Prabha Mani said... Best Blogger Tips

Really Banana leafs makes more Flavour.Luks very gud.Thanks for the recipe .

Binys Recipes said... Best Blogger Tips

i like it...brings back memories...very difficult to get plantain leaves here.....will try mexican st

Sobha Shyam said... Best Blogger Tips

i like these ela ada a lot, its been so long i had these..innovative idea of using foil..yummy and delicious ada..

Mugdha said... Best Blogger Tips

Thanx for visiting and giving lovely comments at my blog..:)

wow awesome recipe..the way of steaming reminds me of enduri pitha of orissa whr we use the leaves of turmeric...but here the dough and filling is diff...u hav a gr8 space dear...happy 2 follow u..hope 2 c u at my blog too..tc..enjoy..:)

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips

Thanks Julie for kind words on my blog. Seems you have nice recipe collections well arranged ~ I saw in recipe index.

Todays recipe looks so authentic and looks so yummy!!!

Cheers,
Uma

Hamaree Rasoi said... Best Blogger Tips

Extremely soft and delicious looking rice cake with such a yummy filling.

Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi

Treat and Trick said... Best Blogger Tips

Healthy and yummy meal!

vandana rajesh said... Best Blogger Tips

Ele ada looks yumm..we do not get banana leaves here and the innovative idea of using the foil is great..thks for sharing this wonderful recipe.

Kurryleaves said... Best Blogger Tips

absolutely love this...looks yummm

Jayanthy Kumaran said... Best Blogger Tips

can't wait to try this tempting dish..:P
Tasty Appetite

Ramya said... Best Blogger Tips

Ela ada adipoli ayitundu:-)

Jeyashris Kitchen said... Best Blogger Tips

nicely explained and perfect traditional dish for the event

divya said... Best Blogger Tips

Healthy and yummy snack..looks so tempting

Vidhya said... Best Blogger Tips

This my absolute favorite.Ada looks so yummy.

Sayantani Mahapatra Mudi said... Best Blogger Tips

what a beautiful dessert. love it.

Daisy Roshan said... Best Blogger Tips

nice recipe there for the ela ada..

kankana said... Best Blogger Tips

This is a very different kind of recipe and I have not eaten anything like that.. looks good!