Kallummakkaya Pidi / Steamed Rice Dumplings in Mussels Masala

Ingredients:

For Pidi (Rice dumplings)

1 1/2 cup rice flour
1/2 cup grated coconut
1/2 tsp fennel seeds
1 small onion, chopped
1 1/2-2 cups of water
salt

For Mussels Masala:

250 gm mussels/ kallummakkaya, cleaned
2 tsp chilli powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1 onion, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
4 green chillies, slit
1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
1/2 cup grated coconut
1 sprig curry leaves
2 tbsp coriander leaves, chopped
salt to taste
oil

Preparation:

• For preparing pidi / rice dumplings, first crush grated coconut, fennel seeds and small onion together.
• Boil water and salt in a pan. Add this boiling water to the rice flour and mix well.
• Add the crushed coconut mixture and knead well to a smooth dough.
• Make small balls out of the dough and slightly flatten it and steam cook in a steamer for 10-12 minutes..Keep them aside..
• Marinate the cleaned mussels with 1 1/2 tsp chilli powder, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder and salt. Then fry the marinated mussels and keep it aside.

• To prepare the masala, heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan and roast grated coconut till golden. Then grind it to a smooth paste adding required water and keep it aside.
• Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan and add the chopped onion, green chillies, ginger-garlic paste and tomato and saute well.

• Add ground coconut paste, 1-1 1/2chilli powder, coriander powder and 1/4 tsp turmeric powder to this, mix well and cook for few minutes on medium flame.

• When it starts to boil, add the prepared pidi/ rice dumplings and fried mussels and mix well.
•  Cook it on low flame for 5-10 minutes or until the gravy is thick and well coated with rice dumplings…Serve as a main dish…

• Adjust the spice level according to your taste…