Mani Puttu

Ingredients:

2 cups rice flour
2 cups water
1 tsp oil
1 cup grated coconut or as required
salt to taste
extra rice flour, to sprinkle on the rice balls

Preparation:

1. In a sauce pan, boil water adding oil and salt. When the water boils, add the rice flour and mix well with a wooden spoon. Switch off the flame and cover it with a lid for 3-4 minutes.
2. When the dough is still warm, knead it well to a soft and smooth dough.
3. Apply some oil to your hands and make small balls out of the dough. Sprinkle some rice flour on the balls to prevent them from sticking together.
4. To prepare the mani puttu, take a puttu maker and place the disc and layer it with 1 tbsp grated coconut first, then add 5-6 tbsp of rice balls.
5. Again add the grated coconut and repeat the steps till the puttu maker is filled and finish off with the grated coconut on the top..Cover it with the lid.
6. Fill pressure cooker/ puttu kudam with 2-3 cups of water and bring to a boil.
7. Place the puttu maker on top of it and steam cook for 7-8 minutes or until the steam starts coming out from the top of puttu maker. 
8. Remove the puttu maker, open the lid and gently push the mani puttu to a plate using a wooden ladle/ stick that comes along with the puttu maker…..  Serve hot….