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:

1. For preparing pidi / rice dumplings, first crush grated coconut, fennel seeds and small onion together.
2. Boil water and salt in a pan. Add this boiling water to the rice flour and mix well.
3. Add the crushed coconut mixture and knead well to a smooth dough.
4. Make small balls out of the dough and slightly flatten it and steam cook in a steamer for 10-12 minutes..Keep them aside..
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan and add the chopped onion, green chillies, ginger-garlic paste and tomato and saute well.
8. 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.
9. When it starts to boil, add the prepared pidi/ rice dumplings and fried mussels and mix well.
10.  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...
11. Adjust the spice level according to your taste...