Kerala Style Kozhi Pidi/ Rice Dumplings in Chicken Gravy

As fasting is going on, watching the food related videos online makes us crave to try all the dishes. One such dish is this rice dumplings in chicken gravy. My daughter saw this on a food channel and asked me about this dish. As I grew up in Andhra, I ate mostly Andhra dishes and I just heard about this dish but never tasted it, so when she asked I thought of giving it a try and here I am today with the recipe in my blog.

This is a very delicious and delightful dish which is popular in the northern region of Kerala. This dish has carbs and proteins all packed in one making it a one pot meal.

Steamed Pidi

This Kerala delicacy consists of steamed rice dumpling that is soaked in the chicken gravy which can be relished as a dinner or a snack which will be very filling. Some people will just cook the pidi (rice dumpling) separately in coconut milk gravy and will have it along chicken curry, here I mixed both which formed as a delicious, thick dumpling gravy. My daughter tried it for the first time and loved it, hope you will also try and let me know how it turned.

Ingredients:

For Rice Dumplings:

1. Rice Flour- 1 Cup
2. Water- 1 Cup
3. Salt- a pinch
4. Coconut- 1/4 Cup
5. Garlic- 1
6. Cumin Seeds- 1tsp

Method:

1. Grind the coconut, cumin seeds and garlic to a fine paste. Keep this aside.
2. Boil water with a pinch of salt and the ground paste. Mix well.
3. When the water starts boiling add the rice flour slowly and mix using a wooden spoon without forming lumps.
4. Mix it well on a low flame and close with a lid. After 5-10 minutes switch off the flame. Mix ones again and let it cool.
5. Knead it well to make a smooth dough. Oil your palms and make small balls, when done steam all the rice balls in a steamer till done. Keep this aside.

Ingredients for Chicken Gravy:

1. Chicken- 2lb
2. Onions- 2 
3. Green Chillies- 3-4
4. Ginger-Garlic Pate- 1 tbsp
5. Tomatoes- 1
6. Red Chili Powder- 2 tbsp
7. Turmeric Powder- 1 tsp
8. Coriander Powder- 1 tbsp
9. Garam Masala Powder- 1/2 tbsp
10. Oil- 2tbsp
11. Salt- as required
12. Water- 2 cups

To Grind:

• Coconut (grated)- 1Cup
• Fennel Seeds- 2 tbsp

Method:

1. Clean and wash the chicken and keep this aside.
2. Grind the coconut and fennel seeds to a fine paste.
3. Heat oil in a pan add the onions and saute till they become translucent. Add the green chillies, ginger-garlic paste and chopped tomatoes. Mix well till everything blends together.
4. Add salt, red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and garam masala powder, mix and add the chicken pieces.
5. After stirring for about 5 minutes add water and coconut paste. Close it with a lid and let it cook for 10- 15 minutes on medium flame.
6.  When the gravy is done, mix the steamed rice balls keep over low flame for 4- 5 minutes till it combined well. Serve hot and enjoy.