Patoli is a traditional dessert made in parts of Karnataka and Konkan, infused with the earthy fragrance of turmeric. A similar dish in Kerala is made on banana leaves and is called ela ada.
When I saw the turmeric plant in my garden I was reminded of this dish and its aroma.
It is made with simple ingredients and is full of flavor with the goodness of coconut and jaggery.
Ingredients
- Brown rice: ½ cup
- Fresh coconut: 2 tbsp
- Rock salt: ¼ pinch
- Turmeric leaves/ Banana leaves - for steaming
For the filling
- Fresh Coconut: 1 cup(grated)
- Jaggery: ¾ cup
- Water: 2 tbsp
- Cardamom: 1 no
Method
- Soak brown rice for 4 hours.
- Grind with salt and grated coconut with very little water into a smooth and thick paste.
- In a pan place the filling ingredients and cook well until the jaggery is melted and the mixture comes together and has no extra moisture.
- Cool the filling.
- Wash and wipe the leaves clean and dry.
- Heat water in a steamer.
- Apply the rice paste on the leaves with the back of a spoon or use your fingers.
- Ensure that the paste applied is a thin layer. Refer picture.
- Place the coconut filling on top of the rice paste on one side of the leaf.
- Fold the leaf and press the edges.
- Place the prepared leaves in a steamer and steam on high flame for 10 minutes.
- Your kitchen will be filled by the aroma of fresh turmeric.
- Carefully remove the leaves and separate the dumplings from the leaves.
- Tastes great when warm.
Wellcure Tip:
- If you don’t get turmeric leaves you can still make them with cut banana leaves.
- If the leaves are too big to fit into the steamer you can cut them into halves.
- · Thinner the rice paste layer better the final product.
- · If you feel the rice paste is too thick and find it difficult to spread, u can mix a few spoons of water.
- · Any leftover rice paste can be thinned down to a dosa batter and made into dosas.
Eating guide:
- Food group: grains and nuts
- Easy to combine the two food groups.
- Being dairy-free, refined sugar- free and oil-free it’s a welcome change to the regular sweet dishes.