Amaranth Neer Kozhukattai

#AmaranthDumpling : #Dumpling is known as #Kozhukattai in Tamil. Dumplings are either steam cooked or cooked in boiling water.
This one is done in boiling water. I have already done Amaranth Neer Kozhukattai in combination with broken maize [ corn ]. This time tried with amaranth flour, amaranth seeds and rice flour.

Amaranth  is a leafy vegetable ( greens ) and its seed is also known as amaranth. Amaranth is nothing but widely used leafy vegetable called Thandu keerai or Mulai keerai in Tamil. The seeds of these plants are called amarnath seeds or simply amaranth in Tamil. It is called Rajkir Kara in Chhattisgarh.

Amaranth Seeds

There are many varieties of amaranth. Some are cultivated for food and some are grown as ornamental plants and some grow in wild. The leaves of some amaranth are in green in color, some are green and red in the middle and fully red in color. The whole plant is edible. The leaves are used as leafy vegetable, the stem is also cooked and the seeds are also used to make dishes. Even the white roots are cleaned, peeled and used in the preparation of sambar. Some amaranth flowers are strikingly beautiful and red in color and which produce lots of seeds. All the seeds are edible whether its cultivated or garden or wild varieties .

To know more about the plant
Amaranth Plant

Several studies have shown that like oats, amaranth seed or oil may be of benefit for those with hypertension and cardiovascular disease; regular consumption reduces blood pressure and cholesterol levels, while improving antioxidant status and some immune parameters.
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranth

Now coming back to the preparation.

Ingredients :
1/3 cup                                       Rice flour
1/3 cup                                       Amaranth flour
1 Tbsp                                       Amaranth seeds
1/3 cup                                       Coconut scrap
1/2 Tsp                                       Salt

To Saute :
1/4 cup                                        Palak nicely chopped
2 Tsp                                           Coconut scrap

To Temper :
1/2 Tsp                                       Mustard seeds
1/2 Tsp                                       Cumin
1 or 2                                          Red chilly
2 pinches                                     Asafoetida powder
1 Tsp                                          Gingelly oil [ til / sesame oil ]



Method :
Soak Amaranth seeds for 45 minutes.
After 45 minutes drain the water and keep aside.
Now mix the flours, soaked amaranth seeds, coconut scrap, salt adding little water.
Make a tight dough.
Using both the hands roll the dough into small balls.

Boil a cup of water in a vessel on high flame.
When water starts boiling reduce the flame to SIM.
Then add balls into boiling water slowly. The balls settle at the bottom.

Do not disturb the balls for 2 - 3 minutes.
After that balls slowly come to the upper surface of the boiling water.
Stir with a ladle and take care not to break the balls.

Let it simmer for 8 to 10 minutes.
Check whether the balls are cooked well.
Transfer the cooked amaranth balls into a bowl.

The water used for cooking the dumplings would have turned into porridge. 
Do not throw away this porridge. It can be consumed either with salt or jaggery.

Now heat a kadai on a stove with 1/2 Tsp of oil.
Splutter mustard and cumin seeds.
Then add broken pieces of red chilly.
Now add chopped palak and saute for 2 minutes.
Then add enough salt and saute for a few seconds.
Add dumplings and mix well.
Finally add 2 Tsp of coconut scrap and saute for a minute.

Transfer into a serving bowl.

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Amaranth Khasa Khasaa Payasam

Amaranth Payasam

Amaranth Neer Kozhukattai 1

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