Undrallu / Steamed Rice Dumplings

Recipe Cooked, Photographed and Written by Praveena

PrepTime:5 mins   CookTime:25 mins   Cuisine:South Indian

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Undrallu and Modakam are the most favourite foods for Lord Sri Ganesha to be offered as nayivedyam. And for Hindus, this is a most commonly known fact as well. 

Today being the most pious festival of Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayaka Chavithi, celebrated as the birth incarnation of Lord Ganesha (the elephant headed God of Hindus) .

I made these tasty delicacies as a part of the nayivedyam thali / offerings for the Gods.

Table of Contents:

1. What is ‘Undrallu’?
2. Other recipes from my blog:
3. Step wise pics Procedure for ‘Traditional Undrallu / Steamed Rice Dumplings’ :
4. Preparing the batter for ‘Undrallu’:
5. Steaming Undrallu on ‘Stove Top’:
6. Steaming Undrallu in ‘Instant Pot’:
7. Tips:
8. Result:
9. Ingredients, Accessories on ‘AMAZON’ to ‘SHOP’:
10. Recipe Card & Print:

What is ‘Undrallu’?

There are many varieties of recipes for undrallu and modakam, as per the family tradition and regional customs of India. I am sharing this savoury recipe as per the traditional recipe of Telugu States in the South of India.

Undrallu / steamed rice dumplings, is a a savoury recipe, where no spice is added, except for some salt for seasoning. Irrespective of which they taste excellently tasty!! 

These are not just made during Vinayaka Chavithi, but also made as regular breakfast item or for dinner too. Hence, adding them to my breakfast recipes collection.

Other recipes from my blog:

Before starting to cook, don’t forget to see the Tips mentioned at the end.

Traditional festive recipes collection⇒  Traditional Indian Recipes for Festivals / Panduga Nayivedyalu

Indian Festive Platters / Thali⇒  Vindhu Bhojanam / Festive Lunch

Ladoo recipes collection⇒  Ladoo Recipes / Indian Energy Balls

Instant Pot recipes collection⇒   Instant Pot / Electric Pressure Cooker Recipes

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Ingredients:

• White Rice (uncooked) – 1 cup
• Water – 3 cups + 2 cups (for cooking)
• Salt – 1½ teaspoons
• Chana Dal / Senagapappu / Split Yellow Gram – 2 teaspoons
• Jeera / Cumin Seeds – 2 teaspoons
• Fresh Coconut pieces (tiny size) – 2 tablespoons (optional)

Special Ingredients:

• Chana Dal / Senagapappu / Split Yellow Gram
• Fresh Coconut pieces (optional)

Step wise pics Procedure for ‘Traditional Undrallu / Steamed Rice Dumplings‘ :

Preparing the batter for ‘Undrallu’:

Steaming Undrallu on ‘Stove Top’:

Steaming Undrallu in ‘Instant Pot’:

• Pour 2 cups of water into the Inner Pot.
• Place all the undrallu / dumplings into a steel vessel / colander.
• Put the vessel on the steel insert / stand that fits in the Instant pot vessel.
• Close the gadget with IP lid, set to STEAM mode with VALVE to VENTING, for 12-15 mins (external timer has to be used).
• Switch the gadget off, but open the lid only after 5 mins, then serve. Done!!

Tips:

• Whatever might be the size of the cup, the measurements are same.
• Adjust the salt as per your taste.
• Fresh Coconut pieces can be added to the water in the pan before boiling.
• When you start pouring the ground rice powder, don’t stop stirring continuously with the other hand.
• Once you cook the mix, cool it and make the undrallu (dumplings) immediately, if not the mix would become dry and will not be good for shaping.
• If you do not have the Steel Insert / stand, you can use the same set-up as shown in the picture, where I have used a small steel cup & a colander.
• Storage: The cooked undrallu / dumplings can be warmed and served, suggested only for few hours though.

Result:

• Generally, Undrallu / steamed rice dumplings, being a savoury recipe, these are eaten with any chutney as a condiment or with sugar…but lots of ghee / butter is smeared on.
• They taste very good even without any spice added too.

Ingredients, Accessories on ‘AMAZON’ to ‘SHOP’:

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Recipe Card & Print:

Undrallu / Steamed Rice Dumplings

VegCookBook by Praveena

South Indian Traditional Telugu style recipe for Vinayaka Chavithi naivedyam. Vegan, Gluten Free, Steamed Rice dumplings. Both stove top & Instant Pot methods given with step wise pics, tips.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Indian, South Indian

Servings 12 count

Equipment

• 1 Blender/Grinder/Mixie.
• 1 Sauce Pan / Vessel (for stove-top method)
• 1 Instant Pot or Electric Pressure Cooker (for IP method)

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup White Rice (uncooked)
• (3+2) cups Water (for cooking)
• 1½ teaspoons Salt
• 2 teaspoons Chana Dal / Senagapappu / Split Yellow Gram
• 2 teaspoons Jeera / Cumin Seeds
• 2 tablespoons Fresh Coconut pieces (tiny size) (optional)

Instructions

 

Preparing the batter for 'Undrallu':

• Put a broad deep vessel / pan on stove-top under medium flame.

  Pour the water(3 cups), salt, chana dal and jeera into the pan. Bring to boil.
• In the mean while, take the rice (uncooked) into a spice blender / mixie and grind into fine powder.
• When the water boils & bubbles start forming, reduce the flame to low and slowly add the ground rice powder (in parts).

  Keep stirring continuously with the other hand.

  Until, all the water & ground rice powder are combined well and forms a solid mix.
• Let it cool completely (takes around 10 mins). Using your hands, make small balls from the mix.
• Put the undrallu / dumplings either in a colander or in an idli stand.

Steaming Undrallu on STOVE TOP in a VESSEL / COOKER:

• Pour 2 cups of water in a wide stove-top vessel (or) a stove top pressure cooker.
• Put a small steel cup at the centre of the vessel, place the colander on it.(see pic in main post)

  Or place the IDLI stand in the vessel (or) pressure cooker (without whistle).

  Close with LID.
• Steam cook them under high flame, for about 12 to 15 mins.

  Switch the flame off, but open the lid only after 5 mins, then serve. Done!!

Steaming Undrallu in INSTANT POT PRESSURE COOKER:

• Pour 2 cups of water into the Inner Pot.
• Place all the undrallu / dumplings into a steel vessel / colander.

  Put the vessel on the steel insert / stand that fits in the Instant pot vessel.
• Close the gadget with IP lid, set to STEAM mode with VALVE to VENTING, for 12-15 mins (external timer has to be used).

  Switch the gadget off, but open the lid only after 5 mins, then serve. Done!!

Notes

Please see the MAIN POST for recipe with step wise PICS & TIPS!

Keyword Ganesh Chathurthi special recipe, how to make undrallu in a pressure cooker, Instant Pot recipe for undrallu, traditional festive recipes undrallu

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