Chittau Peetha a.k.a Putku Peetha

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Dedicated to my dearest of all cousins.. a foodie by heart.. a foodie by soul.. a foodie by hands, legs, eyes, ears.. almost everything... Abyss (Abhi Das)

Here's to you and your love for Mami's Chittau Peetha... :) I know you'll never make it.. so I'll make and you can come home and have it..




Ingredients
  • 2 cups basmati rice - soaked overnight in water.
  • 1 cup grated coconut
  • 1.5 cups water
  • Sugar (To sprinkle on top of the peetha)
  • Salt (wee bit)

Process
  • Grind the soaked rice + grated coconut + 1 cup water to a fine paste. The batter should be watery. 
  • Remove batter in a wide mouth bowl. Add more water if you think the batter isn't watery enough. To test, take a spoonful of batter and tilt the spoon. If the batter flows down smoothly just like fruit juice, then its ready. 
  • Now, add wee bit of salt and mix again.
  • Let this mixture rest to ferment for about 4 hours (may take longer, if you stay in US and have a cold house like me). Try the oven method (Keep the light on and put the bowl inside the oven)
  • After hours of fermenting, we are ready to roll.. uuhhh.. actually spread and enjoy !
  • Heat a deep (kadhai type) pan. Let it heat through real nice. A non-stick one is the best.
  •  Take a big spoonful of the batter, put it into the kadhai and move the kadhai is circular motion to spread the batter away from the center of the kadhai.
  • Cover the kadhai with a fitting cover & keep a damp cloth surrounding the cover. Make sure the edges get covered, so that the vapor stays in and does not go away. Mami does not use a damp cloth but she sprinkles water on the edges of the cover (not sure how that works, but it surely does work)
  • After 5 mins on medium heat, the peetha will be ready. To check it, you just have to take a spatula and try to lift it from one side. If it comes up fine, you are good. If not, then give it 2 - 3 more mins. 
  • Once done, take the peetha out with the spatula, keep on a plate and sprinkle little sugar on it. 
  • Serve hot. 
  • Accompaniments? I did not ask Mami, but we used to eat it all by itself. Some people like Rabidi with it, or Dalma or any spicy curry would do good too. 
Enjoy this melt in mouth soft "Putku" peetha.. a dish that is enjoyed all over Odisha.. :)

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