Upma Kozhakattai Recipe

Its been long since i posted anything from my mom and i thought its not fair on her since she makes so lovely and unique dishes that noone else can make as good as her..like this Kozhakattai she makes at home..a very simple and common south-indian dish, somehow never tastes the same when someone else makes it. I think the secret ingredient she uses is the mother's touch.. or the smell of her hands..that makes any home-made recipe perfectly yummy! Here is the Upma Kozhakatai Recipe from my mom's kitchen..now don look for the quantity of 'love' in the ingredients section.. that is for u to figure out!

Upma Kozhakkatai Recipe

Ingredients
Rice Rava (broken rice grains) - 2 cups
Onion - 1 large sized (optional)
Water - 4 cups
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Urud Dal - 1/2 tsp
Channa Dal - 1/s tsp
Green chillies - 1 or 2 - slit in the middle
Red chillies - 1 or 2 - cut into halves
Asafoetida - one pinch
Curry leaves - few
Salt to taste
Oil to saute

Method
Splutter mustards in some oil in a pan.
Fry curry leaves, dals and the chillies.
Saute finely chopped onions till golden, if using.
Add the water, salt and asafoetida, bring to a boil.
Now add the Rice Rava and stir continously.
Dont let the rava form lumps, keep stirring.
Close with a lid and let it cook in low flame.
Keep checking for water and stir once in a while.
Once the Upma is done, make oval-shaped Kozhakkatais out of it.
Steam cook in a pressure cooker (without the weight) for a few minutes.
Serve hot with Coconut/Tomato chutney or Sambar.

You can make the Rice Rava at home by coarsely grinding raw rice in a mixer or just use store bought ready-made Rice Rava.