Kozhi Pidi / Rice Dumplings in Curried Chicken

KOZHI PIDI

A delicious and lip smacking Kerala delicacy.  Though it takes some time to prepare, its worth the effort. Kozhi Pidi can be served as a main course dish.

Ingredients:

1. Roasted rice flour- 3 cup

2. Grated coconut- 1 cup

3. Shallots- 10

4. Fennel seeds- 3 tsp

5. Water- 4 cups

6. Salt- as needed

7. Thin coconut milk- 5 cup

8. Thick coconut milk- 1 cup

9. Ghee- 1 1/2 tbsp

10. Onion- 2

11. Ginger- 1 big piece

12. Garlic- 8

13. Green chilli- 6

14. Coriander powder- 2 tbsp

15. Chilli powder- 1 tbsp

16. Cinnamon- 2 inch piece

17. Cloves- 5

18. Cardamon- 5

19. Curry leaves- 2 springs

20. Chicken- 1 kg

Cut chicken into small pieces. 

Grind grated coconut, 3 shallots and 1 tsp of fennel without adding water. Add this to the water and mix well. Add some salt. Bring it to boil. Once it starts boiling, add rice flour and incorporate well without forming lumps. Switch off the flame and keep it closed for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, make small balls out of it and keep them aside.

In a deep bottomed pan,  boil thin coconut milk. Add some seasoning. Add the rice balls only when it starts boiling. Cook till the rice balls are cooked well and switch off the flame. This is the Pidi. 

Grind 7 shallots, ginger, garlic and green chilli to a paste. 

In a hot pan, dry roast cinnamon, cloves, cardamon and 2 tsp of fennel seeds. Grind it to a fine powder when cold. 

Heat ghee in a pan. Saute onion till wilted. Add the ground paste of shallots-ginger-garlic-green chilli and saute it well. Mix Coriander powder, Chilli powder and the powdered masala. Saute for 3 minutes. Add Chicken and saute for 5 minutes. Add seasoning. Make sure you don't add too much salt as we have added salt in the pidi also. Pour thick coconut milk and stir well. Cook the chicken well. Add more water if required. Once the Chicken is done, add the Pidi and curry leaves. Stir well. Cook for 1 minute and switch off the flame.

Serve hot.