Mani Kozhukattai recipe (Mini, pearl sized savoury Modaks)

Trust Indians to make use of EVERYTHING, esp. when it comes food. Excess food? Leftovers? No problem. Invent a new dish to make it into something so different that its unrecognizable! My mom is an expert!  She can use leftovers in a very creative way. I sadly cannot. Of course I can always blame it on my better half who would run the other way at the speed of 100 miles per hour if any mention of "leftover" is made in my house. Did you know something made for breakfast is already a leftover that should not be touched even for lunch some mere 4 hours later? (Yes - technically its "Leftover"  - Thanks for pointing out English Gurus (#@$@#$) - But the (wo)men folk - the ones who actually cook - should get what I am talking about!) So while I am working hard on "not having a leftover", I am really not concentrating on getting creative with leftovers you know ;)

Mani Kozhukattai recipe (Mini, pearl sized savoury Modaks)
But for this recipe , I had to make an exception. I went ahead and made some extra lentil poornam along with excess rice flour dough. I knew I was craving for these mini beauties which are made using the leftover savory filling and leftover rice flour dough. Very creative right? So next time you even think about fretting over leftovers - please don't! make these :) They look like darlings, don't they? Since I make them immediately along with Uppu kozhukattai (Kolukattai), my better half's super smart brain(!!) does not consider this "leftover" - phew. Lets see this simple recipe shall we?
  • Cook time:
  • Prep time:
  • Yields: Serving size depends on leftovers of ingredients
Ingredients
Tips
Note:If you just have the excess dough but not the filling, there are two ways you can use it. Simply temper the ingredients like Mustard seeds and Split black gram along with pinch of asafoetida, curry leaves etc and add the steamed balls (as shown in the post below) to it. (Or) another method is to do the same tempering but add some Idli chutney powder (called as Milaga podi in Tamil) to the balls for that hot spicy kick.
Method
1. Grease your palms. Break a small piece of the dough and make v small balls shape roughly of small marbles (or like uppu seedai).
2. Repeat with the rest of the dough.
3. Steam these for 10-15 minutes.
4. Meanwhile in a skillet, heat a little oil. Add the leftover savory poornam (filling). Since I had already tempered the filling well with curry leaves, mustard seeds and other seasoning, its not really necessary to add anything else to this. But just for the freshness factor I added little turmeric along with additional curry leaves and cilantro. Toss for a minute or two.
5. Add the steamed balls to this mixture.
6. Very gently toss it along with the lentil mixture. You don't want to break the balls. Toss well until its coated with the mixture. Season with salt if needed.
Serve Hot. Its doesn't taste great when it gets cold. Its best when hot. Mani Kozhukattai recipe (Mini, pearl sized savoury Modaks)

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2 Member Reviews

By G3 on Sep 28, 2012

By Radhika on Sep 13, 2010

Tried this out with the left over modaka covering. Didn't add lentil, instead used the chutney powder.

Thank you for the recipe. Sorry, don't have a pic.

8 Comments

By Vona Marengo on Sep 13, 2018

Wow I will be making this recipe soon as I can almost taste it!!! and it is pretty too!!!!!

By Mithra on Sep 11, 2012

Can you let us know how to make the ulutham purnam

Its already there and I have mentioned the source in the recipe. Pls click on the link for the poornam in the "Ingredient" section --DK

By Pads on Feb 22, 2012

I'm planning to make this with a packet of potato gnocchi. I'll let you know how it turns out!

By Priya on Sep 10, 2010

Am planning to make them for Vinayakar chathurthi, looks absolutely cute and delicious..

By Sharmilee on Sep 9, 2010

Totally new to me....looks so cute both the name and look :)

By Radhika Vasanth on Sep 9, 2010

They do look like a darling. Love the fact that it is so simple to make. For this dish I can call you a leftover queen. Happy Vinayaka Chathurthi DK.

By swarna on Sep 9, 2010

Nice pics. Even I love Ammini kozukattai. If there you have sweet filling leftovers You can make pal kozukattai. Where the mini rice balls are added to coconut milk/milk+sweet mixture...

Oh! I was not aware that the sweet poornam was used to make Pal kozhukattai. Thats great to know - thanks Swarna :)

By Pavani on Sep 9, 2010

That's a very yummy way to jazz up leftovers.. No one will ever know it. I'm lucky that my DH doesn't mind left overs and you can call me leftover Queen, cos I make a LOT of everything, so I don't have to cook much during weekdays. Wish you and your family and very Happy Vinayaka Chathurthi.

You ARE lucky!!!!!!!!!! Wishing you a happy Chavithi too :) :) In case of any leftovers, parcel me some will ya? I dont mind them in the least :)