Ela Ada Aka Poovada.

                              
                Ela Ada is a traditional Kerala recipe. It is made of rice flour,coconut and jaggery.In my home,we will normally make Ada for our Onam Festival or some special occasions.My mom makes this using raw rice that she had to soak,dry then grind which is a long process..But nowadays we will get readymade flours and is easy to make. Here I used rice flour to make Ada which is very simple..The coconut, jaggery (and I usually add banana which is optional,if u like the taste u can add banana) mix will layered in rice flour paste and is folded in Vazhayila that is Plantain Leaf. Then steam it using an Idly cooker.If it is cooked in a sauce pan,we call it as Ottada..It is also very tasty :)
            I thot it is difficult to get vazhayila in US.But when I saw the plantain leaf in one of the Indian store...I was back into my memories....And always had a nostalgic feeling to this recipe and I would like to share it..Here it Goes!!!

Rice flour - 1 cup
Water      - 1 1/2 cup
Coconut  - 1 cup
Jaggery   -  2-3 nos
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Oil               - 1 tsp
Ripe banana -1( cut in very small pieces).
Salt - as rqd.
Vazhayila / Plantain leaf - Few.

Preparation :
First we've to make the dough..For this Boil water in a pan with oil and salt as reqd.To the boiling water add the rice flour,then switch off the flame.Stir well with a spoon and set aside for a while.When the dough cools,but in a slightly warm condition, take little dough and make balls with hands.Next step is to fill this ball.
For the filling...Grate jaggery with a knife and boil it with very little water,after jaggery get dissoved ,(Make sure that the jaggery will not get watery )mix it with coconut. And add cumin seeds and cut bananas to it and mix well.The filling is ready.

     Cut the plantain leaves in rectangular shapes..On a piece of leaf spray very of little water with hand and place one ball dough press and spread on the leaf.In between Dip fingers in water will make easy to spread the dough evenly on the leaf.. Place the filling in the centre of the dough and spread. Now after filling fold the leaf in half and again slightly press as the filling will not come out through the sides. Finally place the wrapped banana leaves in the steamer or Idly cooker and cook for 10-15 mins..After it gets fully cooked,take out the Ada from steamer and Serve hot as breakfast or an evening snack...
Say Cheese!!!!
Parvathy.