Pindi : 'Just the way Mom makes' Rice flour breakfast

How many times we use the word 'I like it Just the way Mom makes'. Even though we all one day would become our own great cooks, we still would love to have that one thing 'just the way Mom makes' or we are trying to nail down a recipe 'just the way Mom makes' right. This is one such recipe which I wanted to share. It took me few times to get it right like my Mom makes.By the way the recipe is Vegan (skip Ghee in last step) and Gluten free.

Freshly milled Rice flour is a staple at my home. We make use of it in many breakfast recipes. The most famous is being Sarva Pindi which is Rice flour Roti spiced with several spices and cooked in a Kadai (Deep pan). Another recipe is deep fried Spicy Rice flour Rotis( Karapu Appalu) which are made during festive times. These  recipes will make your tummies full till lunch time. Rice flour is also used to make a very simple and quick breakfast, Atlu (Instant Dosa).

Now coming to the post, this is the simplest version of breakfast made with Rice flour. The description might make it sound like Upma but I assure you it's not. But if you fail to execute it right that's what you will end up with, Rice flour Upma:-):-). So if you are looking to make something quick and simple for breakfast, try this unique and delicious recipe.

Pindi is a regional delicacy where Rice flour is seasoned and cooked  with water. The taste comes from balance of spices and obtaining textures right. It is done by adding right amount of water and cooking enough.It is served with Pickle on the side and some times with Rasam/Charu.

If you are looking for quick breakfast fixes try my Multigrain Atlu, Oats vegetable Upma or bread Upma. 

Servings:

Four (4)

Total time:

20 minutes

Ingredients (I use US standard measuring; 1cup=8oz=250ml):

• 2 cups Rice flour
• 1/2 onion 
• 2 Serrano chillies or adjust
• 1 Tbsp each :
• Skinned whole Urad (Skinned black gram)
• Chana dal
• 1 tsp Cumin seeds
• 1 tsp Mustard seeds
• 1 sprig of Curry leaves 
• 3 cups water

Related Recipes: Click on Recipe:

Atlu ( Instant Dosa with Wheat, Jowar flour)

Sarva Pindi  (Most famous Telangana Recipe)

Jonna Karapu Appalu (Spicy Jowar flour Roti fried)

Karapu Appalu (fried spicy Rice flour Roti)

Healthy Recipes with Millets and Quinoa

Kids Lunchbox recipes

Pindi Step wise Recipe

• Chop 1/2 a small onion into small pieces. 
• Chop 2 Serrano chillies into small pieces. You can use any chili but for understanding how much spice I used, I specify the chili name. 
• Measure Rice flour and keep aside.
• Now in a deep, wide pan, add 2 tbsp oil. Using more oil would enhance taste but use according to your preference. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Let them splutter. 
• Add curry leaves and fry.
• Add Chana dal first and fry few sec. Then add whole Urad. 
• Add chopped chillies and fry few sec. 
• Add chopped onions and cook till translucent.
• Now add 3 cups water to the pan. Let water come to a boil. Put flame on medium.
• Now add Rice flour to the pan so as to spread over the entire pan. Do not mix. This is important. If you mix it, it would end up like Upma but not a good one :-). 
• Cover the pan and let flour cook for 3-4 minutes. You will see white, uncooked flour on top and the cooked flour underneath that turned color. 
• Now open the lid and mix gently few times so as uncooked flour goes to bottom. (If you mix too much it's gonna become like Upma). Cover and cook again for 2-3 minutes. You might still see white flour on top which is OK.
• Open and repeat above step if you have uncooked flour. After couple minutes Pindi looks like clumps. 
• Once all white flour turned color let it cook till water evaporates and Pindi getting lil drier. I like it lil crumbly so I kept it longer, mixing it gently in between. 
• Turn off stove. Add 2 tsp Ghee or more. Mix. Leave it for few minutes.
• Serve hot with a side of Pickle, Rasam or Yogurt.