Puttu is a well known South Indian dish. It is one of the many popular dishes that are served during festivals in different parts of India. Puttu is originated from Tamil Nadu in South India. The most commonly served and loved Puttu dish is the black pudding or rooibos. It is a traditional fruit pudding made of black, ripe, mashed potatoes. In South, it is also called as data and differs from its North cousins only in consistency.
Puttu can be prepared with a wide variety of ingredients. The ingredients needed to prepare Puttu are: black pudding or russet potatoes, anise seeds, cardamom seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, cloves, coconut meat, clarified lime juice, gram flour, Indian saffron, Indian clarified butter, clarified tea (either black or green), dried fruits, sugar, pepper, cinnamon and cardamom. Apart from these ingredients, different health benefits can be gained from Puttu. These include better digestion, better circulation of blood, enhancement of digestive system, purification of blood, better kidney functions, promotion of bile secretions, promotion of pancreatic ischemia, and improved circulation of lymph. This makes Puttu a good alternative to white sugar, high-fat milk, and other alternatives with chemical additives.
The preparation of Puttu begins with boiling water. The purpose of this is to remove the starch and fiber of the potato and infuse in the flavor. Then, take out the russet potatoes and place it in a pan with enough water so that they don’t end up making the mixture slimy. Put in half inch of salt for every inch of potato. Bring to a boil, cover for about 20 minutes. Drain and rinse the potatoes well and repeat the process with the rest of the ingredients.
To make sure that the Puttu gets the right consistency, add in the dry ingredients at one time, mix well, and then add in the boiling water a little bit at a time. When the ingredients are mixed, add in another cup of water. Once the russet potatoes are cooked, drain them well. Mix together the Puttu along with the other ingredients and cook it on a low-heat. Let the dish cool down for about 10 minutes and serve.
This dish may be served with dessert or as a main dish. Serve it with fresh steamed basmati rice. To enhance the authentic Indian flavor, you may like to add Indian spices and fried onions. In addition, instead of using tomatoes, use ripe and cut tomatoes.
In countries like Pakistan and India, Puttu is commonly served with masala chutney. The flavor is spicy and tangy. It goes great with chicken or beef. If you’re serving it with rice, it can be served as a side dish with your main course.