Bellam Undrallu (Sweet Jaggery Rice Balls)
Soft steamed rice flour balls sweetened with jaggery, coconut, and cardamom. A gentle South Indian festival treat, easy to flatten and share with little ones.
Ingredients
- 240 ml rice flour1.01 cup rice flour
- 180 ml water12.17 tbsp water
- 2 each green cardamom, seeds ground to a powder
- 200 g jaggery, grated or crushed7.05 oz jaggery, grated or crushed
- 5 ml ghee1.01 tsp ghee
- 60 ml coconut, freshly grated4.06 tbsp coconut, freshly grated
- 15 ml chana dal, boiled until just tender, optional1.01 tbsp chana dal, boiled until just tender, optional
Steps
Prep the Dal
- Optional: boil the chana dal until just tender but still firm to the bite, then drain it well and set aside.
Make the Jaggery Syrup
- Add the jaggery and water to a pan and heat gently over medium-low until the jaggery melts completely.
- Strain the syrup to remove any grit, return it to the pan, and bring it to a rolling boil.
Make the Dough
- Turn off the heat and stir in the rice flour, ground cardamom, and grated coconut until combined.
- Mix in the cooked chana dal, if using, to form a soft dough. Keep it soft so the balls stay tender.
- Add the ghee and mix again, then let the dough cool slightly until it is safe to handle.
- Knead the warm dough gently until it is smooth with no dry patches.
Shape and Steam
- Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a steamer or a pot fitted with a steamer basket.
- Roll small portions of dough into balls or flatten them into small discs, then arrange them in a wide steamer bowl.
- Place the bowl in the steamer and steam on high heat for 7 to 8 minutes until the rice balls feel firm.
- Turn off the heat and let the rice balls cool fully before serving to your child.
Nutrition
- Calories
- 87
- Protein
- 2.5g
- Fat
- 1g
- Carbs
- 18g
Tips by age
Flatten the dough into thin soft discs rather than round balls, and break each one into small bite-size pieces before serving. Offer just a small portion as this is a sweet treat.
Choking safety: Round balls are a choking hazard at this age. Flatten into discs and break into small pieces; ensure the coconut is finely grated.
Serve small flattened discs broken into bite-size pieces. Keep portions small since the jaggery makes these sweet.
Choking safety: Avoid whole round balls; flatten and break into smaller pieces to reduce choking risk.
Serve as small discs or balls cut in half, in modest portions. These are an occasional sweet snack, not an everyday food.
Choking safety: Cut whole balls in half so they are not a round, hard-to-chew shape.
Serve a couple of small rice balls or discs as written. Encourage slow eating and keep portions modest because of the added jaggery.
Choking safety: Remind your child to take small bites; halve very large balls.
Serve as written, a few small balls per portion. A good festival treat to share, kept to a sensible serving size.
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