Ottada ( Mom's recipe) / Roasted Rice flour Cakes in Banana Leaf wraps

                '' HAPPY MOTHER'S  DAY TO ALL MOMS OF THE WORLD''
Mother's day is one of the most special occasions in one's life.Life began waking up and loving my mother's face and the first word every child learns to speak is 'mom'.A constant bank deposit of all worries and hurts is the mother.Mother takes the place of all others as she is instinctual unconditional with her love.Of all the rights of women,the greatest is to be a mother,Isn't it??
How true these lines are,
  "My mom is a never ending song in my heart of comfort,happiness & being.I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune''.
                                                     -Graycie Harmon.

This post of Ottada is totally dedicated to my mom,who has been the nurturer and a guide always in all my decisions of life.I learnt many things from her and cooking is a part of it and I have shared many recipes from my mom.Ottada,reminds Keralites the age old tradition of using banana wraps by our great grand parents when there was no steamers available  but still they had the best healthy food.Ottada,in literal & traditional meaning means ada made in a 'ottu vessel' somewhere similar to the copper vessel in looks..not exactly.But old traditions have changed and now people have started using mannchatti (clay pots) and I have gone far ahead and recreated it in a non stick pan :D Though u may not get the exact taste of what we had from our grand parents & parents while making in a non stick pan but the charred smell of the banana leaves takes away those thoughts and fills you back to the nostalgic memories.I had tried the Ela ada with plantain filling some time back,though the steps look the same,but ottada is a roasted ada whereas ela ada is steamed one.And so,Ottada has a slightly harder texture compared to Ela ada but the banana flavors are more dominant in ottadas.

Ingredients
rice flour 1 1/2 cup (roasted)
salt to taste
boiling water 1 1/2- 1 3/4 cup(approx)
banana leaves to wrap
for filling
dessicated coconut /shredded coconut 1 1/2 cup
jaggery 3/4 cup
water 1/3 cup
cardamom powder 5-6 pods crushed

Method
-Melt the jaggery in water and strain to remove impurities.Boil again ,add the dessicated coconut and mix well.Keep stirring till the water content dries up.Put off flame and add the crushed cardamom powder and mix well.
-Take the rice flour in a bowl,add salt.Mix well.Add the boiling water into it slowly to form a smooth dough.Wet your hands in cold water and then knead the dough when it is warm to get a smooth dough softer than chapathi dough.
-Wash and clean the banana leaves,pat dry.Spoon one tbsp of dough in the center of the leaf and then using your fingers stretch out the dough to the edges such that the dough is evenly thinned.Add a spoonful of filling in half of the dough and fold it over.The steps can be seen here.(Always keep a bowl with water ,dip your fingers each time and then stretch it,becomes easier)

(Ready to cook wraps)

-Close with the other half pressing gently such that the pack is sealed.

-Heat a clay pot/mann chatti,place a wrap or two in the pan when its really hot.Let it cook for 5-10 minutes,the leaf starts browning and drying up.Flip the other side and let it cook until done.Flip again and gently lift the banana leaf and note the ada changes color to off white and the filling becomes visible in between with brown spots.
OR
-If you wish a softer ada like steamed ones,then place it in the non stick,sprinkle a few drops of water over the wrap and close it with a lid.Let it cook for 5-10 minutes,and follow the same procedure as above flipping,this gives a more softer texture.
-Remove from non stick ,peel the leaf wrap and serve it as breakfast/tea time snack!!

Servings~ 8-10 adas

NOTES
*Always use boiling water to prepare the dough.
*Dip your hands in water and spread the dough on the leaf,prevents sticking.

Sending this to CC-Mom's Recipes, Spotlight-Breakfast Ideas,Lets Party Breakfast Ideas,Guest Quest,
Show me your HITS-Iron Rich Foods guest hosted at my space,The Kerala Kitchen event hosted by Jehanne@ The Cooking Doctor