How to make Ada for Ada Pradhaman at home ?? | Two methods of preparing rice flakes for Kheer

Ada Pradhaman & palada payasam is  a common kheer among Keralites esp for Onam Sadya(banquet lunch on a banana leaf)  & marriages or any special occasions.Though ada(thick rice flakes) are available in stores for making payasam but this time I wished to try the home made ada.Mom had made these once or twice though not regularly but sure is a keeper.I have shared two methods of making ada,you can use either of them if preparing at home.The first method ada can be stored in air tight bags for days but the second method,the ada has to be used immediately.Both methods the ada is soft,need no further cooking if used immediately for making payasam.The second method is preferred in most marriage catering & functions in Kerala.Though I wished to post it before Onam,but due to the laptop issues got struck.Anyways,better late than never.Do check this out at home or bookmark the post for further reference !!

Ingredients (for both methods)
rice plain/pachari  1 cup(refer notes)
salt a pinch
banana leaves
coconut oil 2 tsp

Method 1-

1. Wash & soak the rice in water for 1-2 hours.
2. Drain  the water and grind the rice in a blender until smooth with very little water like idly batter but thicker.(use minimal water).Add pinch of salt and mix.
3. Wash the banana leaves ,wipe with a paper towel.Put on the stove on low heat, hold  leaf above it,hold it until its slightly wilted( helps to roll easily)
4. Apply half a spoon of coconut oil on the reverse side of the leaf.And spread the batter on the other side(good).Spread it as thin as possible.Roll the leaf tightly and tie with a string.
5. Boil water in a idli cooker or pressure cooker and place the rolled leaf in it.
6. Steam cook for 10 -12 minutes.Remove from cooker,let it cool and you'll find the ada leaves the leaf.
7. Cut into pieces and prepare your delicious pradhaman or payasam !!

Method 2-

1. The steps 1& 2 remain the same from the above method.
2. Wash and dry the banana leaves.Cut the sizes as per your pan size.Apply oil on top of the leaf.
3. Boil water in a wide bottomed pan to constant  boil such that the leaf fits in properly.
4. Spread the batter thin and when the water is boiling hot,drop the batter spread leaf in it.
5. Leave it to cook for 5 minutes,you will notice the color change of batter to that of translucent.
6. Remove from flame.Put the cooked ada in warm water.Rinse the ada in water for 4-5 times until the stickiness of batter and oil leaves from ada.
7. Cut into smaller bits when cooled and then ready to usde for payasam !!

Servings~  1 cup

NOTES
*You can use rice flour too for making adas,if so then add salt and water little by little and make it into a spreadable batter.The ground rice batter yields more softer ones than the rice flour ones.Also make sure you are using good quality rice flour with minimal stickiness.
* If you are refrigerating ada after preparing,then please put it in hot water before making payasam like the store brought packet.Refrigeration hardens the ada.This is not required if using immediately for preparing payasam.
* The second method ada has to be used immediately for making payasam,canot be stored long.
* You can cut the ada in bigger or smaller pieces as per your wish.
* I haven't tried it with aluminium foil in place of banana leaf although I have prepared ela ada in foil.