Tricolor Puttu (Steamed rice flour) | Carrot & Spinach Puttu | Independence Day Special !!!

        In advance, " Wishing all Indians a very happy Independence day !! "
  
India celebrates her 68th Independence day on 15th August.Flag hoisting,various cultural and patriotic programmes take place in governmental and non governmental institutions in India on this day.As school kids in our times,we used to go to school dressed in white and the school Principal hoists the flag.And the assembly is dispersed after the distribution of a small packet of boondi or a boondi laddu as sweets.It gives a feeling of immense patriotism that day esp when you enchant the songs vande matram,sare jaha se achha and our national anthem.Now,miles away from home,I can just display patriotism in food and here goes a perfect recipe to teach kids the Indian flag colors.Its carrot-spinach puttu made with natural coloring of veggies and they really loved it with hot ghee and sugar.Enjoy Independence day with this simple  healthy recipe !!!!

Ingredients
puttu podi /rice flour 1.5 cups divided
spinach 1/2 cup chopped
carrot 1/2 of 1 chopped chunks
grated coconut 1/2 cup
salt to taste

Method

• Heat a pan and add the chopped spinach.Stir until just wilted,takes a minute.(Don't over do it as you may not get good color in puttu.)Cool and then puree this mixture until smooth without water in a blender.
• In another sauce pan,add the carrot chunks and add water.Cook until soft.Remove the carrots,drain away the water.Add the carrots to the blender and puree the carrots to a smooth paste without water.
• In 3 bowls,divide the rice flour(about 1/2 cup each).Add a pinch of salt in each.
• Then,add the spinach puree in one little by little and moisten the flour.Add only as much required and add water if required.(don't drench the flour)
• Now,in another bowl,add the carrot paste and moisten the flour.Add only as much required and add water if required.(don't drench the flour)
• Moisten the white rice flour in the third bowl  with water just like you moisten to make puttu and leave covered.
• Now,add the grated coconut  divided in all 3 bowls,mix well.Reserve about a tbsp of coconut for granish.
• Heat a cooker with adequate water in it,remove weight.In a chiratta puttu maker/puttu mould add the carrot layer first then white layer and then finally add spinach layer.Garnish with half a tbsp of grated coconut.Cover and steam cook on top of the cooker till done.
• Invert the puttu on a plate and then serve warm with a tsp of hot ghee and sugar  or any curries if required !!!

NOTES
* You can make spinach puttu alone or carrot puttu alone the same way.In that case don't mix the grated coconut with moistened flour.Add as layers in between.

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Linking this to Event :Independent India hosted by Cooking with SJ