Steamed Rice & Chicken Dumplings

This recipe post was actually prepared as a guest post for my fellow blogger Lubna Karim.

I would like to thank Lubna who blogs at Kitchenflavors for inviting me to her wonderful space as a guest writer for her Ramadan Event. She truly has an amazing collection of classic recipes and intricate style of food photography.

Rice & chicken dumplings also known as Chicken Mutli or Chicken mutkule is a traditional Mangalorean recipe. This recipe is a short cut and easy method of preparing it. Normally for rice dumplings, the rice is first soaked, ground to a smooth batter and then cooked to form a dough. By using Idli rava, it cuts down the time taken to soak and grind the rice and makes the whole process easy and quick. It can be a complete meal on its own, perfect dish for iftar and can also be enjoyed as an evening snack. 

Serving Size: 5

Total Cooking Time: 1 hour (approx)  

For Chicken Stuffing

Ingredients

• 1 cup boiled and shredded chicken
• 1 onion sliced
• 1 green chili finely chopped
• 5 curry leaves finely chopped
• 1 tsp whole cumin
• 2 tsp red chili powder
• ¼ tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• ½ cup chopped coriander leaves
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Salt
• 3 to 4 tbsp cooking oil

Method:

1. Heat oil in a sauce pan and add 1 tsp whole cumin. When it changes colour, add sliced onion and sauté till soft.
2. Then add chopped green chili, chopped curry leaves, 2 tsp red chili powder, ¼ tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp cumin powder and 1 tsp coriander powder. Fry the masala for 2 minutes or till the raw smell disappears. (Add few drops of water if needed)
3. Now add cooked chicken, lemon juice, salt and chopped coriander leaves. Fry for 1 more minute, remove from heat and set aside to cool.

For Rice Dumplings

Ingredients

• 1 cup Idli Rava*
• 2 and 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup freshly grated coconut (for batter)
• 1/4 cup cooked rice
• Salt

*What is Idli Rava?
Idli Rava is not semolina or rice flour. It is a coarse rice powder available in any Indian stores. It is normally used for making idlis.

Method:

1. Heat a non-stick sauce pan and boil 2 and 1/4 cup water and salt.
2. Add 1 cup idli rava to the boiling water and stir well. (Before adding rava reduce the flame)
3. After stirring for few seconds, add 1/2 cup freshly grated coconut and 1/4 cup cooked rice.
4. Keep stirring on low flame till the mixture gets thicker and starts to leave the sides.
5. While cooking, the water starts to dry up and batter starts looking like a very soft dough.
6. Remove from heat and cool for 2 minutes.
7. When the dough is still hot, dip your hands in water and give them a shape of a small lime size ball and then make it into a hollow cup so that you can place stuffing inside.
8. Stuff each dumpling with the 1 tbsp of chicken mixture or as needed.                                    

To make the steamed dumplings

1. Heat a steamer with enough of water.
2. Place the stuffed dumplings in the steamer and steam cook for about 10 minutes.
3. Let the dumplings cool down completely before handling them. If you try to remove hot dumplings, they might break or crumble as they are very delicate when hot.
4. Serve warm.

Step by step pictures

 Chicken Stuffing

Rice Dumplings