Elai Adai

A very common and lip smacking sweet dish is elai adai.  No compromise on taste.

Ingredients

For the dough
2 cups brown/red/black rice
a pinch of salt

For the filling
1 cup freshly grated coconut
1/2 cup date paste
1/2 cup ripe jackfruit pieces, cut into little pieces (optional)
To wrap
6-8 banana leaves
Method
Wash, rinse and soak the rice for 4 hours. Grind to a smooth paste with water (the batter should be neither too thick nor too runny)
For the filling
Roast the grated coconut in a kadai till it turns light golden brown. Add the date paste and mix well. Add jackfruit pieces (if using) and keep stirring for about a minute. Remove from flame.

Preparing the wrap
Tear the banana leaf from the middle stem, each piece should be about 8″ square..
Roast over a flame till the leaf is slightly wilted. (this will enable the leaf to be folded without breaking)
Final steps
Pour a ladle of the rice batter on a roasted banana leaf and spread like a small dosa.
Place some of the coconut filling to cover half the ‘dosa’. Fold the banana leaf from opposite sides to make a closed packet.
Repeat with rest of the batter, filling. Steam for 10-15 minutes
Enjoy hot or cold