OTTIPOLI (ZEENATH'S RECIPE)

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Ingredients
2 cups uncooked raw rice (known as pacha ari in Kerala)
3 cups of lukewarm water
2 cups cooked parboiled rice (This is known as puzhungal ari in Kerala. A purist will suggest that the cooked rice for this recipe should only be puzhungal ari aka parboiled rice.  Visit this link for a widely available variety of parboiled rice Uncle Ben's Parboiled Rice) NOTE: This recipe has been prepared using a cooked long grain Basmati raw rice and was very successful.
3 cups of water

Salt to taste
  • Wash the 2 cups of uncooked raw rice well.  The soak in the 3 cups for lukewarm water for two hours. 
  • Drain off all the water from the soaked rice.
  • Add the 2 cups of cooked rice to the soaked and drained raw rice.
  • This mixture needs to be blended to make Ottipolis.  Approximately 3 cups of water will be used to make the batter.
  • Divide mixture into two portions.
  • Use a stationary blender or food processor.  Put one portion in the blender.  Add water in small increments and blend to a smooth paste.  It is important to only add water in small increments.  Failure to do so will impact the smoothness of the batter. 
  • Follow the same steps for the second portion of rice and blend to a smooth paste.
  • Add salt to taste to the ottipoli batter.
  • You are now ready to make the ottipolis.  J
  • Use a non-stick pan or cast iron griddle.  A pancake griddle is ideal.
  • Moisten a tissue with some oil and rub on pan. It used to be piece of mal mal fabric in my mother’s Mavoor Road Kitchen.  Mal mal is a fine cotton that is slightly heavier than muslin.
  • Heat the pan well and then lift it off the stove.
  • Pour ½ a cup of batter onto the pan.  If the pan is at the right level of heat, you will hear a sizzling sound.  The sizzling sound is your indication that you got it right.  No sizzle – no successful ottipolis.
  • Quickly rotate pan to spread batter in a circle around the pan.
  • Put pan back on stove to cook and reduce heat.  Little bubbles will form on the ottipoli.  When cooked on the bottom, turn over the ottipoli to cook the other side.  The first ottipoli is now ready.  Repeat the process to make further ottipolis.
OTTIPOLI BATTER

IMMEDIATELY AFTER POURING BATTER INTO PAN AND ROTATING
WHEN ONE SIDE IS DONE AND READY TO TURN OVER

TURNED OVER AND COOKING

TIP – WE USED TWO PANS - ONE FOR PUTTING IN FRESH BATTER AND ONE TO COOK THE TURNED OVER ONES. THIS WAY WE SAVED TIME.

THIS RECIPE SERVES FOUR.  OTTIPOLIS CAN BE EATEN WITH COCONUT FISH CURRY OR ANY CHICKEN OR MEAT CURRY.

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