A creamy, aromatic egg curry from the heart of Kerala, made with a rich coconut milk base and fragrant spices. This classic 'Nadan Mutta Curry' is the perfect comforting dish to pair with appam, idiyappam, or steamed rice.
Prep15 min
Cook30 min
Servings4
Serving size: 2 eggs(2 boiled eggs in approximately 1 cup of curry.)
A quintessential Kerala breakfast, these steamed cylinders of rice flour and coconut are wonderfully soft and light. This traditional dish pairs beautifully with kadala curry, banana, or a sprinkle of sugar. The key to perfect puttu lies in achieving the right 'wet sand' moisture level in the flour, resulting in a fluffy, non-sticky texture.
Creamy, aromatic Kerala egg curry with soft puttu – a protein-packed, soul-satisfying meal that feels like home!
This south_indian dish is perfect for lunch. With 801.44 calories and 21.52g of protein per serving, it's a nutritious choice for your meal plan.
fat
Turmeric Powder
1.5 tsp Kashmiri Red Chili Powder (adjust for heat)
2 tsp Coriander Powder
0.5 tsp Black Pepper Powder (freshly ground preferred)
1.5 cup Thin Coconut Milk (second extract)
1 cup Thick Coconut Milk (first extract)
0.75 tsp Garam Masala
1.25 tsp Salt (or to taste)
2 tbsp Coriander Leaves (chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
1
Prepare the eggs: Gently make 2-3 shallow slits on each hard-boiled egg with a knife. This helps them absorb the masala. Set aside.
2
Temper the spices: Heat coconut oil in a wide pan or kadai over medium heat. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter completely. Then, add the dried red chilies and curry leaves, and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
3
Sauté the aromatics: Add the sliced onions to the pan and sauté for 8-10 minutes until they are soft and golden brown. Add the ginger-garlic paste and slit green chilies, and continue to sauté for another 2 minutes until the raw smell disappears.
4
Cook the base: Add the chopped tomatoes and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they turn soft and mushy, and oil starts to separate from the masala.
5
Add spice powders: Reduce the heat to low. Add the turmeric powder, Kashmiri red chili powder, coriander powder, and black pepper powder. Stir continuously for 1 minute until aromatic, ensuring they don't burn.
6
Build the gravy: Pour in the thin coconut milk and add salt. Mix well, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and let it cook for 3-4 minutes.
7
Simmer with eggs: Gently place the slit boiled eggs into the gravy. Cover the pan and let it simmer on low heat for 5-7 minutes. This allows the eggs to absorb the flavors of the curry.
8
Finish the curry: Turn the heat to the lowest setting. Pour in the thick coconut milk and sprinkle the garam masala. Stir gently to combine. Heat through for just 1-2 minutes. Do not let the curry boil, as the thick coconut milk may curdle. Turn off the heat.
9
Garnish and rest: Garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves. Let the curry rest for at least 10 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld. Serve hot with appam, idiyappam, or steamed rice.
335cal
5gprotein
60gcarbs
8gfat
Ingredients
2 cup Puttu Podi (Use store-bought roasted rice flour specifically for puttu for best results.)
1 cup Grated Coconut (Freshly grated is best, but thawed frozen coconut works well too.)
0.75 cup Warm Water (Amount is approximate; add slowly until the right texture is achieved.)
0.5 tsp Salt (Adjust to taste.)
Instructions
1
Prepare the Puttu Mixture (10-15 minutes)
In a large mixing bowl, combine the puttu podi and salt. Mix thoroughly with your fingertips.
Begin sprinkling the warm water, a little at a time, over the flour. Use your fingertips to rub the water into the flour in a circular motion to ensure even moistening.
Continue this process until the flour achieves a texture resembling coarse, damp breadcrumbs or wet sand. This is the most critical step for soft puttu.
To check for the correct consistency, take a small amount of the mixture in your fist and press firmly. It should hold its shape. When you gently break it with a finger, it should crumble easily.
For a perfectly uniform, lump-free texture, you can pulse the mixture a few times in a mixie/blender or press it through a coarse sieve.
Cover the prepared mixture and let it rest for at least 10 minutes. This allows the rice flour to fully absorb the moisture.
2
Layer the Puttu Maker (5 minutes)
Take the cylindrical puttu maker (puttu kutti) and place the small perforated disc at the bottom.
Start with a base layer of 2-3 tablespoons of grated coconut.
Gently spoon the prepared rice flour mixture on top of the coconut until the cylinder is about half full. Do not press or pack the flour down; it must remain loose.
Add another thin layer of 1-2 tablespoons of grated coconut.
Fill the rest of the cylinder with the flour mixture, leaving about an inch of space at the top. Finish with a final layer of coconut.
3
Steam the Puttu (8-10 minutes per batch)
Fill the base pot (puttu kudam) with 2-3 cups of water and bring it to a vigorous boil.
Carefully place the filled cylinder onto the nozzle of the base pot and close the lid.
Steam on medium-high heat. The puttu is perfectly cooked when a steady stream of steam escapes from the holes on the top lid, which typically takes 8-10 minutes. You will also notice a fragrant aroma of cooked rice and coconut.
Turn off the heat. Using a kitchen towel for safety, carefully remove the hot cylinder from the pot.
4
Serve Hot (5 minutes)
Allow the cylinder to rest for a minute to prevent breakage.
Using the provided rod or the back of a long spoon, gently push the cooked puttu from the bottom out onto a serving plate.
Repeat the layering and steaming process with the remaining mixture.
Serve immediately while hot with kadala curry (black chickpea curry), ripe bananas, pappadam, or a sprinkle of sugar and ghee.