How do I know the oats mixture has enough water?

Press a handful in your palm; it should hold its shape briefly and then crumble easily when you break it apart.

Can I make oats puttu without a puttu maker?

Yes, you can steam it in a small steel tumbler or idli steamer setup, keeping the mixture loose and layered with coconut.

Can I prepare the oats flour ahead of time?

Yes. Roast and grind the oats in advance, cool completely, and store airtight. Moisten only just before steaming.

What is the best way to serve oats puttu?

It is best served hot with banana, kadala curry, a little sugar, or melted jaggery depending on whether you want sweet or savory.

How should I store and reheat leftovers?

Refrigerate leftover puttu in a covered container for a day, then sprinkle lightly with water and steam again until soft.

Home / Recipes / kerala / Oats Puttu

keralaEasyveganvegetariangluten freedairy free

Oats Puttu

RATING

4.4/5(72)

TASTE SCORE

7/10

A light Kerala-style steamed puttu made with oats flour and fresh coconut. It turns out soft, crumbly, and gently nutty, making it a lovely breakfast that pairs well with banana, kadala curry, or a little sugar.

PREP

15m

COOK

12m

SERVES

1 PIECE

423 cal

SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS

For 4 servings

2 cupoats · rolled oats, dry roasted and ground to a coarse flour¾ cupcoconut · fresh, grated1 pinchsalt¾ cupwater · sprinkle as needed to moisten the oats mixture

NUTRITION · PER SERVING

423

CALORIES · 1 PIECE

Protein17g · 16%

Carbs65g · 61%

Fat12g · 26%

Fiber11g

Sugar1g

Saturated fat6g

Cholesterol0mg

Sodium42mg

Potassium461mg

Phosphorus514mg

How we calculate →

METHOD · 5 STEPS

roast · ~7 min
Roast and grind the oats.
1.Heat a pan on low to medium heat and add the oats.
2.Dry roast until the oats smell nutty and feel crisp, about 3 to 4 minutes.
3.Cool slightly, then grind to a coarse flour.
4.Transfer the ground oats to a wide bowl.
TIPKeep the heat gentle so the oats do not brown too much or taste bitter.
mix · ~5 min
Moisten the puttu flour.
1.Add salt to the ground oats and mix well.
2.Sprinkle in water little by little while rubbing the mixture with your fingers.
3.Break up any lumps and keep mixing until the texture looks evenly damp.
4.Check that a small handful holds its shape when pressed and crumbles easily when broken.
TIPDo not pour in all the water at once; the mixture should be moist and sandy, not wet like dough.
assemble · ~3 min
Layer the coconut and oats mixture.
1.Fill the base of the puttu mold with a little grated coconut.
2.Add a layer of the moistened oats mixture.
3.Repeat the layers, ending with a little coconut on top.
4.Fill the remaining molds the same way without packing the mixture tightly.
steam · ~7 min
Steam the puttu.
Place the filled mold on the puttu maker with simmering water below. Steam until hot vapors escape steadily and the puttu is cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes.
TIPDo not press the mixture hard into the mold or the steam will not move through properly.
serve
Unmold and serve the oats puttu hot.

PRO TIPS

What to keep in mind.

7 tips from the recipe — small details that make a real difference to the final dish.

1
Roast the oats only until crisp and nutty; deep browning can make the puttu taste slightly bitter.
2
Keep the ground oats a little coarse, not powder-fine, so the steamed puttu stays crumbly instead of pasty.
3
Use the squeeze test carefully: the moistened flour should hold when pressed, then fall apart with a light touch.
4
Let the moistened oats rest for 5 to 10 minutes before filling the mold so the water absorbs evenly.
5
Do not pack the layers tightly in the puttu kutti; loose filling helps steam travel through the cylinder.
6
If unmolding feels difficult, wait 1 minute after steaming, then push gently so the puttu comes out intact.
7
Leftover puttu can be sprinkled with a little water and re-steamed for a few minutes to soften again.