Ela Ada / Banana leaf stuffed and steamed

Ela ada. Ela = leaf, typically banana leaf. Ada - Steamed ground rice.

Banana leaf is stuffed with a variety of sweet fillings which can be either coconut + jaggery, or Coconut + Jaggery + Poha / Avil. But the classic filling is Chakka Varatti or Jackfruit jam.

This recipe is how we make ela ada at home. Many of my friends use rice flour kneaded with water, salt and til seeds. But I find the end result has more covering than filling. I prefer this style.

Recipe is very simple and there are just 3 ingredients other than Banana leaf:

White Rice / Pacharissi / Pachari 

Chakka varatti

Coconut oil / ghee

For making 15 ela ada, soak nearly 1 small cup rice and you would need 13 tbsp of chakka varatti and 2 tbsp ghee

Method:

Wash and soak the rice in ample water for 2 hours.

Grind into a smooth paste and add a pinch of salt, if you want.

The batter must not be very runny.

Heat the banana leaf over open fire to make it very pliable.

2 seconds at a particular point over direct flame will deepen it's colour and it gets a shine.

Wash it now and it will not tear easily. Clean each leaf and cut into 6 inch width segments.

Spread a little ghee or coconut oil on top and spread the rice batter over this.

Place a tbsp of your filling on one side and cover it over with the other side.

Seal as best by folding the other 2 sides.

Steam for 5 minutes on high flame and you are done. (Make you have ample water in the steamer.)

Once it cools and you open , it looks like this.

Serve at room temperature.