Rice Ada

Ela Ada is a traditional kerala dish. Ela in malayalam means leaf and the leaf used in making this Ada is banana leaves. Before using banana leaves to make ada, the banana leaves has to be mildly wilted. This can be done by holding the banana leaf on top of a low flame for a few seconds, Then cut the leaf to small rectangular pieces.

Ingredients

1. Rice Flour -  2 cups
2. Aval (Poha ) - 1 1/2 cup 
3. Jaggery ( sharkkara )-200gm
4. Coconut Grated-1 1/2 cup
5. Banana Leaf - as required.
6. Cardamon - 2 or 3
7. Water - as required
8. Salt- a pinch.

How to Cook

1.  Take the flour into a bowl and add salt ,boiled water enough to make a smooth dough with a spoon first.When the dough cools , still lightly warm , knead the dough thoroughly with hand . Make lemon sized balls  with the dough.
2. Boil Jaggery with 1/4 cup of water in a pan. After it gets dissolved, filter it to remove the dust particles. Again boil to get a thick syrup.Add coconut , aval,cardamon powder with the thick jaggery syrup to get a thick mixture. We have to use this as fillings for the ada
3. On a small piece of banana leaf cut in the form of rectangular shape, place the rice  dough ball , press  and spread out the dough .  Dipping the hand in water while doing it will make it easier to spread the dough. Pour the fillings on top of the spread dough.
4. Fold the leaf in the middle and press the leaf so that the filling is spread evenly.
5. Press all sides as well so that filling doest move out.Place the banana wraps in steaming vessel for 15 to 20 minutes , till it gets fully cooked.
6. Take the steamed ada out of the banana leaf and serve hot.

TIP  : As fillings we can use coconut and salt alone as well for those who don't like it sweet.