ALU VADI/ PAATRA/ ARBI PATTA VADI (STEAMED PINWHEELS MADE FROM COLACASIA LEAVES)

Recipe for Paatra/ Alu Vadi/ Arbi Patta Vadi

                                                                                                   

 Colacasia leaves are easily available in the market during the rainy season. These beautiful elephant ear-like large leaves are rich in vitamin E. It is a great source of fibre and carbohydrates. Also boosts energy level.These steamed sweet and sour pinwheels  with tamarind chutney and a cup of tea to go with it, is a perfect tea time snack when it is drizzling outdoors.Arbi or Taro leaves and roots both are used in Indian cooking, One may have an itchy throat as an after effect of eating this. To avoid this, generally tamarind is used in their preparation

Ingredients                                                                  

• Colocasia leaves - 10-12 (cleaned and washed )
• Tamarind pulp – ½ cup
• Jaggery  –  ½ cup(grated or chopped)
• Bengal gram flour (besan) – 1 cup
• Red chilly powder – 2 tsp
• Salt to taste

How to make

Wash the leaves and dry them.

Mix the tamarind pulp and the jaggery to make a thick paste.

Add the chilly powder, salt and water to the flour to make a thick batter of spreading consistency.

Carefully remove the stems and the thick veins as they may obstruct the rolling of the leaves.

Take the largest leaf. Keep its veins side up.

Spread the tamarind paste on the leaf.

Now spread the batter on the leaf.

Now, place another leaf in the 180 degrees opposite direction. 

Spread another layer of the paste and batter.

Repeat this procedure for 2 to 3 more leaves.

Roll the leaves tightly to make a log like shape.

 Similarly, more rolls can be prepared.

Steam these rolls for 10-15 minutes.

Let it cool completely before cutting them into thin slices.

These pinwheels/ vadis can be deep fried or tossed in a tempering.

Tempering

Oil for tempering

Mustard seeds, Cumin seeds, Curry leaves and Asafoetida

Tips

• Leaves with dark stems should be used to avoid the itchy throat.
• The paste should not be very thick or runny.
• Moderate quantity of paste should be applied.
• While rolling the leaves, care should be taken that it should not be loose.
• Always start with a bigger leaf and proceed in the descending order.
• More than five leaves can be used according to the required size of the pinwheels/vadis.