LEAF STEAMED FLAT CAKES (ILA ADA)

INGREDIENTS

For adas(flat cakes)
Whole wheat flour-1 cup
Water- more than 1/2 cup
Salt-a pinch
Honey(optional)-1 tblsp.

For filling
Coconut grated-3/4 cup
Jaggery grated-1/4-1/2 cup
Cardamom powder-1/2 tsp.
Bay leaf-as required
Steamer

METHOD

1.Make adas by combining ww flour, water, salt and honey(only add if you want adas cover to be sweet). The dough should be sticky and gooey.

2.Make the filling by heating coconut, grated jaggery and cardamom powder in a frying pan until well combined.

3.Spread the sticky dough a bit thin on to the leaf and make it even with your fingers. Wet fingers with water to avoid sticking. Place the filling in between and cover with another leaf also covered thinly with the dough. Alternatively, you can also just fold the leaf and press ends for it to stick.
Make sure to seal sides with excess dough that comes while pressing or take a bit of dough and cover evenly with fingers.

4.Put in the steamer for 10-15 minutes. Then, put out the flame and wait for another 5-10 minutes before taking it out on a plate to open the leaf shaped flat cakes/adas. Enjoy!

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

1.You can use banana leaf, baking paper or greased aluminium foil if you do not get bay leaf. The bay leaf gives a wonderful aroma after steaming and also the adas has a hint of cinnamon flavour.

2.Intead of whole wheat flour, you can use rice powder (traditional way) or ragi for the flat cakes/adas. For rice adas, add boiling hot water to the rice powder and make a loose dough. For ragi adas. boil water like for pathiris and add ragi powder and make a slightly loose dough.