Manda Pitha Recipe-Orissa Style Steamed Rice Flour Dumplings

This Rice Flour Manda Pitha recipe is an ancient recipe. This is a traditional recipe from Orissa that dates back to several hundred years. Unique to Odisha, Pitha is a recipe that just keeps getting better and better as it offers immense possibilities with many combinations. Pitha is basically steamed rice flour/rava dumplings stuffed with a sweet filling made from grated coconut, sugar or jaggery, freshly made paneer. Serve these Manda Pitha to start a festive lunch or during tea time. Course : Dessert Ingridients : 1 cup Rice flour 1 teaspoon Corn flour 1/2 cup Water 1/2 cup Milk 1 teaspoon Salt 1 tablespoon Cardamom Powder (Elaichi) 1/2 cup Fresh coconut 4 tablespoon Paneer (Homemade Cottage Cheese) 3/4 cup Sugar Instructions To begin making Rice Flour Manda Pitha Recipe, boil water and milk together with cardamom powder and salt.Add rice flour and corn flour to it - part by part, while continuously stirring it to avoid lumps.Keep stirring it in low heat until all water is absorbed and it forms into a ball.Turn off the gas and cover the dough.In the meantime prepare the sweet filling by heating up 2 tablespoon ghee in a Pan.Add the coconut, paneer, and sugar and mix it well.Cook this in low heat for 7 to 8 minutes.Now prepare the dough by applying a little oil on your palms and kneading the warm dough into a soft workable texture. Make sure that the dough is not very hot.Now take a tennis ball sized dough, make a dent in the center and put 1 tablespoon of filling in it and close the opening. Smooth it all over to make it look like a ball. Make sure that there are no gaps.You will get around 8 to 10 balls. Now we should steam the Manda Pitha. Heat water in a Steamer and steam the Rice Manda Pitha or dough balls for 10 minutes.Serve Manda Pitha along with Poori and Aloo Methi Masala Recipe or Vatana Usal Recipe for festive breakfast.