Undrallu or kudumulu are steamed rice rava balls made during Vinayaka chavithi or ganesh chaturthi.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 15 minutes
  • Cook time: 15 minutes
  • Total time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 16 · 16 balls
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: Andhra

Ingredients

  • 1 cup rice (or rice rava or rice flour)
  • 2 to 2½ cups water ((refer notes))
  • 2 tbsp channa dal ((senaga pappu))
  • ½ tsp cumin seeds ((jeera, optional))
  • ¼ to ⅓ tsp salt (or to taste)
  • 1 tsp ghee
  • ¼ cup coconut (fresh grated)

Method

Preparation - make rice rava

  1. Wash rice a few times and dry on a cloth. If you have enough time you can also soak for 2 hours, this helps to grind the rice easily.
  2. When the rice is completely dry, pour it to a blender jar and pulse it a few times to get coarse grains or rava.
  3. You can make it as fine or coarse as you like. I usually make it slightly more coarse than semolina or bombay rava. Dry this completely and store in a jar or use it.
  4. Please note that 1 cup rice will make more than 1 cup rava. This recipe is for 1 cup rava. Measure and use only 1 cup rava.

How to make kudumulu - undrallu

  1. Wash and soak chana dal in water for 15 to 20 minutes or for 10 minutes in hot water. Drain and set aside.
  2. Heat ghee in a pot. When the ghee turns hot, add cumin seeds if using. As soon as it sizzles add dal. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes.
  3. Pour water and add salt to pot. Bring it to a boil.
  4. Regulate the flame to medium. Measure 1 cup rava and pour it to the boiling water slowly in a stream, mixing well with another hand to prevent lumps.
  5. Cook till the water fully evaporates. Keep stirring to prevent burning.
  6. Cover the pot with a lid and simmer the stove for just 2 minutes or until the water evaporates completely. Take care not to burn. Switch off the stove.
  7. Optional - If using coconut add it now and mix.
  8. Leave it covered for about 15 minutes. Next transfer this to a wide plate and cool.
  9. Grease your palms or dip your fingers in water. Knead it well for a min or two.
  10. Dip your fingers in water and make 16 balls with the dough. Arrange them in a wide greased plate. You can also use a cloth in the plate.

Steam

  1. Bring 1.5 cups water to a boil in a pressure cooker or idli steamer.
  2. When the water begins to boil, steam them for 8 minutes on a high flame.
  3. If using a large pressure cooker steam for 10 minutes, a small pressure pan will need only 6 minutes.
  4. Cook kudumulu and offer to God Vinayaka.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.