Paalakayalu On Vinayaka Chavithi ~ Spicy Crispy Rice Balls ~ No one can eat just ONE!!

Happy Vinayaka Chavithi. Happy Birthday Ganesha!!! Wishing that lord Ganesha fills your home with prosperity and good fortune.

My First Handmade Ganesha made with Atta( Whole Wheat Flour )

Yay! Recently i have been contacted by CSN Stores to review their online stores and products. So keep checking this spot for an upcoming review of their product! I was really surprised to see how big their online store is. CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find everything from cheap bedroom furniture to fantastic fitness equipment to cookware.

Rice flour balls ready to get oil bath!!

When we were kids Vinayaka Chavithi was our favorite of all the festivals. We kids, would actively take part in this festival, we wake up early in the morning and buy Ganesha idol made of fresh clay( that day itself ). We buy lots and lots of fruits( regi pallu, kalekkayalu, mokka jonnalu, jama pandu, apple, etc., ), flowers( wow this list goes endless ) and leaves( japatri, patri, darba, guava leaves etc., ). Dad and we used to do the pooja, dad used to read the Vrath( puja and katha ), we used to do the pooja and mom use to be very busy in the kitchen preparing all the yummy things for lord Ganesha. Poornalu, Undrallu, Bobattlu, Vada, Payasam, Pulihora, Sambar, handful of curries along with vadapappu and panakam. Hmmm.., love this day!! We would hang all the fruits ( Pala valli ) on the top of the mandap, making it easier for lord Ganesha to pick and have them anytime he wants to.

A fresh batch hot off the kadai

Sometimes mom makes these PaalaKayalu( Vepa Kayalu ) ahead and offer them to lord ganesha on vinayaka chavithi. Paalakayalu are spicy crispy balls made with rice flour, yogurt. butter etc and deep fried in oil to perfection. Mom made these for us and this recipe is directly from Grandmas kitchen. I must admit Grandma makes the best Paalakayalu, sorry mom, the next best is you of course!!

Ingredients

• 2cups rice flour
• 4tbsp.curd
• 2tsp.butter
• salt to taste
• oil for deep frying
• green chillies

Method:

• First run green chillies and salt in blender( or use mortar and pestle ) and it need not be a smooth paste
• In a mixing bowl, add rice flour, red chilli powder, green chilli paste, yogurt, soft butter, and make a dough ( chapathi dough consistency ) adding a little water at a time
• Cover the dough and let it stand for few minutes.
• Pinch out small amount of dough and then roll them into tiny balls using your palms. Let kids help you in making these tiny balls, and i am sure they would have fun making these.
• Rub oil onto your palms that way the dough wouldn't stick to your palms while rolling them
• Heat oil in kadai( enough for deep frying ) under medium heat and once the oil is hot enough drop these dough balls slowly and fry them until they are brown in color ( see pic )
• Spicy Rice Balls are ready to be relished!!! But first offer them to Ganapathiji on his birthday( Vinakaya Chavithi )

Once these balls are cooled enough , store them in an air tight containers, and these would stay good upto 3 weeks. I promise NO ONE CAN JUST EAT ONE!!!

Here are some more Vinayaka Chathurthi Pics:

Vinayaka Chavithi @ my sisters place

My spicy crunchy rice balls are on their way to:

• CFK - Festive Food
• 'ONLY' - Festive Event
• Kids Delight ~ Finger food

P.S. Everyone has unique taste palette, so please adjust the ingredients according to your taste.