STEAMED GOODNESS OVER BISCUITS : THE HEALTHIER EVENING SNACK CHOICE

     

 

Evening tea time is often when our willpower gets tested. The familiar rustle of a biscuit packet feels quick, easy, and comforting. But have you ever stopped to think what’s inside most biscuits? Maida (refined flour), sugar, unhealthy fats, and almost no nutrition.

Now imagine replacing that with a plate of freshly steamed kozhakattai — soft, warm rice flour dumplings filled with coconut and jaggery for sweetness or spiced lentils for a savory kick. The difference isn’t just in taste, it’s in the health benefits too.

 Why Steamed Snacks Win

Nutrient Retention – Steaming preserves vitamins and minerals that frying often destroys.

No Excess Oil – Steamed snacks avoid the heavy fats of deep-fried treats.

Gentle on Digestion – Light yet filling, perfect for evenings.

Versatile – From sweet kozhakattai to savory idlis, dhokla, or modaks, there’s a steamed delight for every craving.

 

The Kozhakattai Advantage

Kozhakattai (or modak) is a traditional South Indian treat that brings together wholesome rice flour and nutrient-rich fillings.

Sweet Kozhakattai: Coconut + jaggery = natural sweetness, fiber, and minerals.
Savory Kozhakattai: Chana dal, curry leaves, and spices = protein boost with antioxidants.

They are proof that comfort food can also be nourishing. Pair them with a cup of tea or a glass of warm spiced milk, and you’ve got a satisfying snack that keeps you energized instead of sluggish.

 

Sweet Kozhakattai Recipe (Coconut & Jaggery)

Ingredients:

1 cup rice flour

1¼ cups water

1 cup grated coconut

¾ cup jaggery (adjust to taste)

1 tsp cardamom powder

1 tsp ghee

Pinch of salt

Method:

Boil water with a pinch of salt and ½ tsp ghee.

Add rice flour slowly, stirring continuously to form a smooth dough. Let it cool slightly.

For the filling, melt jaggery with a little water, strain, then add coconut and cardamom powder. Cook until moisture evaporates.

Shape small balls of dough, flatten into cups, fill with the sweet mixture, and seal into dumpling shapes.

Steam for 8–10 minutes until glossy.

 

Savory Kozhakattai Recipe (Chana Dal & Spices)

Ingredients:

1 cup rice flour

1¼ cups water

½ cup chana dal (soaked for 1 hour, then coarsely ground)

2 tbsp grated coconut

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp urad dal

1–2 green chilies, chopped

Few curry leaves

Salt to taste

Method:

Prepare the rice flour dough as in the sweet version.

Heat a tsp of oil, temper with mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, and green chilies.

Add ground chana dal, coconut, and salt. Sauté until cooked.

Shape dough into cups, fill with savory mixture, and seal.

Steam for 8–10 minutes.

 

Better Than Biscuits

Biscuits may be convenient, but they offer quick sugar spikes and little else. Steamed Indian snacks, on the other hand, give you real food made from whole grains, pulses, and spices — ingredients that have nourished generations.

So, the next time hunger strikes at tea time, skip the packet. Steam a batch of kozhakattai or other traditional steamed treats. Your body (and taste buds) will thank you.