Vishu Ada is a traditional Kerala sweet snack — a soft, steamed rice parcel/dumpling wrapped in banana leaves and filled with a sweet coconut-jaggery mixture. It is also commonly known as Ela Ada, Ila Ada, Elayappam, or Vazhayila Ada in different places.
 
Vishu Ada is especially associated with Vishu, Kerala’s traditional New Year festival in mid-April, where it’s often prepared as a special breakfast item or part of the Vishu sadhya (feast). The name “Vishu Ada” highlights its festive significance during Vishu celebrations, though the dish itself is the classic Ela Ada (banana leaf ada), a year-round Kerala favourite. Also read: The significance of Poovada during Onam Celebrations.

Vishu Ada recipe

Ingredients for Vishu Ada:

  1. Ghee – 2 small spoons
  2. Kerala banana (Ethapazham) – 1, chopped into fine pieces
  3. Jaggery melted – 200 milli
    Coconut scraped – ½ cup
  4. Cardamom powder – A pinch
  5. Water – 1.25 cups
  6. Fine rice powder – 1 cup
    Salt – 2 pinches
  7. Banana leaf torn into square pieces – 5

How to prepare Vishu Ada?

  1. Heat the ghee in a pan and sauté the banana pieces.
  2. Add melted jaggery and scraped coconut, and boil the contents for 5 minutes.
  3. Add cardamom powder, mix well and take it off the flame.
  4. Heat water in a pan. When it boils, add rice flour and salt.
  5. Keep stirring for two minutes, and take it off the flame.
  6. Using your hands, knead the dough till it turns soft.
  7. Make 5 balls from this dough.
  8. Take one banana leaf and spread one ball as a thin layer.
  9. Place a little banana filling, fold it, and press once.
  10. Continue the process for the remaining 4 balls.
  11. Steam cook the adas for 15 minutes.

Courtesy: Vanitha Magazine April 1-14, 2019

Read a few more Ada recipes here. Click on the images in the gallery to read.

 

(Visited 298 times, 2 visits today)