Makkai/Corn Shevai (Idiappam or string hoppers made from corn flour).

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This Navarathri, during fasting, I had this craving to eat Shevai. Shevai is stringhoppers. This is usually made out of rice or rice flour. Unfortunately, rice is not allowed during fasting. Now, I really wanted to eat Shevai.. I decided to make it from cornflour or masa de harina. I had some in my cabinet you see.It actually came out pretty good. I served it with spiced oil and spicy potato curry and my husband who does not like shevai, loved it!! As I was telling my mother, if my husband liked it, that means it was really very good!! His usual response to " how was it??" is "okay"!! Since then, I have made it two more times with the same great result! 

Do try it if you get a chance. It is quick, easy with only 3 ingredients and super-delicious!! It took me only 45 mins to an hour to make it from start to finish!

Prep time: 15 minsCook time: 30 minsTotal time: 45 mins

Servings: 4-5 people

Ingredients:

Corn flour ( masa de harina): 3 cups
Salt: 1 tsp
Hot water: 6 cups
Coconut oil: to grease idli plate.
Water: as needed into the steamer utensil.

Method:

Dry roast corn flour in a wok, skillet or pan, on low flame for 4-5 mins.

Add salt. Now add hot water little at a time and mix as you add water. Cook on low flame for 2-3 mins . It should come together like a ball, leaving the sides of the pan/kadai.

Grease idli /steamer plates and keep ready.

Spoon portions of the dough into the noodle press. Squeeze out small palm size circular mounds of noodles onto the greased idli moulds. Do this with all available dough.

Boil water as per steamer instruction, in the idli steamer. Place the steamer rack into steamer and steam the Shevai for 8-10 mins on medium flame.

Serve hot with a spicy curry/pickle/ chutney of your choice or spiced coconut oil.

To make spiced coconut oil:
Heat 2 tbsp of coconut oil on medium heat. Add 1/8  tsp of red chilli powder to the hot oil. Turn off the flame.
Drizzle this spicy oil on top of the Shevai.

Serve hot.

Enjoy!!

Cooking made easy:

Using a hand-held noodle press than the traditional one, makes the process less tedious and you can make small portions.

Tip for healthy living:

Eat dinner atleast 2 hours before bedtime. This not only helps in good digestion, it also helps prevent weight gain.

Food for thought:

It's the friends you can call up at  4 am that matter. Marlene Dietrich