Paal kozhukattai is a delectable south Indian dessert with tiny rice balls cooked in coconut milk. Let's see how to make paal kozhukattai with step by step images and video.

Prepare during any special occasion, but specially made for Vinayagar chavithi or Navaratri.
Check out my Paal paniyaram recipe and Milk kesari recipe in this website.
About
Paal kozhukattai is basically tiny dumplings made with rice flour, simmered in creamy rich coconut milk flavored with cardamom.
This is one of my hubby’s favourite sweets. I hardly remember the way my mom used to make this sweet, also I was not fond of this before marriage.
After we came here to Singapore, when we go yearly to my in-laws place, my MIL made this sweet twice or thrice especially for her son.
Her way of making is very different and I am determined to learn it from her, when she makes it next time. I have posted it here.
This recipe is one I tried from Prema’s Cookbook, which never fails and my hubby loves this version equally as his mom’s.
After long time I made this today and in the evening he is going to get this as surprise, when he is back from office💝💝.
Ingredients
Rice flour - Any good quality rice flour works for this. I used idiyappam flour (processed)
Milk - Paal - I have used both dairy milk and coconut milk but can be easily made vegan. Used store bought coconut milk but have given the procedure to extract coconut milk below.
Cardamom - Added for flavor, infused in the coconut milk.
Sugar - I have used white sugar earlier and then in the updated video, unrefined sugar. You can also swap with jaggery.
Method
Prepare kozhukattai
1. Take a non-stick pan firstly and mix milk, 1 cup water, ghee and the rice flour (add a pinch of salt if you are using rice flour. I used store bought idiyappam flour and it had salt in it, so didn't add).
2. Then heat this in medium flame with constant stirring until the water evaporates and forms a dough.
3. After that, add 1 or 2 teaspoon sesame oil or ghee and knead the dough.
Tip: The dough should have got cooked almost and this can be confirmed if the dough is non-sticky. (Don't cook in high flame, cook in medium flame as this will make sure that the dough gets cooked)
Immediately, keep covered and take your convenient portions little by little.
4. Then make tiny balls of desired size. I made it in size of seedai, it should look cute right?
Make paal kozhukattai
1. Firstly start heating thin coconut milk.
2. Secondly, add the rolled tiny rice balls in two parts. Add half of the kozhukattai firstly and wait until the milk boils again and again add the remaining kozhukattai.
3. Then cook in medium flame for 3 minutes or until the kozhukattai float on the top. By now the milk would have turned thicker.
4. After that, add cardamom powder, sugar and mix well until sugar gets dissolved.
5. Then lower the flame and add thick coconut milk and mix well. Heat furthermore in low flame for a minute and switch off flame.
Serve hot or chilled as per your wish and enjoy this delightful sweet.
Coconut milk
I used store bought coconut milk, but here's how to extract coconut milk from fresh coconut.
- Extracting fresh coconut milk. - Grind 1 cup of grated coconut (maximum 2 tbsp lukewarm water). Squeeze and collect first milk. Use this in the last step.
- Again place the squeezed grated coconut in mixer and add ½ cup to ¾ lukewarm water, grind and extract the thin milk. use this in step 5. Adjust quantity as mentioned. That is the thin coconut milk should be 2 cups. So add water accordingly.
My notes
Some rice flour variety gives too soft kozhukattai, especially if processed flour. This will give you a feel it has not cooked properly. Keeping refrigerated and serving gives firmer kozhukattais.
Substitutions & Variations
Vegan - Avoid ghee and dairy milk, use just coconut milk and sesame oil for softness and greasing.
Rice flour - If you do not have rice flour, soak raw rice, grind and cook it to make dough. Check out my post here to see how to make dough with rice.
Use saffron for lovely flavor and colour.
Recipe card
Paal kozhukattai recipe
Ingredients
For kozhukattai
- 1 cup Rice flour I used Idiyappam flour
- ½ cup milk
- 1 cup Water
- 1 teaspoon Ghee
- 1 teaspoon Sesame oil
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
Others
- ½ cup Coconut milk Thick extract (pure coconut milk without water)
- 2 cups Thin coconut milk Second extract, dilute to make 2 cups
- ¾ cup Sugar
- 1 Cardamom powdered
- 1 teaspoon Sesame oil
Instructions
Prepare kozhukattai
- Take a non-stick pan firstly and mix milk, 1 cup water, ghee and the rice flour (add a pinch of salt if you are using rice flour. I used store bought idiyappam flour and it had salt in it, so didn't add).
- Then heat this in medium flame with constant stirring until the water evaporates and forms a dough.
- After that, add 1 or 2 teaspoon sesame oil or ghee and knead the dough.
- Tip: The dough should have got cooked almost and this can be confirmed if the dough is non-sticky. (Don't cook in high flame, cook in medium flame as this will make sure that the dough gets cooked)
- Immediately, keep covered and take your convenient portions little by little.
- Then make tiny balls of desired size. I made it in size of seedai, it should look cute right?
Make paal kozhukattai
- Firstly start heating thin coconut milk.
- Secondly, add the rolled tiny rice balls in two parts. Add half of the kozhukattai firstly and wait until the milk boils again and again add the remaining kozhukattai.
- Then cook in medium flame for 3 minutes or until the kozhukattai float on the top. By now the milk would have turned thicker.
- After that, add cardamom powder, sugar and mix well until sugar gets dissolved.
- Then lower the flame and add thick coconut milk and mix well. Heat furthermore in low flame for a minute and switch off flame.
Video
Notes
- I have used sugar, you can replace with jaggery.
- You can use coconut milk cream or our dairy milk too.
- Do not boil in high flame after you add the thick milk as there are chances of curdling. But since the rice flour is in there, it will prevent curdling.
- Increase or decrease the sugar amount as per your taste.
- I have used unrefined sugar in the updated video.
Nags
the kozhukkattai look so cute! happy new year and welcome back Raks 🙂
sanjeeta kk
Wow! It looks like rasgullas. Had this sweet in a friends' house, would love to try it with this method. Lovely click.
Lite Bite
Jagruti જાગૃતિ
oh wow.........drooling here...sooooo tempting !
Akila
wow thats really fantalicious dear....
Regards,
Akila
sowmya's creative saga
looks really yumm..am trying this for sure.
jeyashrisuresh
we make it by adding jaggery, this version sounds great and palkozhukattai is my hubby's fav too.love the serving dish
Radhika
I love them too and the click only makes it tempting and mouthwatering. BTW pl send in ur entry to my first event. Find the details here: http://ticklingpalates.blogspot.com/2011/01/announcing-my-first-event-deep-fried.html
Sharmilee! :)
Wow paal kozhukattai is my fav...looks super tempting. I luv it with jaggery as well as sugar. Ur version sounds gud too!
Sayantani
thats a complete new dish to me...looks awesome.
wish you and your family a very happy New Year!
Dr.Sameena Prathap
Hey,
Love paal kolukattai...Been a while since i made this...Used to have often during childhood days...:)
Happy new year to you dear!!:)
Dr.Sameena@
http://www.myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com/
Priya
Am an addict to this yummy paal kozhukattais, just love it anytime..
Kurinji
Nice clicks n kolukkattai looks so inviting....
Pongal Feast Event
Kurinji
lissie
Happy New Year to You, Raks!
delicious paal kozhukattai...love them!
Preeti Kashyap
Looks awesome raks! yummm
Shanthi
Wonderful and Slurp.... Can you hear me? seedai portion is too good
Jay
Its just too tempting...gonna try immediately..
Tasty appetite
notyet100
welcome back,..this one looks so yum,...
Aruna Manikandan
wow!!!!!
looks lovely and very tempting dear 🙂
Usha
Looks fantastic and so very tempting ! Thanks for your wishes and wish you and your family a very happy new year too !
Priti
As said I had only once and love it..this is so tempting ...looks too gud dear....
Priya Sreeram
lovely-- drooling here ! well explained !!
Angie's Recipes
I love rice dishes...this sounds and looks so wonderfully delicious!
Prathibha
I m drooling over the fotos..looks yumm....
Laavanya
I haven't had this in ages.. there are so many variations right.. with coconut milk, milk, sugar and vellam? They look like pretty pearls.
Kalyani
wow looks yummy and tempting one .........
Cham
My granny uses to make it, time consuming but worth on special occasion! They are tempting!
Pushpa
Simply mouthwatering pal kozhukattais,love your presentaion..
rekhas kitchen
I just love them when they are made with jaggery insted of sugar,but your pic. made me drool....
Suja Sugathan
Wow this looks awesome,..beautiful presentation,love it
aipi
whoa, they really look like a fantastic treat !!!
US Masala
Smitha
it reminds me of pala taalikalu, we make in Andhra...only the shape is different and method little different!!...and i love it too..yum!
Sumathi
Nice one.. Tasty and yummy
Swathi
Paal kohukattai looks delicious. Nice recipe
swapna
Mouthwatering recipe...Delicious!!
Krishnaveni
wow, what a beautiful dessert, yum yum
Sumi
loved your step by step pictures,, I too blogged paal kozhkattai as by latest post. Same pinch. 🙂
savitha ramesh
U have so much patience and paal kozhukattai looks super delicious dear...wonderful clicks
Sushma Mallya
looks so beautiful and very delicious...wish to have some now....and wish you a very happy new year raks...
Suhaina
wow.. i am drooling......looks so cute.. I know how difficult is to make these cute balls..but the pleasure that u get when u eat them is much much more.. simply love it.. wonderful clicks.. are these new serving cups from India??? Looks very cute..Happy new year dear.
GEETHA ACHAL
ராஜி...chanceillai....எப்படி இவ்வளவு பொருமையாக உருண்டைகள் உருட்டினிங்க...அருமை...எனக்கு மிகவும் பிடித்த பால் கொழுக்கட்டை...வாழ்த்துகள் ....
Premalatha Aravindhan
Woo Wow Delicious Kuzhukatai,I love this traditional serving bowls,neat presentation...
Janu
Beautiful Raji!!! You are a superwoman!! You have a huge bunch of patience, rolling the kozhakattais to small small balls.. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Jaishree
Wow! Looks so beautiful and very delicious.. I haven't had this.. Wish to have some right now:) Beautiful presentation, love it!
Chitra
Looks beautiful .. will try for sen 😉
Divya Kudua
We have a similar version[in Konkani cooking],though its been ages since I made/ate these.Looks wonderful--Happy New Year to you!!
Priya's Feast
I never tried with sugar....luv the white balls..with ujala , maja va 😉
PALATABLE
These are so cute and delicious! Wishing you and family a Healthy and Joyous New Year!
http://treatntrick.blogspot.com
Pavithra
I love this Raji and this is super tempting.. Beautiful click and looks yumm yumm 🙂 I love both with sugar as well as jaggery version.. delicious.
Kairali sisters
Oh My..its been ages i had this..brings back a lotta good memories...Yummilicious Raks..
Hamaree Rasoi
Hi Raks
This preparation reminds me of our own cusine rasagulla. Excellent looking kuzhukatai.
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
Anonymous
nice recipe raks..!! i have made a different version..!!
Torviewtoronto
this looks fabulous delicious
Yummy Team
Fabulous presentation, Raks!! These kozhukattais look cute and absolutely yummy..
SpicyTasty
back after a long time..happy new year!!wonderful presentation..love them..
Satya
Lovely picture... I want to grab and gulp them right now...
Divya Vikram
Ah! My favorite dish..Looks divine.
Jisha
wow...that looks delicious and awesome pics too..feel like having it right now..
Mano Saminathan
This traditional sweet looks delicious and perfect in your photograph!
Sowmya
They look so scrumptious....I've always wanted to make paal kozhukattai...now, your picture has totally inspired me!
தக்குடு
மூஞ்சி புஸ்தகத்துலையே பாத்தேன் இதோட போஸ்டரை. குட்டி குட்டியா அழகா இருக்கு, அப்பரம் ஒரு டவுட்டு, உங்கத்துல சாப்டு முடிச்சதுக்கு அப்புறம் அந்த வெள்ளி கிண்ணத்தையும் ஸ்பூனையும் சாப்டவாளுக்கே குடுத்துடுவேள்னு எல்லாரும் சொல்லிக்கறாளே அப்பிடியா??..:)
PriyaVaasu
Yummylicious Raks!!!!!
Gayu.Kitchen
Love these..Haven't made them at all but when mom makes them all I know is to HOG!!The pics are too good..Gives such a divine feeling..
Gayu
http://ensamayalarangam.blogspot.com
Deepa
wow! super! would like to know how ur hubby rewarded u for this pleasant surprise. 😉
DV
Super-cute kozhukattais! Very tempting pictures! 🙂
-Divya
TastyVegCooking
viji
hi,
Ur paal Kozhukattai looks amazing. 🙂
If i add jaggery instead of sugar, how much i have to add n wen should i add?
Is it ok to add jaggery directly r i have to make vella pagu....
viji
hi,
Ur paal Kozhukattai looks amazing 🙂
If i use jaggery instead of sugar, how much i have to add and wen should i add?
RAKS KITCHEN
Hi Viji, for the above mentioned quantity, I think 1 cup jaggery will be enough, anyways not sure, but u can try 1 cup. I think making paagu and adding is better that we can filter the impurities. 🙂
vinovishwa
i have one doubt.if i amke with pure coconut milk.
how can i heat.if i heat the taste is a goood one
vinovishwa
hi
baraniashok
wow so nice ur receipes are so good and mouth watering
baraniashok
wow very nice ur receipes really so good and mouth watering
Aarti Naidu
incredible! turned out well too! just one doubt: are the rice balls supposed to melt in the mouth or are they supposed to be semi solid?
RAKS KITCHEN
Thanks 🙂 It should hold its shape and should not dissolve in milk. When it is hot, it tends to be too soft, but after cooling down, th eballs becomes more firm. If you keep in fridge for some time, you get more firmer balls.
Avanthi Arabolu
Hi Raji, if i make this with ordinary milk or coconut milk, how much quantity should i take?
RAKS KITCHEN
You may need upto 2 cups of milk.Use in 5th step 1/2 of the milk (diluted with water if needed) and remaining later where ever I have mentioned. If using coconut milk, first take thick coconut milk from a whole coconut. Scrap it and grind it with 1/2 cup warm water and squeeze to get thick milk.set aside. IN same coconut, add 1 more cup of warm water and grind again. Squeeze to get thin milk . Use thin milk in step 5 as mentioned and thick milk in the last stage. Hope its clear.
madhu
Hi raji if i am using ready made coconut milk how much should i use and when should i add it?
And not to mention i love your blog.I have tried many recipes and it is always a success.Keep up the grt wrk 🙂
madhu
hi raji,
if i am using coconut ready made coconut milk how much should i use and when should i add it?
Kathryn
Hello! If I make this ahead of time, how long will it keep in the refrigerator?
RAKS KITCHEN
You can keep for a day or two. Depends on your climate conditions, the temperature of your fridge as well.
nithila
tried this today, yummy dishthank u.
nithila
thank u tried this dish today, yummy
Madhangi Jagan
Hi Raji, ur blog is too good. can we use store crought ready made coconut milk? What's the measurement for using ready made coconut milk?
Arrul mozhi
hi ... i tried this recipe with ragi flour ... the first half balls got melted with the boiling coconut milk... the second half remained... could u say ll it happen like this... but the taste was so good....
Raks anand
Did u followed all the steps like ore cooking the ragi and make a dough ? If the balls are added before it starts boiling, the it may get dissolved in the coconut milk too...
priya
Hi raks .... I tried ur receipe it came out very wel all my family m members liked very much even my daughter liked very much. Sje is just 8 months. Thank u.
by priya
Neelam
Hello Raks..
Thanks for your recipe. Tried it out and tasted so good 🙂
neelam
KEERTHI RAMESH
hi
we dont get coconut milk powder frequently, so wat is the alternate i shld add,and instead of sesame oil can i add coconut or sunflower oil??
KEERTHI RAMESH
hi
can i use sunflower or coconut oil instead of sesame oil,coz we dont use much of sesame
Kavita Suresh
Hey.. I made this yesterday and it was good. I was under the impression that the rice balls would soak up the sweetness and be sweet too; unfortunately, it wasnt so; it tasted bland. The liquid part was very tasty. So, wanted to ask if we can add some sugar to the rice flour before making the dough.
Raks anand
If the balls are real soft, you will not feel that problem. So to make the balls soft, add more water while preparing the rice dough.
sugi
Hi raji
Which brand of coconut milk powder are u using? I got one but it is smelling like coconut oil and so didnt lik it
Raks anand
I use Kara brand.
Kavita Suresh
Thanks dear. I made it again, and this time I perfected it; will be trying the jaggery version the next time; mom and MIL both brought homemade idiyappam flour from ooru, so I can experiment a lot of rice flour recipes..
Safina Mubarak
thanks a lot raks ,i tried yesterdy it came out yummy..its my fav sweet which my mom used to prepare fr us often but i ve nvr done on my own...at righttime saw ur receipe n rightly de same sweet which i was yearning for...last step while adding thick milk v mix little flour along n pour so dat while cooling it gets thickened...n i lov to eat dat way..thanx a lot raksss again..
sugi
Raks how many days it will be good when kept outside..
மான்
Hi Raks.. tried paal kazhukattai today. It was a big hit. Thanks for detailed description and photos. You are great inspiration. Keep rocking!!
Raks Kitchen
Thanks a lot
Ramya
Do the balls remain little hard or are they soft after cooking? Mine turned out too be a bit hard
Raks Anand
Its supposed to be soft. Make sure to cook the dough well before making dough.