Pal Pidi isn’t the kind of dish that gets made on a random weekday. It belongs to celebration. The kind of celebration that fills a Syrian Christian kitchen with soft voices, wood smoke, and the sound of a heavy lid being lifted from a clay pot.
It begins with pidi – small, smooth rice flour dumplings, gently shaped and cooked in coconut milk. Not sweet, not bland – just soft, comforting, and milky, with the faint warmth of shallots, a touch of garlic, and maybe a pinch of cumin. The coconut milk thickens slowly, coating each dumpling with a creamy layer that holds the memory of every stir.
But pal pidi doesn’t usually arrive on the table alone. It’s almost always served with something bold – buffalo curry, naadan chicken, or duck roast, rich with spice and depth. The mildness of the pidi soaks up the gravy, each bite carrying that contrast – soft and heavy, mild and fiery. It’s not just food. It’s balance.
Pal pidi is deeply rooted in Kuttanad, where backwaters and farmlands meet. For generations, it has been a centrepiece at Syrian Christian feasts – especially during Christmas, Easter, and weddings. Families pass down the recipe without needing to write it down. It’s cooked with muscle memory, and served with the kind of pride that only comes with tradition.
It’s a dish that speaks quietly but lingers deeply. Not flashy. Not loud. But if you’ve tasted it once, you’ll remember it every time the coconut milk simmers and the dumplings begin to rise.
Paal Pidi
Ingredients
Instructions
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Pidi or Paal Pidi is a a breakfast dish much popular among Christians in Kottayam area, In Kerala district. Its often served with Chicken curry knows as “Pidiyum Kozhiyum”.
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Fist of all We will prepare the Rice flour. Idiyappam/ Pathiri Flour can be used for it .
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Next we will mix Rice flour and half cup Grated coconut. Combine well with hand and keep it aside about 10 minutes
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At tat time you can extract Coconut Milk
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Now we will prepare some spicy coconut masala, by grinding Garlic, Shallot , Coconut, Cumin with some water.
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Next Roast the Rice flour mix , and stir continuously for some time
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Now we will and enough Salt and Water. Let it boil
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We will use this Coconut batter to Kneed the dough
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Add this to Roasted rice flour little by little and combine well
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Note: Both Rice flour mix and Coconut batter should be hot. So if possible do both things same time.
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Now, we have to wait for some time as the dough is still hot, cant handle with hand.
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Next add Ghee, kneed it to a smooth dough. If required you can add some hot water
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We will make small balls with the dough and keep it aside
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Now we will cook it. For that , heat a pan, Add two cup coconut milk and let it to boil
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Add rice balls and let it cooked in Coconut milk
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To make it little tick, we will Mix half cup coconut milk and One tablespoon Rice flour without lumps
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Add the mixture to the Pidi and combine it with it without touching the balls
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Finally, cook it till, the water content reduced to minimum and it will be thick.
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Kottyam style Pidi or Paal Pidi is ready
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Serve warm with Chicken Curry