
Sweet Crunchy Rice Balls
I recently started participating in blog events and they are a whole lot of fun! Apart from discovering great new blogs, making new friends and learning a lot about food and photography, I really enjoy the challenge of creating something new! For somebody like me who follows no recipes and never plans what to cook it’s a different experience to plan and create a recipe particularly for a blog event.
I wanted to participate in the Rice Blog Hop, Junia of Mis Pensamientos’s brainchild. The month is almost coming to an end but I never got around to blogging a rice recipe! Now you might ask what’s so hard about a rice recipe… it’s really not. For somebody like me who eats rice every single day it’s not hard to blog just one recipe at all. But I wanted to create something unique for the event. I didn’t want to blog my every day rice dish.
Finally today I could actually create a rice recipe which I am happy about. It’s healthy, easy and delicious, all of which I consider ‘my kind’!
Here’s a recipe of sweet crunchy hard snack balls which are made out of just 3 ingredients! It has flattened red rice, organic black jaggery and a tiny hint of cardamom. It comes together really fast, takes 5 to 10 minutes to make. It’s a great snack if you have a sweet tooth as it’s almost oil/fat free!
These rice balls are chewy, sticky and crunchy. Tastes of earthy red rice with an intense caramel-like sweetness of jaggery. They are quite nutritious as I have used red rice flakes and organic jaggery. It might work with white flattened rice too provided the rice flakes are think and not paper thin. The beautiful black colour comes from the black jaggery which you will not have if you use regular jaggery. These are also vegan and gluten free!

organic black jaggery

Believe me… this is delicious just by itslef!!

flattened red rice

Green cardamom

3 ingredients and 10 minutes is what it takes!!

You have vegan, gluten free, chewy, sticky and crunchy rice balls!

Perfect healthy snack!
[typography font="Cantarell" size="24" size_format="px" color="#b36f98"]Ingredients:[/typography]
- 1 cup flattened red rice
- ¾ cup organic black jaggery
- ¼ cup water
- 1 pod cardamom
- 1 tsp coconut oil
Place the jaggery and water in a heavy bottomed pan and slowly bring it to a boil. Peel the cardamom pod and crush the black seeds lightly. Add it to the jaggery and let it simmer.
While the jaggery syrup is getting ready, dry roast the flattened rice till it’s crisp.
When the jaggery syrup gets slightly thick add the flattened rice to it. Mix till it’s combined well. Continue to cook it in low flame till it all comes together.
Turn off the heat and let it cool for a minute or two. Grease your hands well with coconut oil. Make sure you have enough oil to prevent the hot mixture from sticking to your hands. The mixture will be extremely hot so take care not to burn yourself. Scoop a spoonful of the hot mixture and place it on your palm and quickly roll it into a ball. Place it on a greased plate. Continue to do this till you have rolled all of it into balls. Make sure you do this before the mixture cools down completely as it’ll harden.
Let the rice balls come down to the room temperature and enjoy them for up to a week stored in an airtight container.
Soak the pan in water for all the jaggery stuck to it to come out before you clean it.





21 comments :
Priya April 12, 2013 6:31PM
Love the first shot! wonderful!
visiting from twitter @hellopalz
Nami | Just One Cookbook September 27, 2011 6:13AM
Wow so pretty!!! I’ve noticed that you take beautiful photos that contains dark/black color. It’s my weakness, but with some natural light you take gorgeous photos. These rice balls look extremely hard to take, but you nailed it. Looks delicious and very unique!
Pia September 26, 2011 6:24PM
Love the post, chinmayie! The photographs are gorgeous! Bengalis make something very similar, with puffed rice and jaggery – it’s called Murir Moya. Brought back memories of my grandmother rolling out the balls and storing them in large airtight jars.
Vandya September 26, 2011 7:09AM
Delish looking balls.
Yasmeen @ Wandering Spice September 25, 2011 11:41AM
Fantastic share. Something I’ve never seen before – now I’m really curious to try!
Luv'n Spoonfuls September 25, 2011 3:31AM
I can not wait to try this, and am so looking forward to my first use of jaggery! What a GREAT recipe (and photos too). Super!
Junia @ Mis Pensamientos September 24, 2011 6:13PM
whoohoo for vegan gluten free deliciousness! i love flattened rice too (they call it rice flakes here), but the only version they have in stores (Eden’s Organic) has been made on the same equipment as wheat
. which brand do you use?
i love healthy bites! welcome too our #ricelove bloghop
.
Sneh | Cook Republic September 24, 2011 7:21AM
Lovely recipe Chinmayie. These would be great for a after dinner sweet craving! Thanks for sharing
annette September 24, 2011 2:31AM
wow i have never seen red rice flakes. is it labeled as poha? i will definitely be on the look out for it.
Chinmayie September 24, 2011 3:21AM
It could be labeled as poha. I find it in most health stores in Bangalore. The one I have used here is a thick variety which works great for this recipe. I have also seen paper thin flattened red rice.
Chinmayie September 24, 2011 1:31AM
Thank you guys!
Tanvi@SinfullySpicy September 23, 2011 11:50PM
Rice balls look amazing…never seen or heard of black jaggery..now I want to find it!
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul September 23, 2011 11:46PM
These look delicious! I cannot wait to try them
Sylvia@Peaches and Donuts September 23, 2011 9:29PM
I love this post! Looks simple to make and it taught me more about new ingredients! I’ve never seen red rice flakes or black jaggery before. Thanks for sharing!
Richa@HobbyandMore September 23, 2011 6:16PM
I’ve never used black jaggery.. i dont think i can even find it here in the US.. the balls remind me of the puffed rice and gud laddoos, but a fantastic version of them!
Welcome to the #ricelove bloghop!
Chinmayie September 24, 2011 3:25AM
Thanks Richa! They are like a much harder version of puffed rice laddoos! They are also chewy from the flattened rice.
sreelu September 23, 2011 5:51PM
wow this a keeper recipe simple yet looks so delicious. love;y pics Harini
Swati Sapna September 23, 2011 4:47PM
Absolutely fabulous recipe! I just love the combination of organic, healthy ingredients that you have used
I have never heard organic black jaggery… will look out for it now!
Sanjeeta kk September 23, 2011 10:02AM
What a delightful healthy recipe it is! Love the dark jaggery and the red rice flakes. Would love to make them soon.
Baker Street September 23, 2011 9:39AM
Love the simplicity. Lovely clicks C!
jp September 23, 2011 8:55AM
Great !!!!!!!!!!!