Erachi pidi

Erachi Pidi (Rice dumplings in spicy meat gravy)
   -------------------------------------------
Erachi Pidi is an authentic traditional Christian dish. It's  a common breakfast in most of the Kerala Christian houses on Christmas day. 'You can have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. This is a one pot dish like biriyani. Though I’ve given the beef version, you can make it with chicken, mutton or even prawns.

Ingredients:
For Pidi (Rice Dumplings)
--------------------
Rice flour - 3 cups
Finely grated coconut - ¾-1 cup
Small onion - 7
Fennel seeds (Perumjeerakom) - ½ tsp
Salt
Hot water - 3 cups
For Beef
---------
Beef - 1 kg, cut into  pieces (Can use chicken/mutton/prawn option)
Onion - 1 medium, sliced
Chilli Powder - 2½ tsp
Coriander Powder - 2½ tsp
Turmeric Powder - ½ tsp
Crushed ginger and garlic - 1 tsp
Water - ¾ cup
Salt
Curry leaves
For Masala
-----------
Onion - 2 medium, chopped
Small onion - 15, sliced
Crushed ginger and garlic - 1 tbsp each
Tomato - 1 medium, chopped
Green chilli - 2-3, chopped
Coriander Powder - 2 tsp
Chilli Powder - 1½ - 2 tsp
Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
Salt
Thick coconut milk - ½ cup
To Roast and grind
--------------------
Grated coconut - 1.5 cups
Chopped garlic - 2 tsp
Fennel seeds - ¼ tsp
Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
Curry leaves
              Instructions:
Pidi Preparation
--------------
Grind together small onion and fennel seeds (qty mentioned under"for pidi") to a coarse paste. Add coconut, small onion paste and salt to rice flour. Mix well. Add hot water gradually and make a soft and non sticky dough.
Make very small balls of dough . Steam these balls in low-medium heat for 8-10 mins. Keep aside the prepared pidi/dumplings.
Beef Preparation
----------------
Add sliced onion, chilli, turmeric, coriander powder, ginger & garlic, salt, curry leaves and water to the beef. The qty of spices is mentioned under "for beef" title in ingredients list. Pressure cook the beef. Make sure that the beef retains a crunch and not fully cooked. We will be cooking it further. Once the pressure releases, continue to cook the beef on lowest flame, while you make the masala. Stir it in between.
Masala Preparation
------------------
Heat oil and add chopped onion. When it becomes soft, add small onion. When the onions turn golden brown, add ginger and garlic. Cook for 2-3 mins. Add masala powders and mix well. Cook till the raw smell goes, around 2-3 mins. Add chopped tomato and green chilli and salt. Cook till the tomatoes become soft. Add this masala to the beef and mix well. Keep cooking the beef on low flame. Make sure you stir it in between..
Heat oil and add grated coconut, chopped garlic, fennel seeds, turmeric powder and curry leaves (qty mentioned under "to roast and grind"). Fry it till the coconut turns golden brown in colour. Let it cool completely. Grind it to a smooth paste without adding water.
Add the ground coconut paste to the beef mixture. Combine and keep cooking on low flame.
Now the pidi and curry are ready. You can serve separately or by mixing together
For that add the cooked pidi and the thick coconut milk to this. Mix it and bring it to boil. It has semi dry consistency and the pidi, should be coated well with the masala. Add more hot water, if required, to adjust the consistency.
Garnish with fried small onion and serve hot.