Ganesh Chaturthi is around the corner, and if you're looking for an easy, healthy prasadam that doesn't need much preparation, this oats kozhukattai is exactly what you need. Unlike the traditional kara pidi kozhukattai that uses rice flour, this version is made with just oats flour, so it's lighter and comes together much faster. There's no soaking, no grinding rice, and no waiting around — just mix, temper, and steam.
The oats flour is cooked with water along with the tempering — mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, green chilli, chopped carrots, beans, and grated coconut — until it comes together into a soft pliable mixture. Once it cools down a little, small portions are shaped into cylinderical kozhukattai balls and steamed until they turn soft and slightly glossy on top. That's it — no separate dough-making and no rice flour cooking needed.
What makes this recipe special is the addition of finely chopped carrots , beans and moong dal along with grated coconut in the tempering. These veggies not only add colour and crunch but also make the prasadam more nutritious, so it works just as well as a wholesome breakfast on any regular day, not only during the festival. The tempering of mustard seeds, urad dal, and curry leaves asafoetida gives it that authentic South Indian flavour, while the oats keep it light on the stomach.
This is a good one to make when you want a quick prasadam for Ganesh Chaturthi without spending hours in the kitchen. Since it's naturally vegan and doesn't need rice flour, it's also a great option if you're trying to eat more fibre or simply want a healthier alternative to the usual rice-based kozhukattai, while still keeping the shape and steaming style that makes it feel like a proper festival offering.
Recipe Details
Cuisine: South Indian / Tamil Nadu
Course: Prasadam / Festival Snack / Breakfast
Diet: Vegetarian, Vegan
Occasion: Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayagar Chaturthi
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 7-8 nos
Ingredients
Oats - 1 cup (roasted & ground to rava consistency)
Hot Water – 1/2-3/4 cup (adjust as needed)
Carrot – 1 tbsp, finely chopped/grated
Beans – 1 tbsp, finely chopped
Grated coconut – 2 tbsps
Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
Urad dal – 1 tsp
Channa dal – 1 tsp
Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp
Curry leaves – a few, chopped
Red chillies-1 no finely chopped
Green chilli – 1 no, finely chopped
Ginger-1 inch piece finely chopped
Asafoetida (hing) – 1/4 tsp
Oil – 1 to 2 tsps
Salt – to taste
Coriander leaves-few
Recipe Video
Method
●Heat oil in a kadai. Add mustard seeds, urad dal, channa dal, cumin seeds , and roast until light golden. add curry leaves, green chilli, ginger , red chilli and a pinch of asafoetida. Sauté for a few seconds.Add the chopped carrots and beans. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until they soften slightly.
●Lower the flame and add the powdered oats , grated coconut, soaked moong dal and required salt mix well.
●Gradually add little hot water and mix well until the mixture holds shape.
●Garnish with coriander leaves and drizzle a teaspoon of oil and switch off the gas, cover with lid and set aside for 5 minutes.
●Let the mixture cool slightly until you can handle it comfortably but make sure it is warm otherwise you won't be able to shape it.
●Grease your palms with a little oil, take small portions of the dough, and shape them into pidi kozhukattais.
●Arrange the shaped kozhukattai on a greased idli plate or steamer plate.Steam for 10 to 12 minutes on medium flame, until they turn soft and slightly glossy on top.
●Let them cool for a couple of minutes before serving or offering as prasadam.
Tips for Best Results
✍️Chop or grate the carrots and beans very finely so they cook well within the dough and don't stay raw inside the kozhukattai.
✍️Roast the oats flour for a minute in the tempering itself before adding water, so it doesn't taste raw.
✍️Add hot water slowly and keep stirring so the oats flour cooks evenly without lumps.
✍️Let the mixture cool slightly before shaping, or it will be too hot to handle and the balls won't hold shape well.
✍️Grease your palms lightly with oil while shaping so the mixture doesn't stick to your hands.
FAQs
1.Can I make this without rice flour completely?
Yes, this recipe is made only with oats flour. You don't need rice flour at all.
2.Can I use store-bought oats flour?
Yes, or you can grind rolled oats or instant oats at home in a mixer to make fresh oats flour.
3.Which vegetables can I add besides carrots and beans?
You can add finely chopped cabbage or grated beetroot too, as long as they're chopped small enough to cook quickly.
4.Can I prepare this ahead for Ganesh Chaturthi pooja?
It's best made fresh and steamed just before offering, since kozhukattai tastes best when soft and warm. You can chop the veggies the night before to save time.
This oats kozhukattai is a simple, no-fuss way to prepare prasadam for Ganesh Chaturthi without rice flour, while still keeping all the traditional flavours intact. With carrots, beans, moong dal and coconut mixed in, it's healthy enough to make often, not just during the festival. Try this for your pooja this year and see how easy it is to put together.
If you try this oats kozhukattai for Ganesh Chaturthi, do share your feedback in the comments below — I'd love to know how it turned out. Follow Divya's Nalabhagam on Instagram and YouTube for more festival recipes and healthy South Indian dishes!