Puttu
In its own language: പുട്ട്
Steamed cylinders of rice flour and coconut, served hot for breakfast
Puttu is a breakfast dish from Kerala and Tamil Nadu in India, and from Tamil regions of Sri Lanka. It is made by steaming ground rice layered with grated coconut, sometimes with sweet or savoury fillings. Puttu is served hot, often with curries, bananas, or palm sugar, and is especially popular among Sri Lankan Tamils.
- Puttu is made by steaming rice flour and coconut in a cylindrical shape
- It is a staple breakfast in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Tamil Sri Lanka
- Served hot with curries, bananas, or palm sugar
- Variants use wheat, millet, or other grains
- Linked to a Tamil legend and the Avani Mula festival
What is Puttu?
Puttu is a breakfast food made from coarsely ground rice and grated coconut, shaped into cylinders or balls and steamed. The rice flour is mixed with water and a little salt, sometimes with cumin for extra flavour. Layers of coconut are added throughout. The result is a soft, crumbly cake with a mild taste and a hint of coconut. It is usually served hot, sometimes with sweet or savoury accompaniments.
Where does Puttu come from?
Puttu is native to Kerala and Tamil Nadu in South India, as well as Tamil regions of Sri Lanka. It is a traditional dish among Sri Lankan Tamils, especially in the north and east of the island. The food is also found in Mauritius, where it is sold as a snack. Puttu is mentioned in Tamil legend and is tied to local festivals, showing its deep roots in the region's culture.
How is Puttu made?
To make puttu, rice flour is moistened with water and a little salt until it has a crumbly texture. Cumin may be added for flavour. The mixture is layered with grated coconut in a special steaming vessel, often a metal or bamboo cylinder. The vessel is placed over boiling water so that steam cooks the mixture. In Sri Lanka, wheat or red rice flour may be used, and other vessels like coconut shells or idli pans can serve as alternatives.
How and when is Puttu eaten?
Puttu is most often eaten for breakfast, served hot. In Kerala, it is paired with banana, plantain, chickpea curry, or meat and fish curries. In Tamil Nadu, it can be eaten with sweetened coconut milk or jaggery. Sri Lankan versions are served with coconut milk, sambol, or meat and fish curries. It may also be enjoyed with black coffee in southern Kerala. In Mauritius, it is a popular street snack.
Kinds of Puttu
There are many versions of puttu. Some use wheat, ragi (finger millet), tapioca, or corn flour instead of rice. Fillings can include banana, egg curry, or spiced meat (as in irachiputtu). Manipputtu is a ball-shaped variant. In Bangladesh, the outer layer may include moong dal, and the filling is sweetened coconut. Puttu-specialised restaurants in Kerala offer many creative fillings.
What Puttu means
Puttu is part of daily life in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and is especially important among Sri Lankan Tamils. It features in the Avani Mula festival in Madurai, where a legend about Shiva and puttu is re-enacted. Puttu is distributed at the festival and sold in the temple area. In 2006, a 10-foot-long puttu was made in Kerala as a world record attempt. The dish also connects to similar foods across Southeast Asia.
Questions people ask about Puttu
What is puttu made of?
Puttu is mainly made from coarsely ground rice, grated coconut, salt, and water. Cumin is sometimes added for flavour. In some regions, wheat or millet flour is used instead of rice.
Where does puttu come from?
Puttu comes from Kerala and Tamil Nadu in South India, and is also traditional among Tamils in northern and eastern Sri Lanka. It is also found in Mauritius.
How is puttu cooked?
Puttu is prepared by layering moistened rice flour and grated coconut in a cylindrical steamer. The mixture is then steamed until cooked through, resulting in a soft, crumbly cake.
When is puttu usually eaten?
Puttu is most commonly eaten for breakfast. It is served hot, often with curries, bananas, or sweetened coconut milk, depending on the region.
Are there different types of puttu?
Yes, puttu can be made with different grains like wheat or millet, and may have various fillings such as banana, egg curry, or spiced meat. There are also ball-shaped and sweet-filled versions.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Puttu", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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