Undrallu or kudumulu are traditionally made as offering (prasad or neivedhyam) on Ganesh Chathurthi. These steamed rice balls are very easy to make.
Biyyapu rava or rice rava is first cooked and then formed into undralu. They are then steamed until completely cooked. Serve with spicy allam pachadi.

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Table of contents
About the Recipe
Food has a very special place during the festival season in India. There are some specific dishes that are made for specific occasions.
One such are these undrallu aka kudumulu. These steamed rice balls are synonymous with Vinayaka Chavithi in many Telugu households. They can be made either savory or sweet forms.
But in our home, we make savory ones as naivedyam (offering to god) for Lord Vinayaka especially on Ganesh Chathurthi day. Sweet kudumulu are equally delicious.
These savory ones are very easy to make. Recipe needs only 4 ingredients. Since they are steamed, these are also called aviri kudumulu. Traditionally these are served with allam pachadi.
Ingredients
For the details of the exact quantities of each ingredient and the list of ingredients needed, check the printable recipe card below.
Here are the ingredients you need to make undrallu:
- Rice Rava/ cream of rice/ biyyam rawa is the main ingredient you need for this recipe. You can buy it from Indian grocery but it is very easy to make at home as well. Simply grind rice into a coarse powder. It should feel like fine cornmeal. Do not grind it too much. I find it easy to grind small quantities, so I can control the consistency better.
- Chana Dal/ yellow split lentils/ senagapappu
- Cumin seeds/ jeera/ jeelakarra
- Salt
To make allam pachadi (ginger chutney), you need the following:
- fresh ginger
- jaggery - I use jaggery powder, but you can grate the jaggery blocks as well. You can be substitute it with brown sugar or palm sugar.
- tamarind - I use tamarind paste because it is convenient. I have included on how to make your own paste at home below.
- dry red chilies, chana dal, urad dal and cumin seeds
Instructions
For the detailed instructions on how to make the recipe with exact timings, check the printable recipe card below.
Here is how to make undrallu/ kudumulu recipe:
Soak chana dal in water for at least 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Heat oil in a medium size saucepan and add cumin seeds. Once the seeds start to splutter, add the water and bring to a boil on medium high heat. Once the water comes to a boil, add salt, soaked & drained chana dal and lower the heat to medium-low.
Add rice rava gradually in a slow stream while continuously whisking the water to make sure that there are no lumps.
Cover and cook until the mixture thickens and looks like a porridge or upma. Consistency should be neither too wet (if this is the case cook a little longer) nor too dry (add little water).
Let this mixture cool till it is easy to handle. Divide the rice mixture into equal lemon size balls. Place them on lightly greased steamer plate and steam them for about 10-12 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes before opening the lid.
Andhra style Allam Pachadi Recipe
Allam chutney is a pretty straightforward recipe. It is a spicy, sweet and sour chutney that tingles all your taste buds. It also goes well with just about anything - idli, dosa, upma, roti etc etc. Here is how to make allam chutney:
Heat oil in a small sauté pan on medium heat, add the chana dal, urad dal, cumin seeds and dry red chilies. Cook till the lentils turn golden brow. Turn the heat off, add ginger and let the mixture cool completely.
Blend the ginger-lentil mixture along with tamarind, jaggery and salt into a smooth paste adding little water. Store in an airtight container for up to 10 days.
Allam pachadi can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Make sure to use dry spoon every time you serve it.
Taste Test
Undrallu are quite bland by themselves and they are typically served with a chutney. I love the combination of ginger chutney with them. But you can serve them with dal or rasam.
These are not limited to the festival season in our home. I make them as a quick snack or even as a meal all through the year.
Expert Tips
- To make biyyapu rava at home, just blend rice in a grinder until it feels like corn meal, don't make it too smooth. Make sure that you grind small quantities to get consistent rawa.
- I recommend buying cream of rice from Indian grocery. The hot cereal available available in regular stores with the same name will not work in this recipe. Because it is too fine with a very floury consistency.
- Make sure to add rice in a slow, steady stream while making the porridge/ undarallu mixture. This avoids lump formation and to make smooth kudumulu.
- Store leftover undrallu in an airtight container for up to 2 days in the fridge. Warm in the microwave until heated through before serving.
- Store leftover allam pachadi in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Make sure to use dry spoon every time you serve it.
How to make tamarind paste
To always have a container of homemade tamarind paste in the fridge. It is quite easy to make at home:
- First remove the seeds in the tamarind.
- Combine 1 cup of tamarind with 3 cups of water in a medium size saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a slow boil on medium heat.
- Lower the heat and simmer until tamarind softens, about 8~10 minutes.
- I use a hand blender to make a smooth paste - but this step is optional.
- Completely cool the mixture and store in the fridge for up to 1 month.
You might also like
Here are a few more Andhra recipes that you might like:
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Recipe Card
Undrallu & Allam Pachadi
Ingredients
For Undrallu:
- 2 tablespoons Chana dal/ Senaga pappu
- 1 teaspoon Oil
- 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- 2½ cups Water
- 1 cup Cream of rice/ Biyyapu rava/ Rice rava*
- To taste Salt
For Ginger Chutney:
- 2 teaspoons Oil
- 1 tablespoon Chana dal
- 1 tablespoon Urad dal
- 1 tablespoon Cumin seeds
- 3 Dry Red chilies
- ¼ cup Coarsely chopped Ginger (from about 3" piece)
- ¼ cup Jaggery, plus more if needed
- 1~2 tablespoon Tamarind paste
- To taste Salt
Instructions
To make Undrallu:
- Soak chana dal in water for at least 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Heat oil in a medium size saucepan and add cumin seeds. Once the seeds start to splutter, add the water and bring to a boil on medium high heat.Once the water comes to a boil, add salt, soaked & drained chana dal and lower the heat to medium-low. Add rice rava gradually in a slow stream while continuously whisking the water to make sure that there are no lumps.Cover and cook until the mixture thickens and looks like a porridge or upma. Consistency should be neither too wet (if this is the case cook a little longer) nor too dry (add little water).
- Let this mixture cool till it is easy to handle, about 10~15 minutes.
- Divide the rice mixture into equal lemon size balls. Place them on lightly greased steamer plate and steam them for about 10-12 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes before opening the lid. Serve right away with allam pachadi.
To make Ginger Chutney:
- Heat oil in a small sauté pan on medium heat, add the chana dal, urad dal, cumin seeds and dry red chilies. Cook till the lentils turn golden brown, about 2~3 minutes. Turn the heat off, add ginger and let the mixture cool completely.
- Blend the ginger-lentil mixture along with tamarind, jaggery and salt into a smooth paste adding little water. Store in an airtight container for upto 10 days.
Video
Notes
- To make biyyapu rava at home, just blend rice in a grinder until it feels like corn meal, don't make it too smooth. Make sure that you grind small quantities to get consistent rawa.
- I recommend buying cream of rice from Indian grocery. The hot cereal available available in regular stores with the same name will not work in this recipe. Because it is too fine with a very floury consistency.
- Make sure to add rice in a slow, steady stream while making the porridge/ undarallu mixture. This avoids lump formation and to make smooth kudumulu.
- Consistency of the cooked rice rawa mixture should be neither too wet nor too dry. But if you find that your mixture is not up to the point, here are a few quick tips:
- if too wet - cook a little longer uncovered to dry out the mixture.
- if too dry and cannot form balls - add some warm water and cook for 1~2 minute until the mixture comes together.
- Store leftover undrallu in an airtight container for up to 2 days in the fridge. Warm in the microwave until heated through before serving.
- Store leftover allam pachadi in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Make sure to use dry spoon every time you serve it.
Revathi
Hi First time in ur blog.... andhra treats ha ?? I am part telugu - my better half is telugu so 😉
we have the same recipe done in tamil nadu, called uppurundai... I am sure allam pachadi will be a great combo...
Must try one of these days...
Pavani
Hi Revathi,
I didnt know that Undrallu are made in Tamil nadu too. Thats good to know.
Thanks for visiting.
Pavani
Anonymous
Hi Pavani,
I was googling for undrallu recipes and bumped into ur blog.
Great recipe...with Vinyaka Chavithi a month away, i am all geared up with my planning 🙂
Can u tell me what is biyyam ravwa called in english? I have never seen it in Indian stores....and am curious to find out if its the same as idli rawa or if u made the rawa at home. If so, then how?
Sorry about the no. of uestions...am so lost and really need help. Your blog did seem like light at the end of the looong looong tunnel.
Thanks in advance
Mithya
Pavani
Hi Mithya,
I had the same experience looking for Undrallu recipe couple of years ago. I'm very glad that this recipe is helpful to you.
Regarding Biyyam rawa, you can buy Rice rawa in Indian groceries or make it urself at home. (My Mom sent me a bag full of home made rawa). Just grind rice in a grinder until it feels like corn meal, dont make it too smooth. Make sure that you grind small quantities to get consistent rawa.
Hope this helps you with the rawa situation.
Wish you and ur family a very happy Vinayaka chavithi (well in advance).
Best,
Pavani
Anonymous
hi Pavani,
I am looking for undrallu recipe online and yours is the only one that is close to the classic recipe, I think. Thanks for sharing it with us. The link you provided - Indira's undrallu recipe, I thought those are burelu and they are different from undrallu and they are not like the undrallu we see in the pictures of Lord Vinayaka. Thanks once again.
Sailaja
Manohar Vemuri
Hi Pavani,
I am looking for undrallu recipe online and found ur blog.
Thanks for sharing it.
Wish you a happy Vinayaka Chavithi.
Manohar
Pavani
Hi Manohar,
Thank you for visiting my blog. Wish you a very happy vinayaka chavithi.
Pavani
Anonymous
Thanks for the recipe; found it just in time for Vinayanka chavithi tomorrow
-N
Deepthi
Thank you so much Pavani, I
Deepthi
Thank u sooo much Pavani for this receipe. I was wondering where to get Biyyam ravva, but there it wass.. just grind ricee.. :). I just finished making them and guess whatt After the puja, they are all gone. EVERYBODYY LOVED THEM. We ate them with Avakai pachhadi. THANKS ONCE AGAIN FOR SHARING THE RECEIPE.
Pavani
Hi Deepthi,
I am so glad that they turned out good. Wish you and your family a very Happy Ganesh chathurthi.
lakshmi
Hi Pavani,
Thank you so much for teh resipe..This is how exactly my mom makes..I kinda forgot it so googled and viola!! ur recipe came up thnks so much for sharing ...btw do u know how to make jilledikayalu?
Harini
Hi Pavani
Thanks for sharing the recipe.. I did the same as you said asked my mom and made a quick note of it this morning and then I saw ur blog which was exactly what my mom told me.:)
Hi Mithya,
I know its a little late but in future to avoid grinding rice and stuff you can but it from the Indian stores..Its called "Cream of Rice"- (My sis told me yesterday as I didnt know what to buy too ..)
Thanks
Harini
rads
Thanks for an authentic recipe. The popular ones were calling something else Undrallu! 🙂
Suchitra
HiPavani..thanks Pavani. Helping us authentic dish ...we have cooked undrallu for lord ganesha. may he bless you.
Anonymous
Hi Pavani,
A very nice recipe for undrallu and allam pachadi. Thank u. I have a doubt regarding biyyam ravva. Shoudl we soak the biyyam first and then grind or it is the dry pls do let me know
Pavani
Hi Anonymous,
Just grind rice in a grinder until it feels like corn meal, dont make it too smooth. Make sure that you grind small quantities to get consistent rawa. Do try the recipe and let me know if you liked it.
AnandaSindhu
Hi Pavani,
Nice recipe for undrallu....this helps many beginners....especially like me...:).....i have seen your recipe for rice rawa....i have one question.....before grinding rice.....do we have to soak rice for couple of minutes?....aprreciate your help..
Thanks
Sindhu
Pavani
Thanks for your kind words Sindhu.. It is not necessary to soak the rice. Do try and let me know how it turned out. Pavani
Sirisha
Hi Pavani,
Looking at your recipe feels like making undrallu is pretty easy. Never had to worry about mking them all these years.. 🙂 Hope it turns out well.. Wish you a happy Vinayaka Chavithi!
Sirisha