ãhãram logo

Home » Festival Recipes » Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi » Nivagrya: Steamed Rice Flour Discs from Maharashtra (Ganesh Chaturthi Special)

Nivagrya: Steamed Rice Flour Discs from Maharashtra (Ganesh Chaturthi Special)

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Today, I present the recipe for Nivagrya, a traditional Maharashtrian snack that makes great use of the leftover rice flour dough used to make Modak during Ganesh Chaturthi. As a bonus, this gluten-free, vegan dish can be very easily adapted for a Renal Diet or a Kidney Diet.

Nivagrya is a traditional, steamed rice flour snack from Maharashtra.Pin
Nivagrya: A traditional Maharashtrian steamed snack made with leftover rice flour dough used to make Modak

When we cook for festivals, there is always the question of what to do with leftover ingredients. For example, I try to make the exact quantity of rice flour dough that is needed for Ukadiche Modak, but there is always some leftover. As a result, across India, there are a multitude of traditional recipes devised to use leftovers. This one for Nivagrya from Maharashtra is one such recipe.

Maharashtrian use the rice flour dough of the Modak covering to make Nivagrya; a small, spicy steamed pancakes or patties. To make this snack, all you need to do is add some cumin-green chilli paste and salt to the dough, mix well, make small thick discs, and steam them.

You savour Nivgrya hot off the steamer with some cold yogurt or a drizzle of groundnut oil.

Recipes to Use the Leftover Rice Flour Modak Dough

In South India, the left over rice flour dough from the outer covering of Modaks is used to make:

Pin
Nivagrya: A Steamed Rice Flour Snack from Maharashtra

Adapting the Recipe for a Renal Diet or a Kidney Diet

The caveat as always: I am not a certified dietician or nutritionist. I adapt dishes for a low-potassium, low-sodium Kidney Diet using guidelines I have been given for a family member who suffered from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

Please follow guidelines given by your doctor.

To adapt this recipe for a Renal Diet or a Kidney Diet, you can do one of the following:

  • Omit the salt and squeeze some lime juice on the warm Nivagrya before serving them.  
  • Replace the salt with some pure Amchur Powder.

How to Make Nivagrya: A Ganesh Chaturthi Special from Maharashtra

  1. Making the Green Chilli-Cumin Paste
    1. Chop 2 to 3 spicy green chillies to small pieces.
    2. Pound the green chilli pieces and 1 tsp cumin seeds to lightly crush them.
      Crushed green chillies and cuminPin
  2. Making the Dough for the Nivagrya
    1. Over medium flame, heat 1.25 cups water water with 2 tsp oil and some salt.
      Boil water with some oil and salt.Pin
    2. When the water starts to boil, turn down the flame to low.
    3. Next, add 1 cup rice flour and the crushed cumin-green chilli paste.
    4. Mix well and cook over low flame while mixing continuously till the  mix comes together as a ball.
      Add rice flour and green chilli-cumin paste to the boiling water, and cookPin
    5. Turn off the heat.
    6. Transfer the dough to a plate and let it cool a bit.
    7. Next, grease your palm with a few drops of oil and knead the dough for a minute to a smooth consistency.
      Knead the dough to get a smooth consistency.Pin
  3. Making the Nivagrya
    1. Add water to a steamer and let the steam build up.
    2. Using a few drops of oil, grease your palms.
    3. Divide the dough into 20 to 24 portions.
    4. Now roll each portion into a ball and then press it down to form a thick disc.
      Shape the rice flour balls and discs for the NivagryaPin
    5. Steam the Nivagrya for about 10 minutes.
    6. Turn off the steamer and wait for 5 minutes for it to cool.
      Steamed NivagryaPin
    7. Open the steamer and transfer the Nivagrya into serving dishes.
  4. Serving Suggestions
    1. Serve hot Nivagrya with cold Dahi or just a drizzle of raw groundnut oil.
Nivagrya: A delicious, steamed rice flour snack from Maharashtra. Also a vegan, gluten-free dish that is suitable for a renal diet or kidney diet.Pin
Nivagrya: A Steamed Rice Flour Snack from Maharashtra

Recipe for Nivagrya, a Savoury Steamed Snack from Rice Dough

Nivagrya: A delicious, steamed rice flour snack from Maharashtra. Also a vegan, gluten-free dish that is suitable for a renal diet or kidney diet.Pin

Nivagrya | Ganesh Chaturthi Special from Maharashtra

Aruna
Nivagrya is a svaoury steamed snack made with the rice flour dough leftover after making Modak.
Just add some cumin, green chilli paste, and salt to the dough; make small patties and steam them. That's all you need to do to make this delicious vegan and gluten-free snack.
I have given the entire recipe for making Nivagrya from scratch in this post and in the notes, you will find ways to adapt the recipe for a Kidney Diet or Renal Diet.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Side, Snack
Cuisine Gluten Free, Indian, Kidney Diet or Renal Diet, Maharashtrian, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings 4 People
Calories 176 kcal
Ingredients
  
  • 1 Cup Rice Flour
  • 1.5 Cups Water
  • 2.5 tsp Oil
  • 2-3 Green Chillies (Spicy)
  • 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
  • Salt to Taste (Omit for a Renal Diet)
Instructions
 
Making the Green Chilli – Cumin Paste
  • Chop 2 to 3 spicy green chillies to small pieces.
  • Pound the green chilli pieces and 1 tsp cumin seeds to lightly crush them.
Making the Dough for the Nivagrya
  • Over medium flame, heat 1.25 cups water water with 2 tsp oil and some salt.
  • When the water starts to boil, turn down the flame to low.
  • Add 1 cup rice flour and the crushed cumin-green chilli paste.
  • Mix well and cook over low flame while mixing continuously till the  mix comes together as a ball.
  • Turn off the heat and transfer the dough to a plate.
  • Let the dough cool a bit.
  • Grease your palm with a few drops of oil and knead the dough for a minute to a smooth consistency.
Making the Nivagrya
  • Add water to a steamer and let the steam build up.
  • Using a few drops of oil, grease your palms.
  • Divide the dough into 20 to 24 portions.
  • Roll each portion into a ball and then press it down to form a thick disc.
  • Steam the Nivagrya for about 10 minutes.
  • Turn off the steamer and wait for 5 minutes for it to cool.
  • Open the steamer and transfer the Nivagrya into serving dishes.
Serving Suggestions
  • Serve hot Nivagrya with cold Dahi or just a drizzle of raw groundnut oil.
Notes
To adapt this recipe for a Renal Diet or a Kidney Diet:
  • Omit the salt and squeeze some lime juice on the Nivagrya just before serving them.  
OR
  • Replace the salt with some pure Amchur Powder.
Nutrition
Calories: 176 kcalCarbohydrates: 34 gProtein: 2 gFat: 3 gSaturated Fat: 0.3 gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1 gMonounsaturated Fat: 2 gTrans Fat: 0.01 gSodium: 371 mgPotassium: 39 mgFiber: 2 gSugar: 1 gVitamin A: 6 IUVitamin C: 3 mgCalcium: 11 mgIron: 0.5 mg
Keyword Ganesh Chaturthi Recipe, Low Potassium Recipe, Nivagrya, Steamed Rice Flour Discs
Tried this recipe?Do let me know how you liked it @aahaaram or tag #aahaaram!
Nivagrya | Steamed Rice Flour Discs from MaharashtraPin
Nivagrya | Steamed Rice Flour Discs from Maharashtra

Reader Interactions

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Comments

  7. spiceaffairs2016 says

    I love Maharashtrian cuisine, but never heard of thi lovely way of using the leftover dough of Modak, awsome share.

    Reply

  13. marianasir1973 says

    That’s a very interesting thing to do with rice flour! I love the cooking technique too – something new I’ve learnt today. I’m sure I’d be eating the cumin and chilli spiced dough on its own too. ? Delicious!

    Reply

  17. cookingwithsapana says

    It looks just like the Gujarati Khichu. Such healthy and filling rice flour dish and would make a nice breakfast dish.

    Reply

  18. jayashreetrao says

    Sounds delicious, I prepare something similar, ammini kozzhukottai, though I make balls and steam.

    Reply

Get Recipes Delivered in your Inbox

Subscribe here and we’ll send you an email as new recipes are published