How to make Pusnambu, a traditional breakfast in olden times
Pusnambu is a traditional and very filling sweet that is eaten for breakfast or as a teatime snack in olden times in Sri Lanka. It is made from pounded Rice Flour and then mixed with a sweet coconut mixture (pol pani). Another name for Pusnambu is Pusnappa.
Pusnambu is very popular in up country regions of Sri Lanka. Many people think that Pusnambu is the same as Wandu Appa however Wandu Appa does not contain any grated Coconut while Pusnambu does.
In olden times in Sri Lanka, farmers would eat this Pusnambu as a breakfast because it is very filling and they need the energy to work in the paddy fields.
We are making this Pusnambu 2 ways, the traditional way and a quick easy way. You can make this in about 30 minutes (you will need to set it aside for 10 to 12 hours or overnight).
If you like the sweetness of Pusnambu, you will want to try my other traditional Sri Lankan sweet recipes such as my Lavariya and my Halapa recipes.
Ingredients
For the Pusnambu
-
500g of White Kekulu Rice Flour (or White Flour)
- Half a tsp of Yeast
- Some Coconut Water
For the Pol Pani mixture
- 200g of Sugar
- Half of a grated Coconut
- Salt
- Some Cumin Seeds
- 3 crushed Cardamom
Instructions
For the Pusnambu
- Add 500g of pounded White Kekulu Rice Flour (or White Flour) into a bowl.
- Add half a tsp of Yeast.
- Add some Coconut Water a little at a time and mix until you get a soft dough that separates easily from the bowl.
-
Cover the bowl and set it aside for about 10 to 12 hours.
- After 10 to 12 hours (or overnight), when you are ready to continue making it, uncover the dough mixture.
- Add the Pol Pani mixture on top.
- Add some Salt.
- Mix everything together thoroughly using a spoon.
- Cover the bowl and set it aside for about 15 minutes.
- Stir everything together again.
For the Pol Pani Mixture
- Heat a saucepan over medium heat.
- Add 2 tbsp from the 200g of Sugar.
- When the Sugar starts turning brown, add half a cup of Water.
- Add the remaining Sugar.
- Stir frequently until all of the Sugar has melted.
- Add half of a grated Coconut.
- Add Salt to taste.
- Add some Cumin Seeds.
- Add 3 crushed Cardamom.
- Mix everything together thoroughly.
Traditional way to steam it
- Cover the top of a large pot using either cheesecloth or a clean cotton cloth.
-
Use a small piece of rope to tie the cheesecloth around the rip of the large pot.
- Now fill the pot with Water through the cheesecloth.
- Put the Banana Leaf or Kanda Leaf on top of the cheesecloth.
- Pour the Pusnambu mixture on top of the Leaf.
- Cover the Pusnambu mixture with another pot by flipping it.
- Steam over medium heat for 30 minutes.
Quick and easy way to steam it
-
Scoop some of the mixture into small bowls.
- Put a pot on the stove and add some Water.
- Place a metal stand inside with a small metal tray.
- Place each of the filled small bowls inside on top of the tray.
- Cover and steam it for 20 minutes.
Photos
