Arikkadukka is a popular snack of the Malabar region in Kerala. It is deep fried stuffed Mussels. I have been craving for this snack for a long time. While I was looking to order fish online, I found that Mussels were available. Without missing a moment, I placed an order. Next was to make sure I had all in the ingredients in stock. Thankfully I did. As I had already done a research on cleaning mussels, I didn’t have to struggle much.
While I was busy in the kitchen, my parents, who are visiting us, came and enquired what I was preparing. On mentioning the name, they were also curious as they too had never tasted Ari kadukka. I wasn’t very hopeful about D liking it. But to my surprise, he ended up having 2-3 of them and giving a thumbs up. Even J and my parents loved it.

Arikadukka (Fried Stuffed Mussels)

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Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 35 mins

Total Time 55 mins

Servings 18 pieces

Ingredients

  

• 15-18 Mussels
• 2 cups Rice flour (Puttu podi)
• 3/4 cup Grated Coconut
• 10-12 shallots
• 1/4" piece Ginger
• 1-2 Green chilli
• 2 teaspoons Fennel seeds
• 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
• as required Water
• to taste Salt
• for deep frying Oil

For the Coating

• 2 tablespoons Chilli powder (or more)
• 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Fennel powder
• 1 teaspoon Garlic paste
• to taste Salt
• as required Water

Instructions

 

• Make sure the mussels you have are open. Discard the ones that are closed.
• Scrub them clean and open the mussels a bit wider. Remove the beard and clean each mussel by holding under running water.
  
• Make sure the mussels are open wide enough to be stuffed. You may widen it by pulling both sides.
  
• Grind the coconut, shallots, ginger, green chilli, fennel seeds and cumin seeds to a coarse mixture.
  
• Keep aside.
  
• Take rice flour in a bowl.
  
• Add the ground mixture and mix well.
  
• Boil water with salt in a pan and keep aside.
  
• Pour the boiling water into the rice flour mixture and mix well to form a smooth dough.
  
• Take a small portion off the dough and stuff each mussel as shown in the picture.
  
• Continue the procedure till all mussels are stuffed.
• Place all the stuffed mussels in a steamer and steam for about 15-20 minutes or till the dough is cooked though.
  
• Allow to cook completely.
  
• Meanwhile in a small bowl, take the chilli powder, turmeric powder, fennel powder, garlic paste and salt.
  
• Add water and make a slightly runny batter.
  
• Heat oil for deep frying.
  
• Dip each mussel in the batter.
  
• Drop in hot oil and fry till golden brown on all sides.
  
• Transfer to an absorbent paper.
• Serve hot.