Authentic Appam Recipe: Delicious Kerala Pancakes with Vegetable Stew

wellhealthorganic.com Appam: Appam, also known as "palappam," are delectable, airy pancakes or hoppers originating from Kerala cuisine. Crafted from a blend of ground, fermented rice, and coconut batter, these pancakes boast a delicate, lace-like texture and a fluffy interior. With a crispiness at the edges and a pillowy soft center, appams make for a delightful pairing with vegetable stew, creating a fulfilling vegetarian breakfast. Notably, they cater to diverse dietary preferences as they are both gluten-free and vegan.

Appam

Ingredients:

1. 1.5 cups regular rice or a combination of parboiled and regular rice
2. 2 cups water for soaking
3. ¼ cup thick poha (flattened rice) or cooked rice or puffed rice
4. ½ cup grated fresh coconut
5. ¾ cup water or as needed for batter consistency
6. ½ teaspoon instant yeast or 
7. ¾ teaspoon dry active yeast
8. ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
9. 2 tablespoons sugar, or to taste

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Instructions:

1. Rinse the rice thoroughly with water.
2. Soak the rice in water for 4 - 5 hours.
3. Drain the water and transfer the soaked rice to a mixer-grinder or blender jar. Add grated coconut, cooked rice or poha, salt, and sugar.
4. You have the option to soak the aval or poha separately for 30 minutes, or you can add them directly to the blender after rinsing with water.
5. Add water and blend all the ingredients until they form a smooth, pourable batter.
6. For Instant Yeast: Sprinkle instant yeast over the batter, mix thoroughly, cover the bowl, and allow it to ferment for 1 to 2 hours until it doubles in volume and develops air pockets.
7. For Dry Active Yeast: Dissolve dry active yeast in lukewarm water, then add it to the batter, mix well, cover, and let it ferment overnight or for 8 to 12 hours, depending on temperature conditions.
8. Heat a kadai or appam pan and spread some oil on it. If using a non-stick pan, skip oiling.
9. Pour a ladleful of batter onto the pan and gently swirl it around to spread evenly in a circular shape.
10. Drizzle oil around the edges if desired.
11. Cover the pan and cook the appam until the base turns light golden with crispy edges.
12. Gently remove the cooked appam with a spatula and repeat the process for the remaining batter.
13. Keep the prepared appams covered with a kitchen towel to retain warmth.
14. Serve the appams hot or warm with vegetable stew or sweetened coconut milk flavored with cardamom powder.

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By following these steps meticulously, you can savor the authentic flavors and textures of Kerala's beloved appams.