Soft Appam - A Temptation from God's Own Country

 

Appam is a typical Kerala style bread that is usually made for breakfasts. It is a fact that Appam is a special bread usually cooked during almost every major Christian occassions or celebrations. Christmas or Easter Breakfast without Appam in Christian families cannot be imagined. The popular curries that accompany Appam are Mutton Stew (You can Check for the recipe in Foodomania), Beef Stew, Chicken Curry, Peas curry (Recipe available), Beef curry or with Vegetable Stew.

To make soft fluffy Appam is a real challenge. But with the help of certain ingredients, you sure can make it fluffy and soft. Actually Appam is loved by everyone at home. You sure can try this out and make your family happy too. The batter for Appam as given below can serve 6 people for 2 days. It has to be refrigerated so that it does not sour out.

Ingredients 

• Pachari or Raw Rice or White rice -    6 Glasses (Nazhi)
• Uzhunnu  (Urad Dal)          - 2 tsp
• cooked rice      - 3 -4 tbs 
• Coconut (grated)-  2 large
• Soda powder     - a pinch or two
• Sugar                - 2 tsp while grinding  and 2 tsp while cooking
• Yeast                - 1-1 1/2 tsp
• Coconut water and water for grinding

Method 

1. Clean the rice and Urad dal (2 tsp) and soak it in water for 3 hours.
2. Grate coconuts
3. Do not throw off the coconut water
4. Put the grated coconuts in a vessel
5. In a 5 tbs luke warm water, add the yeast and let it bubble
6. Add 2 tbs of sugar, Yeast and cooked rice to the vessel with grated coconut and mix well
7. You may now drain off the water from soaked rice
8. In a mixer grinder, grind a portion of soaked rice and coconut mix with coconut water or water
9. similarly, grind all the remaining rice and grated coconut
10. If you prefer to use the batter for later use, you may keep in the refrigerator
11. The batter has to ferment a bit. So it would be advisable to take the batter out of the refrigerator half an hour before you make Appams
12. When you plan to make Appams, add a pinch or two of soda powder to the batter and do add two table spoons of sugar too for a slight sweet taste (Sugar can be avoided)
13. After half an hour, you may heat an appam pan 
14. Pour a large spoonful of appam batter to the hot pan
15. Swirl it to form a large circle
16. Close the lid and let it cook in slow fire
17. Take it out if you feel it is fully cooked
18. Serve hot with any kind of Stew or curries of your choice.
19. Enjoy!!