Vazhakkappam or Pazhampori

Vazhakkappam or Pazham Pori is an evening snack. It is made out of ripe bananas. The sweet taste of the ripe bananas combined with the batter gives a heavenly taste that surely makes any mouth water. Vazhakkappam is loved by every kid in Kerala. It is a quick and easy snack to be served in the evening with tea. If you are searching for the perfect evening snack that is healthy and tasty, try making vazhakkappams. Just make sure that the oil is completely drained off using tissues.

 As a child, I remember my cousins craving for this tasty snack. As for me, I always preferred my Mom’s special Vazhakkappam in the evenings when I came back from school. So whenever I eat this sweet evening snack, I become nostalgic. I tend to remember my loving cousins in Mumbai and Hyderabad that time. At that period of time, we were so in love with this wonderful snack.

Tea stalls in the city as well as villages are lined up by people who prefer tea and vazhakkappam in their hands. A three o' clock in any place in Kerala is decorated with this evening snack. Well the difference between the vazhakkappam that we make at homes and what we get from the tea stalls is that at home, we prefer a more sugary version. The tea stalls on the other hand mostly avoid sugar. The sweetness depends on the ripe bananas you are using. And mostly the tea stall vazhakkappams are more salty than what we make at home. Well I do not like the salty version, I prefer sweet ones instead. To make it more soft, you can keep the batter out for 4 or more hours. I usually mix the batter soon after the household chores in the morning are over.  Keeping the batter out will allow it to stick on the banana slices very easily.

Yummy and tasty, this all time evening delight is a real enjoyment for the tummy and your spirits.

Ingredients

• Ripe bananas- 3-4
• Maida     - 2 cups
• Turmeric – a pinch or two (or maybe you should add ¼ tsp for that bright   yellow color)
• Baking soda- 1/4 tsp
• Sugar - 2 tsp
• Salt - a pinch (if you want, you may not add it)
• Water - to mix
• Oil - for frying (prefer coconut oil for better taste)

Method

1.     In a large bowl, add Maida, turmeric powder, baking soda, sugar and salt. 

2.     Mix well

3.     Now add water and mix the flour well

4.     Bring it to the consistency of dosa batter

5.     Keep the batter covered for 20 mnts (I usually prefer to keep the batter covered for 4 hours)

6.     Peel the bananas and cut into long slices

7.     After 20 mnts, the batter will rise a bit

8.     Dip the sliced banana pieces into the batter and deep fry

9.     When the bananas have turned golden brown, take them out and place on tissues for draining excess oil

10. Serve hot and enjoy!!