HEALTH BENEFITS

APPE or PANIYARAM is another popular South Indian breakfast dish. Also known as Appe or paddu it is also a well loved dish of the Konkan region. Made from rice and urad dal as the main ingredients, Paniyaram is a healthy snack. Rice is a good source of carbohydrate, manganese, selenium, iron, folic acid, magnesium, phosphorus, thiamine and niacin and omega-6 fatty acids. Urad dal, high in protein, is packed with nutrients like iron, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and B vitamins. It helps to reduce cholesterol and is high in fiber. You require a special Appe patra/ mould, also known as paniyaram chatti to make this dish. This mould is easily available any utensil store.

INGERDIENTS:

Makes 20 pieces

• 1 cup Rice
• ¼ cup urad dal
• ¼ cup crushed peanuts
• 2 tbsp chopped onions
• 1 tsp mustard seed
• 1tsp cumin seeds
• 1 chili finely chopped
• 10 curry leaves
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• Salt to taste.

METHOD:

Soak rice and dal separately for 2 hours.Drain the rice and dal and blend it in the grinder with ½ a cup of water till the mixture is smooth. Keep it aside to ferment overnight. Heat oil in a pan and sauté peanuts and onions on a medium flame for 5 minutes. Now add rest of the ingredients. Mix this mixture and salt in the Appe batter. If the batter is too thick add little water. Heat the appe mould on medium flame and grease the mould with oil. Pour a spoonful of the batter into the mould and cook it in an idli steamer. The appe should be cooked till the outer surface becomes golden brown. Now turn each appe using a fork to cook on the other side. Serve the appes hot with coconut and tomato chutney.

SUBSTITUTE:

• Rawa appe can be made with 1 cup of rawa(semolina) and 1 cup of buttermilk soaked for 2 hours with a pinch of salt and half teaspoon sugar. It does not require overnight fermentation.