Palappam - With Idly Rice - Vegan & Gluten Free

This Palappam / Lacey Appams -  Kerala style, is made with idly rice . I have already posted a recipe of Instant Appam .  

My friend a Keralite makes awesome food of her country, which, she often sends for me. I,  love her Kerala style of cooking and tasted many dishes from her kitchen. One of them are these soft and spongy appams really good and yum, which she makes with raw rice (will the share her the recipe soon). She serve this is Egg Stew, which is really yum. 

Since I, made this for my guest who were vegan's and vegetarians, served this with Vegetable Stew which was also a perfect combo. These palappam though made with idly rice which one would think will turn hard, but, that's myth, there is method that makes these really soft and delicious. 

Actually as I, was making, the first four my hubby and me enjoyed them just plain without any chutney, gravy or sauce, they were super soft and divine. You will love them do give this a try. Read my notes before trying this recipe.

Makes around 32 to 34 
Ingredients
3 Cups Idly Rice
2 Cups Packed Freshly Grated Coconut grated
4 to 6 Tablespoons Sugar
1 Teaspoon Level Salt
¼ Teaspoon Level Instant Yeast
Water- as needed

Method 

Wash rice thoroughly 3 to 4 times. Soak rice for minimum 3 to 4 hours .

After 4 hours, drain the rice and grind a cup at a time in small mixer jar with 2 tablespoons of grated coconut in 3 to 4 batches . Grind to a fine paste / smooth batter . Do not wash the mixer jar after you finish grinding. Keep it aside. 

This is the most important tip to make these appams soft.
Take one cup of batter in a sauce pan, add 1 ½ cup of water and mix well till well blended. Then on very low flame place the pan  and use a whisk to stir it. 

Let it cook until it thickens,by stirring continuously in low flame. After this thickness it will becomes shiny see pic.  Let this cool for 2 to 3 minutes then add a cup of batter and whisk it till it forms a smooth batter and it is just warm. Take half of this batter, in the same mixer jar along with half of the sugar quantity and instant yeast,  grind till well blended or forms a smooth paste. Add this to the ground batter. Again blend the remaining batter with the sugar till smooth.

Mix all this batter well with a whisk,  place this container in a bigger one that can hold it (so that if it spills, it does not dirty your counter and use the spilled batter- no wastage) cover with a lid,   keep it overnight or for  5 -6 hours or more depending on temperature of the room or the country you stay. 

I, finished grinding and completed the full process at 1 am / early hours - beginning of a new day. Still the batter nearly spilled out of the big pot by 6am. 

When the batter is fermented , now,  add the salt and mix really well. The consistency of the batter should be thinner than that of a dosa batter. So add water accordingly. Keep it a side for at least 15 minutes before beginning to make the appams.

Now heat a non stick appam chatty specially made for making appam . Drizzle some water in the appam pan and when u see the water is disappearing as soon as the water is dropped ,that is the right time to pour appam batter . Oil it and wipe it with kitchen towel ( do this for the first one only, do  not oil after this to make the remaining appams).

Take 1/3 cup ( for measurement - since this quantity is perfect for the pan) pour the batter in the middle of the pan and rotate the by holding both side handles.

 Place the pan on medium low flame and close it with the lid,  cook for 2 minutes, you'll notice that the center of apaam is cooked and edges start leaving the sides of pan ( these should be lacey , that is transparent on the sides ). At  this stage you can decide whether you want it crisp and brown on the sides (so if u want crispy appam cook bit more ,but don't burn them). I, removed them just when they started to leave the sides of the pan. Mine were white at the sides and the bottom golden. 

Taste the first one, adjust sugar and salt in the batter consistency if needed and then make the remaining appam's. The batter for me was perfect so I did not add any additional salt or sugar.

Serve appam with your favorite curry and enjoy, these soft , delicious and divine appams.  

We had these with  Mixed Vegetable Stew - Vegan & Gluten Free - Kerala Style

My Notes
Use only idly rice and not idly rawa, or else the result will not be the same.

Soak the rice for 4 hours only not more, this time is sufficient or else the rice will start to ferment and the taste will change.

Drain all the water in which the rice was soaking. Use fresh water a tablespoon at a time to grind. Preferably try and use a small blender its grinds faster and grinds to a fine paste with less usage of water. Do not add more water to the batter to make it thin at this stage, because after fermenting will is become a little more watery. So add water if necessary after the fermentation process.

I have used 6 tablespoons of sugar, you can  use more or less. According to me this quantity was just perfect.

Use only the quantity of yeast mentioned or else it will have a yeasty flavor and smell.

Add salt only after the batter is fermented.

If you feel the batter is fermented much earlier than you will like to use it. Then place the container / pot in the refrigerator, that's what I did.  

If you do have freshly grated coconut then use one can of coconut milk  for this quantity.

Labels : Appams, South Indian, Kerala, Vegan, Gluten free, Coconut, Coconut Milk, Healthy, Main course, Breakfast

Mixed Vegetable Stew Vegan & Gluten Free#Soupswappers

This is a Kerala Style vegetable stew.  It's so easy and delicious you must try this.  We had this with Palappam a vegan and gluten free appam.  Recipe follows.

Sending this to Soupswappers event theme is "Comforting Fall Stews" our host for the month is Colleen Delawder
Ingredients 

300 Grams Mixed Frozen Veggies
2 Medium Potatoes -cubed 

1 Medium Onion - finely chopped 
1 Medium Tomato - skinned & chopped 

2 Green chilly- finely chopped 

2 Teaspoons Level Red Chilly powder 

¼ Teaspoon Turmeric powder
2 Teaspoons Level Coriander powder
¼ Teaspoon Garam masala

1 Teaspoon  Salt or to taste 

1 Vegetable Seasoning cube

1 Cup Thick Coconut Milk 

A Sprig Curry leaves-few 

2 Tablespoons Coriander leaves-chopped
1 Teaspoon Mustard seeds
To Grind Coarsely Without Water  
1 Inch Piece Ginger - chopped 

4 Big Cloves Garlic or 6 Small Ones - chopped 

1/2 Teaspoon Level Fennel seeds

Method 

Pressure cook all the vegetables except peas by adding 1 1/2 of water and salt . Cook the peas separately, keep them a side. 

Heat oil in a kadai / pan and splutter mustard seeds.  Add green chilly, chopped onion and curry leaves , saute  till the onions start tor turn light golden then add  coarsely ground paste  of ginger-garlic - fennel seeds , seasoning cube , tomatoes and  saute well for t 2 minutes. Close it with a lid on low flame let it cook till the tomatoes soften and turn mushy, stir at intervals.  

When the tomatoes are mushy and release oil from the side add the cubed potatoes and saute on high flame for a minute or two, then add all the veggies and spices like turmeric powder,chilly powder, coriander powder and  taste for salt  then add, saute on high flame for 2 minutes .  Add 1 or 2 cups water according to the gravy required , close the kadai with a lid and on low  flame,  cook till the veggies are done.  When the veggies are cooked  and oil surfaces on top, then add coconut milk  and garam masala.  

Give it a good stir, and lightly stir it,  till it comes to a just a boil..Take  the kadai off flame .  Add the chopped coriander leaves .. Close the pan till ready to  serve.   .. So the very tasty vegetable stew  is ready to serve .  

This is a classic combination with Palappam.  Enjoy 
Labels : Mixed Vegetable , Stew, Gluten free, Vegan, Soupswappers, Kerala, Healthy, Coconut Milk

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Chemmeen Curry #FISHFRIDAYFOODIE

Prawns in Kerala are called chemmeen. This a delicious Kerala Style Prawn curry with a good amount of spice. We had this delicious curry for our lunch with steamed rice.

Ingredients
For the Marination
300 Grams  Fresh Prawns - shelled, de veined   

1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1/4 Teaspoon Chilly powder
1/4 Teaspoon  Salt 
For the gravy

1 Medium Onion – sliced 

1 Teaspoon Ginger-garlic paste
A Sprig Curry leaves – 1 sprig
1 Large Tomato –  finely chopped
1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1 Teaspoon Heaped Chilly Powder
1 Teaspoon Coriander powder
1/4 Teaspoon  Pepper powder
2 Pieces of Kokam 
1/4 Teaspoon  Mustard seeds
2 Tablespoons  Oil
Salt to taste

Method

Wash and clean the prawns. Marinate the prawns for 15 minutes.

For the Gravy
Heat  oil a clay pot or  pan, add the mustard seeds when they splutter add the onion, ginger-garlic paste and curry leaves. Saute for a few minutes or until onion turns light golden. Add the tomato , chilly, corainder, turmeric and pepper powders , saute till the tomato turns mushy and oil separates. Next add a cup of water ( or according to gravy consistency), kokam pieces and  salt. Bring  it to a boil  cover and cook till oil surfaces. Add the prawns. Cook for 7 to 10 minutes or until done.  Take off flame and enjoy with steamed rice. 

My Note:

I cook fish in a clay pot which in Kerala is called meen chatti.
You can adjust the spices according to your taste

Sending this to Fish Friday Foodie - Host of the month's event is  Caroline Williams  - theme a fish dish  with a bit of spice. Thank you Caroline for hosting this event.

Labels : Prawns, Kerala, Spicy, Fish Friday

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White Kadala Curry/ Chickpeas Curry - Kerala Style

This is a delicious curry, it brings fond memories of my friend Mariam who use to bring this curry with puttu for lunch. 

Ingredients 

1.1/2 Cups Chickpeas / Kabuli Chana - boiled

1 Teaspoon Ginger Garlic paste
1 Medium  Onion - finely chopped
1 Medium Tomato - finely chopped
1 Green Chillies - finely chopped
3 Tablespoons Oil
A Sprig Curry leaves
1/2 Teaspoon Mustard seeds
2 Teaspoons Meat Masala powder
1 Teaspoon Red Chilly powder
1 Teaspoon Coriander powder
1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric powder

2 Tablespoon Coriander leaves -  chopped

Salt to taste

Method

Soak chickpeas in water  overnight or -  minimum 5 hours in warm water.
Drain the soaked water, wash, add water ( a cup over the chickpeas), cook the chickpeas in a pressure cooker with 1/4 teaspoon salt .

In a pan, heat oil, add mustard seeds when they crackle add the curry leaves.  Add sliced onion and sauté till it becomes translucent.  Add  the turmeric powder, green chillies, ginger-garlic paste , tomatoes and sauté till oil separates.  Add all the powders , salt to taste and  1/4 cup water,  fry for 2 minutes.  Add chickpeas saute for a minute then add the  water  in  which the chickpeas were cooked to make a thick gravy. 

Close and cook for 15 minutes on slow flame till oil separates.  Garnish with coriander  and serve hot.   

This dish is traditionally served with Appam, Idiappam  or Puttu.  We enjoyed it with chappati. 

I am sending this to My Legume Love Affair  host of the month Kalyani - Sizzling Tastebuds

Labels: Chickpeas, Kerala, Vegetables, Lentils

Kerala Beef Curry

Beef Curry is quite popular in the Indian state of Kerala, this spicy curry tastes best with Kerala Porotta. This is a very tasty and easy to make.

Ingredients
250 gms Beef – cubed
1 Medium Tomato – chopped
1 Large Onion – sliced
2 Green chillies – slit
3 Cardamoms
3 Cloves
4 Black Peppercorns
1 Bay leaves
1 Stick Cinnamon
1/2 Star anise
1 Teaspoon Ginger - Garlic paste
2 Tablespoons Oil -
1 Teaspoon Chilli powder
1 Teaspoon Coriander powder
¼ Teaspoon Turmeric powder

A sprig Curry leaves 

Coriander leaves – for garnishing 

Method
Roast the bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, black peppercorns, star anise lightly and powder it.

Heat oil in a pan add onion, curry leaves and saute till brown.
Now add the ginger- garlic paste, saute till oil leaves the sides. To this add chilli , coriander and turmeric powder, again saute for 2 minutes, add water a little to cook the masala and then add the tomatoes, green chillies and beef. Fry the beef till the water is all absorbed, and the beef is brown in color.

Transfer this to a cooker and add water till the level of the meat and mix. Pressure-cook it till on high flame for a whistle reduce, keep it on slow flame and cook till done. Now add the garam masala (the ground powder) and salt , check if the meat is cooked properly, if the meat is not cooked add a little water if necessary and cook till it becomes tender. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve it with rice, porotta or chapattis.

Labels: Beef, Kerala, Main course, Pressure Cooker