02. APPAM AND VEGETABLE STEW

Hello!! :)

I'm back with my second recipe. This is time it is a breakfast dish from Kerala called Appam and stew (also called "ishtoo" in malayalam). The one i am making here is vegetable based. It could also made with chicken and mutton.

Although it is mostly had as breakfast in Kerala, many people have it as dinner or lunch. Appam is a kind of fermented rice pancake with some coconut in it. It is sometimes eaten only with coconut milk.

It tastes best when had along with stew.

The vegetable stew is a vegan dish because it is made only with vegetables and coconut milk. A very healthy and tasty dish, easy on the stomach also. 

Let's look at the ingredients and the method below.

INGREDIENTS:

For Appam batter

01. White rice soaked in water for 10 hrs (1 Cup)

02. Coconut grated (Half a cup)

03. Baking soda (1 tbsp)

04. Coconut water (Half a cup)

05. Salt (1 tbsp)

06. Sugar (1/2 tbsp)

07. Water (3-4 tbsp or as required according to the consistency)

For Vegetable Stew

01. Clove (2-3)

02. Ginger (Julienned 1 Tbsp)

03. Garlic (3-4 cloves)

04. Onion ( 01 thinly sliced)

05. Beans (5-6 chopped)

06. Potato (1 diced)

07. Cauliflower (half a cup)

08. Carrot (half diced)

09. Green chilies (2-3 slit)

10. Green peas (half a cup)

11. Thin coconut milk (2 cups)

12. Thick coconut milk (1 cup)

13. Water (1 cup)

14. Cardamom powder (half a tbsp)

15. Black pepper powder (1 tbsp)

16. Salt (as per taste)

METHOD:

Appam Batter Preparation

01.  Take the 1 cup of well soaked rice and grind it into smooth paste along with some coconut . It is always better to grind it in 2-3 batches and not in one go.

02. As you grind add 3-4 tbsp. of water. This should be according to the consistency. We are aiming towards a thick paste kind of consistency. 

02. After making it into a thick paste , add half a cup of coconut water or even less. The paste should not become loose. 

03. Next, add the baking soda, salt and sugar. 

04. Ferment this batter for 8 hours. 

Appam Preparation

01.  Pour 1 full ladle of batter into the well heated pan. Don't use any oil. The pan used should be easy to pick up in hands and easy to manage. 

 

02.  Pick the pan and slightly make a circular motion so that the batter spreads in to full rounded circle, thinner at the edges.

                                                                                                     

03. Close the lid of pan and let it stay on low heat for 5 minutes. 

                                         

04. As you see slight browning or thickening of the edges, remove the appam. It is ready to be eaten hot :)  

                 

Vegetable Stew Preparation

01.  Heat some coconut oil on pan. Put the cloves and cardamom powder. Add the onions and sauté until they start to look slightly transparent.

                                                   

 

02.  Add the garlic, potatoes, beans, carrot, cauliflower and peas. Stir them for 2 minutes. And let them be on low heat for 10 minutes. 

03. Add the curry leaves, ginger and a cup of water. Close the lid and let the vegetables cook for another 15 minutes on low heat.

                                

04.  Then add the thin coconut milk along with some black pepper powder. And let it cook for another 15-20 minutes.

                  

05. Finally turn off the heat and add the thick coconut milk and some salt. Give it a stir.  Serve hot along with the appam.

 I hope you try cooking this and enjoy the dish. I would be glad to receive some comments on this.

Best
Sarika