Unniyappam

Let me start this new year, with best wishes to everyone and with a sweet snack recipe for Unniyappam. Unniyappam is also know as Kuzhiyappam or Kaarappam in different parts of kerala. When you have over ripe banana's, this snack is an easy way to use up those banana's.

Ingredients

500 grams - Rice flour, lightly roasted

200 grams - Small banana, mashed

500 grams - Jaggery, more or less as to taste

1 cup - Milk ( optional )

1/2 cup - Coconut bits /thenga kothu

10 to 12 - Cardamom, powdered

2 tbsp - Ghee

A pinch of salt

Oil to fry

Method

1 ) In the above picture is the ingredients for making unniyappam.

2 ) Melt jaggery with little water and make a thick syrup out of it. Strain to take out any impurities. Cool the syrup.

3 ) To a mixing bowl, add rice flour, mashed banana, cardamom powder, salt, coconut bits, ghee, jaggery syrup and mix well to form a thick batter, which is like a idli batter consistency. Let the batter sit for an hour. In the meantime if the batter has thicken up or is too tight, add milk to make it again to a idli batter consistency.

4 ) Heat a unniyappam pan, like the one above in the picture. Pour oil in each impressions like in picture. Let the oil heat up, then pour the batter into each impression.

5 ) On low medium heat fry the unniyappams uncovered, till the bottom turns golden in color.

6 ) With the help of a fork turn the unniyappam to cook on the other side to a golden color. Take out of the oil and drain on a paper towel.

Serve with tea.

For variation -

1 ) Use wheat flour instead of rice flour. It's equally tasty with wheat flour.

2 ) Dates and raisins can be used instead of banana for a different taste. Grind to a paste dates and raisins. Add jaggery as to taste.

3 ) Over ripe plantains can be used. Steam, mash plantain and use to make unniyappam.