If you are looking for a quick recipe for breakfast, which is easy to make without any compromise on serving healthy meals to your kids and family, this instant Appe recipe is a must try! Appe is a south Indian breakfast which is known as paniyaram in Tamilnadu and paddu in Karnataka. Typically Appe is prepared with leftover idli or dosa batter but this recipe is an instant version made with rava / sooji, so no fermentation or grinding needed. All you need is 10-15 minute soaking time for sooji and a special pan called Appe Pan or Appe Patra.
These taste really good, these are slightly crispy outside but soft and spongy inside. These bite-sized, pillowy appe are a great option for toddlers too! The best part of this recipe is that these remain soft even after they have cooled down and taste equally good. These make a great choice for kids lunch boxes! It’s on our weekly menu for lunch every week 🙂 You can make them plain or add finely chopped vegetables of your choice, to make them healthier.
The recipe was inspired by https://www.forknscissors.com/recipes/instant-appe
Ingredients:
For batter:
- 1 cup fine semolina/ rava
- ½ cup yogurt
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon Eno Fruit Salt
- ½ inch grated ginger
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/4 cup finely chopped coriander leaves
- Salt to taste
For Tempering:
- 1-2 teaspoon oil
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1 teaspoon urad dal
- 4-5 curry leaves
- A pinch of asafoetida/hing
- 10- 12 cashews (optional)
- 2-3 dry red chilies (Optional – if you are making these for kids)
Method :
- In a large mixing bowl, mix rava with yogurt and some water. Add chopped onions, coriander leaves, and salt and mix everything together.
- Keep the mixture aside for 10-15 minutes. Add water to adjust the better to a thick pouring consistency.
- For tempering heat 2 tsp oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and urad dal. When mustard seeds splutter add curry leaves, dry red chillies & asafoetida. Add this tempering to the semolina.
- Heat the appe pan on a medium flame and grease it lightly with oil.
- Add Eno Fruit Salt and mix it well.
- Pour a spoonful of the batter into each mold, followed by a few drops of oil in each mold. Cover the pan and cook it till the outer surface becomes golden brown.
- Turn each appe upside down using a fork to cook from the other side.
- Repeat with the remaining batter to make more appes.
Other Variations:
- I have used finely chopped carrots and also basil leaves and mint leaves. These herbs add a subtle flavor, which goes well with this recipe.
You can have these appes with tea/coffee or serve them hot with coconut chutney.