Sri Lanka

Appam (Fermented Rice Pancake)

Serves 12 · 3 minutes

Appam, a fermented rice pancake, is a speciality of the South Indian coastal state of Kerala. It is especially popular among the Christian communities of that state. Appam are often served along with a coconut-flavoured vegetable stew. It is also very popular in Sri Lanka, where it is known as "appa" (or "hopper") and often served with an added egg.

Suits: Vegetarian, Vegan, Pescatarian. Flags come from what shops, restaurants and cooks list and from the ingredient names. Always check the label. This is not medical advice.

Ingredients

1½ cups uncooked white rice
1½ cups fresh grated coconut
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
2 tablespoons white rice, cooked
water for soaking rice, and 2 to 2½ cups for grinding
½ teaspoon yeast or kefir, to start the ferment (optional)

Method

Soak the raw rice in water.
Grind the soaked rice until about ¼ ground.
Add the grated coconut along with a little water and continue grinding.
Add the sugar, cooked rice and yeast or kefir, and keep grinding until the whole mixture becomes smooth. It should be thinner than pancake batter.
Transfer it to a wide open container and leave it to rise overnight.
The next morning, add salt and refrigerate the batter until use.
To fry the appams, use a tava or a small bowl-shaped pan with either a non-stick coating or a little oil (coconut or any other refined oil) or ghee.
Pour a full serving spoon of batter into the middle of the pan and swirl it around a single time so that a little of the batter sticks to the sides.
Cover the pan with a hot lid and remove the appam with a spatula after 2–3 minutes, when it becomes slightly browned around the edges. It should be round, with a thick centre and thin, lacy edges.