Unniyappam Recipe
Unniyappam is a traditional South Indian sweet snack made from rice, jaggery, and coconut, and is often associated with festive occasions like Diwali. These small, round fritters are deep-fried to perfection, with a crispy exterior and soft, flavorful inside. In this post, we will guide you through a simple and delicious Unniyappam recipe, perfect for impressing your family and guests during Diwali.
Equipment
- Appam pan or deep-frying pan
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk or spatula
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice flour
- ½ cup wheat flour
- ¾ cup jaggery (grated or in syrup form)
- ½ cup grated coconut
- 2 ripe bananas (mashed)
- ½ tsp cardamom powder
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ cup water (as needed for batter consistency)
- Oil for frying (preferably coconut oil)
Instructions
Prepare the Batter:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the rice flour, wheat flour, grated coconut, sesame seeds, and cardamom powder.
- Melt the jaggery with some water in a pan and strain it to remove impurities. Add this jaggery syrup to the flour mixture.
- Add mashed bananas and baking soda into the mixture, then slowly incorporate water to create a thick, smooth batter.
Let It Rest:
- Allow the batter to rest for 30 minutes to an hour. This resting time will help enhance the flavor and give the batter the right consistency.
Heat the Appam Pan:
- Heat oil in an appam pan or deep-frying pan. Make sure the oil is medium hot before you start frying to ensure a crispy texture on the outside and softness on the inside.
Fry the Unniyappams:
- Once the oil is hot, pour a small amount of batter into each cavity of the appam pan. Cook on medium heat until the edges turn golden brown.
- Flip them carefully and cook until the other side is golden brown as well.
Drain and Serve:
- Remove the fried unniyappams and drain excess oil on paper towels. Serve warm and enjoy with tea or coffee.
Notes
- You can substitute jaggery with brown sugar or cane sugar if desired.
- Adding a pinch of dry ginger powder enhances the flavor.
- For a healthier version, you can air-fry the unniyappams instead of deep-frying.
