Appam

Ingredients

• 2 cups raw white rice (sella or long-grain, not basmati), washed
• ½ cup cooked rice, cooled
• ½ cup fresh grated coconut (or frozen, thawed)
• 1 tsp instant yeast
• 2 tbsp sugar
• ¾ tsp salt, or to taste
• 80 ml lukewarm water, for the yeast
• 350 ml water, for grinding, plus a little extra to adjust the batter
• 2 tbsp neutral oil, for greasing the pan

Instructions

1. Wash the raw rice in 3 changes of water until the water runs nearly clear. Cover with plenty of fresh water and soak for 4 to 5 hours, then drain well.
2. Stir the yeast and 1 tbsp of the sugar into the lukewarm water. Leave for 10 minutes until it looks foamy on top.
3. Add the drained rice, cooked rice, coconut and about 250 ml of the grinding water to a blender. Blend on high for 3 to 4 minutes, adding the remaining water a little at a time, until the batter is completely smooth with no gritty feel when rubbed between your fingers.
4. Pour the batter into a large bowl, as it will rise to almost double. Stir in the foamy yeast mixture and the remaining 1 tbsp sugar. Cover loosely and leave in a warm place for 8 to 10 hours or overnight, until bubbly, risen and pleasantly sour-sweet in smell.
5. Stir in the salt gently. The batter should pour like thin single cream and coat the back of a spoon lightly. If it is thick, stir in water 1 tbsp at a time.
6. Heat the kadhai or appam pan over medium heat for 2 minutes. Wipe with a little oil on a folded paper towel.
7. Pour in a ladle of batter (about 80 ml), lift the pan off the heat and quickly tilt and swirl it in one full circle so the batter coats the sides and leaves a thicker pool in the base.
8. Set the pan back on the heat, cover with the lid and cook on medium-low for 2 to 3 minutes. It is done when the edges are golden, crisp and lacy, and the centre looks puffed, dry on top and springy to the touch. Do not flip.
9. Slide the appam out with a thin spatula onto a plate. Wipe the pan with a little oil every second appam, and repeat with the remaining batter, stirring it gently between each one. You should get 10 to 12 appams.
10. Serve straight away while the edges are still crisp, or keep the finished appams covered loosely with a clean cloth for up to 15 minutes.

Tips

• The batter must be thin enough to swirl. If it will not spread up the sides of the pan, add a spoon or two of water.
• The pan needs to be hot enough to crisp the edges but not so hot that the centre browns. Medium heat with a lid gives the best result.
• The first appam is often a test. Adjust the batter and heat after it, and it will improve.
• In cool weather, ferment the batter in an oven with only the light switched on, or leave it for a few extra hours.