Kuzhi Paniyarams

These are an easy to make snack and make for a really nice variation to the usual idlis and dosas. Though the savoury kuzhipaniyarams can be made with seasoned dosa batter, I find that the following batter results in fluffier and softer paniyarams.

KUZHI PANIYARAM

For the Batter:

Ponni Boiled Rice / Idly rice - 1 cup

Ponni Raw Rice - 1 cup

Urad Dhal - 1/4 cup

Methi seeds - 1/4 tsp

Salt - very little

Baking Soda - 2 pinches

1) Soak the rices together with the methi seeds for atleast 4 hrs. Soak the urad dhal separately for atleast 1 hr.

2) Grind the urad dhal initially for about 10-15 minutes ( i use an ultra-grind), and then add the soaked rices. Grind to a smooth paste with water added as required. It shouldn't be too thick or thin. Add a little bit of salt (not too much), mix well and separate into 2 containers (one for savoury paniyarams and the other for sweet). Allow to ferment. I usually pull the one intended for sweet paniyarams out and refrigerate a bit sooner (say after 5 hrs) but let the savoury one stay so it can develop a slight sour taste.

Savoury Paniyarams:

Ingredients:

Onion - 1, chopped finely
Green Chillies - 3 to 4, chopped finely
Carrots - 1 big, peeled and grated
Ginger - 1/2 inch, mincedMustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Urad Dhal - 1/2 tsp
Channa Dhal - 1 tbsp, soaked in warm water
Curry Leaves - few, copped
Coriander leaves - few, chopped
Asafoetida - a pinch
Oil - 1 to 2 tsp

Method:
1) Heat oil and season with mustard seeds, urad dhal, channa dhal, curry leaves and asafoetida.

2) Add onions, green chillies and ginger, saute this for a few minutes till the onions soften. Toss in the grated carrot and add some salt. Cook this for a few more minutes. Add some chopped coriander leaves and mix this in with the batter. Add a couple pinches of baking soda as well.

3) This is now ready to be poured into the appam/paniyaram pan. I add a teeny tiny drop of oil in each depression and keep the flame on medium. Once the batter is poured, cover and let cook for a few minutes. Turn over with a chop stick and cook the other side as well.

4) Serve with chutney of your choice.. it's even delicious plain.

Sweet Paniyarams

Ingredients:
Banana - 1 or 2, mashed well
Sugar/Jaggery (powdered) - to taste
Cardamom (powdered) - few pinches

Method:
1) Mash the banana and add to the batter, mix it with required amount of sugar/jaggery and a few pinches of baking soda and cardamom.

2) Heat the appam pan and add a drop of ghee into each depression, pour some of the sweet batter and cook till done. Soft, fluffy, sweet paniyarams are ready.

3) This tastes best when served at room temperature.