KERALA VATTAYAPPAM -STEAMED RICE CAKE

Kerala Vattayappam is a special Kerala dish prepared as a tea snack. Kerala Vattayappam is basically steamed rice cake. Vattayappam is famous as a traveling snack as it is steam cooked. No indigestion issues from the snack. Kerala Vattayappam is popular during prayers and carol services.

Vattayappam is served among church members and family, friends after Maundy Thursday service. The ingredients are available at every home and easy to prepare too.

Ingredients :

Raw rice: 1 cup ( soaked)

Cooked rice: ½ cup

Fresh coconut : 1 cup ( grated)

Salt: ¼ tsp

Sugar:4 tsp or as required

Yeast : ¼ tsp

Water: ¼ cup to ½ cup( or use fresh coconut water)

Ghee / cooking oil: 2 tsp

For garnishing:

Raisins: 3 tsp

Cashewnuts: 2 tsp

Cardamom: 6 nos ( crushed)

Procedure for preparing Kerala Vattayapam- Steamed rice cake:

Method:

• Soak rice in water for approximately 6 hrs.
• Wash and drain the rice. Grind the soaked rice with the cooked rice and grated coconut to make a smooth batter.
• While grinding add water or coconut water. Mix the yeast in 2 tspn of luke warm water and add along with the ingredients. Add sugar and salt to the ingredients.
• The batter will be thick. Mix the batter well and allow it to ferment overnight.
• Grease a flat bottomed pan with ghee / cooking oil. Pour the batter till half full.
• In a small pan roast cashewnuts and raisins and garnish them on top. Sprinkle crushed cardamom on top.
• Steam the batter for 15 to 20 mins on a medium flame till done.
• To check if done prick a tooth pick and see if there is any wetness.The vattayappam will raise and the garnishing will look great after it is cooked.
• Cut the vattayappam into desired shapes and serve

Variations in this Kerala vattayappam are:

• Replace sugar with jaggery.
• Use fresh coconut water in place of plain water.
• In some parts of Kerala, individuals add shallots, cumin(jeera), garlic flakes while grinding the batter.

Note: If your grinder is getting warm while grinding the batter, add 2 to 3 ice cubes such that the batter does not get warmed up.

If you like this recipe or know of any variations to the steamed rice cake do let us know in the comments.

BREAD SANDWICH

Bread sandwich is a popular snack be it home or during an outing. What I like about it is the hygiene part. The sandwiches available at shops are usually covered in a nice cover and it makes it more irresistible.

Children love bread sandwich and is ordered mostly during Interval time during a movie along with chips, popcorn or a cool refreshment drink , etc. It is a filling snack and enjoyed by people of all ages.

Bread sandwich can be packed for school snacks. Convenient during travel too.

Now that the school had started and the rains have commenced. You can give an option for your kids.

You can make tasty bread sandwiches at your home. Just follow this simple recipe and give your family a huge surprise during snack time in the evening.

Serves – 4

Ingredients:

Bread : 12 slices

Cucumber : 1 large and tender( peel and cut into thin slices)

Cheese : 4 slices

Butter : 8 tsp ( as required / optional)

Salt and pepper powder (to taste)

For chutney:

Mint leaves / Pudinah leaves : ¼ cup

Coriander leaves / Kothmir : ½ cup

Lime juice – ½ lime

Green chilli: 2 medium size

Salt: to taste

Water : 2 to 3 tbsp ( for grinding)

Procedure for Bread Sandwich:

• Wash leaves and green chilli. Drain water completely. Chop it to medium pieces. Grind in mixer along with lime juice, water and salt. Divide paste into 8 equal portions.
• Butter 8 slices of bread and place it on a plate with buttered side up.1 tsp per slice of bread.
• Spread chutney on both sides for 4 slices of bread .
• On a plate arrange the bread sandwich in the following sequence.

-       Bread slice with butter on top side, spread 4 to 5 cucumber slices.

-       Sprinkle some salt and pepper powder.

-       Place a cheese slice over it.

-       Now place the bread slice with chutney on both sides.

-       Place 4 to 5 cucumber slices. Sprinkle some salt and pepper powder.

-       Place the bread slice with butter side down.  This is the last layer.

-       Cut the 4 edges of the bread carefully with a sharp knife.

-       Cut the sandwich with a knife into 2 halves-shape of triangles.

The sandwich will look and taste just like the one you buy at your favorite bakery or snack shop. You can bring in variations in chutney by adding sesame seeds/ peanut chutney

Your kids will also enjoy with tomato sauce. Add your creativity , include smiley faces with sauce on the serving plate.

There are various variations to bread and you can experiment by adding tomato slices / onion slices / salad leaves / boiled egg etc.

Make vegetable cutlet with the bread edges known as bread crumbs.

Go ahead and try this popular snack.