Appe / Paddu / Paniyaram

When it comes to buying cookware, I am like a kid in a candy store. I love shopping for new kitchenware. But, my minimalistic nature sometimes stops me from picking unnecessary items. I don't like clutter in my kitchen.
Anyways, this week I ordered a Danish pan online and here you are reading about a popular South Indian gluten free breakfast - savory mini pancakes called as Paddu or Paniyaram. In Konkani, these soft lentil and rice goodies are known as Appo or Appe. There are many ways of making Appe, both sweet and savory.  For today, lets eat Udid Methi Appe.

Ingredients:
Medium grain Rice (raw) - 1 cup
Urad Dal/Udid Dal/Split Black Gram - 1/2 cup
Methi/Fenugreek Seeds - 1 tsp (optional)
Salt
Oil

How to make Appo / Paddu / Paniyaram:

• Soak rice, urad dal and methi seeds in plenty of water for 6 - 8 hours. Wash them well.
• Methi seeds are not absolutely necessary, but methi adds a very nice aroma.
• Grind it in batches, adding water as required, to make a thick, smooth paste. Batter consistency is like regular dosa batter or cake batter. Pour the batter in a big bowl, giving enough room for the batter to rise. Cover the bowl and let it ferment overnight. After fermentation, the batter will rise to almost double.
• You can use leftover idli batter or dosa batter for making Appe.
• Add salt and mix the batter well. You will need a pan with wells for making Appe. In Konkani, we call it as Appe Kayal. Here in US, it is available as Danish pan. 
• I am not a fan of nonstick pans. I prefer cast iron pans for making South Indian breakfasts - Dosa, Appe. I don't mind a bit more oil if I can avoid the chemicals of the nonstick pans.

• Heat the Danish pan. Grease the wells with cooking spray or brush them with oil. You can use melted butter or ghee/clarified butter as well.
• Add about 1 tbsp of batter in each well. Do not overfill wells. Cook for 2 - 3 minutes or until pancakes/appo start to pull away from the sides of the well and have browned on the bottom. Using wooden skewers or picks, gently flip each pancake/appo and finish cooking on the other side.
• Grease the wells for each round and repeat the process for the batter.
  

Serve hot Udid Methi Appe with Coconut Chutney.