Wheat Vellaiappam / Wheat pancake

   Appam is a very popular dish in Kerala, a southern state in India. Kerala known as 'God's Own Country' is probably one of the greenest places you will ever see. 

   Usually the authentic appam's are made with rice but getting a little conscious about health, I tried the ones made with wheat after seeing them in a television show, this has also turned out to be an equally favorite dish now. So here goes the delicious appam recipe with the healthy variation.

Ingredients

Wheat flour - 3 cups
yeast - 1/2 tsp
sugar - 1 tbsp + 2 tbsp
salt - 1 tsp + 2 tsp
Coconut milk - 1 cup
Egg - 1

Recipe

1) Take a large bowl and add 3 cups wheat flour, 1/2 tsp yeast, 1 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp salt. Add enough water to make them a thick batter and mix nicely.
2) Close the bowl and keep aside for 8 hours undisturbed.

3) After 8 hours the batter should have considerably increased in volume because of the yeast.
4) Crack one egg in a bowl and beat with a fork or whisk it until blended. 

( See video for whisking egg )

5) Make coconut milk by prying the coconut from its husk with a sharp knife, then peel off any remaining brown bits of skin that adhere to the coconut.Place the coconut flesh and coconut water in a food processor, adding little hot water.Blend until the coconut and water forms a smooth slurry. Strain over a bowl and press the mixture through the strainer. Repeat the straining process till you have got all the milk. ( See video for making coconut milk )

6) Add one cup coconut milk, one whisked egg, 2 tbsp sugar and 2 tsp salt and mix the batter nicely. They should be in an idli batter consistency.

7) Heat a flat pan or girdle. Sprinkle a little oil with a spoon.
7) Add 1/2 cup batter in the center of the pan and spread into a thick round, which is 4 - 5 inches in diameter.
8) Add a little oil on the top and sides. Let cook for a few seconds till the bottom has a few brown spots
9) Turn to the other side with a spatula. Cook for a minute. Add a few drops of oil. Serve with vegetable stew or any spicy Indian curry.

Tips

1) You can also use ready-made coconut milk cans.