Hello, Good News! Welcome to our blog, where we share with you the best recipes from different cuisines and cultures. Today, we are going to introduce you to a traditional Kerala snack that is easy to make, healthy, and tasty. It is called vattayappam, which means round cake in Malayalam. Vattayappam is a steamed rice cake that is sweetened with sugar and flavored with coconut, cardamom, and raisins. It is soft, moist, and fluffy, and can be enjoyed as a breakfast, tea time snack, or dessert.
Vattayappam is a popular dish among the Kerala Christian community, especially during festivals like Christmas and Easter. It is also served as a special treat for guests and relatives. Vattayappam is made with simple ingredients that are easily available in most Indian kitchens. The main ingredients are rice flour, grated coconut, sugar, yeast, and water. Some people also add cooked rice, semolina, or toddy to the batter to enhance the texture and flavor of the cake. The batter is fermented for a few hours and then steamed in a cake tin or idli moulds. The result is a soft and spongy cake that melts in your mouth.
Why You Should Try Vattayappam
Vattayappam is nutritious and wholesome
Vattayappam is a nutritious snack that provides you with carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and fiber. Rice flour is a good source of energy and easy to digest. Coconut is rich in healthy fats, minerals, and antioxidants. Yeast helps in the fermentation process and adds B vitamins to the cake. Raisins are dried grapes that contain natural sugars, iron, and potassium. Cardamom is a spice that has many health benefits such as improving digestion, boosting immunity, and fighting infections.
Vattayappam is also low in calories and fat compared to other fried snacks or cakes. One piece of vattayappam (about 50 grams) has only 120 calories and 4 grams of fat[^1^]. It is also gluten-free and vegan-friendly, making it suitable for people with dietary restrictions or preferences.
Vattayappam is easy to make and store
Vattayappam is an easy recipe that does not require any special equipment or skills. You just need a blender, a bowl, a steamer, and a cake tin or idli moulds. The preparation time is about 10 minutes and the cooking time is about 20 minutes. The most important step is to ferment the batter for at least 3 hours or overnight to get the best results. The fermentation process makes the batter rise and gives the cake a light and airy texture.
Vattayappam can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to a month. You can reheat it in the microwave or steam it again before serving. You can also slice it and toast it on a pan with some ghee or butter for a crispy treat.
Vattayappam is versatile and customizable
Vattayappam is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed in different ways. You can serve it plain or with some coconut milk, honey, or jam. You can also add some nuts, dried fruits, or chocolate chips to the batter for extra crunch and flavor. You can experiment with different spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves to give it a different twist. You can also make savory versions of vattayappam by adding salt instead of sugar and some chopped onions, green chilies, curry leaves, or mustard seeds to the batter.
Vattayappam can also be made with different types of rice flour such as brown rice flour, red rice flour, or black rice flour for more nutrition and color. You can also use other flours such as ragi flour, millet flour, or oat flour for more variety and texture.
How to Make Vattayappam – A Step by Step Guide
Ingredients
- 2 cups of rice flour
- 2 cups of grated coconut
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- 2 tablespoons of semolina (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon of yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- Water as required
- 5 green cardamoms
- 2 teaspoons of coconut oil
- 20 cashews (optional)
- Raisins for garnishing (optional)
Method
- Cook the semolina with 2 cups of water in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it becomes soft and thick. Let it cool slightly.
- Dissolve the yeast and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar in 1/4 cup of lukewarm water. Let it rest for 10 minutes or until it becomes frothy.
- Grind the grated coconut with enough water to make a smooth paste. Transfer it to a large bowl.
- Add the rice flour, sugar, salt, and yeast mixture to the coconut paste. Mix well to form a thick batter. Add more water if needed to adjust the consistency.
- Cover the bowl with a lid or a cloth and keep it in a warm place for 3 hours or overnight to ferment. The batter should rise and become bubbly.
- Crush the cardamom seeds and add them to the batter. Mix well.
- Grease a cake tin or idli moulds with some coconut oil. Pour the batter into the tin or moulds, filling them about 3/4th full. Sprinkle some cashews and raisins on top if desired.
- Steam the vattayappam for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the vattayappam cool slightly before removing from the tin or moulds. Cut into pieces and serve warm or cold.
Vattayappam Nutrition Facts
Vattayappam is a nutritious snack that provides you with carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and fiber. Here is a table that shows the approximate nutrition facts for one piece of vattayappam (about 50 grams).
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 120 | 6% |
| Fat | 4 g | 6% |
| Saturated Fat | 3 g | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 20 g | 7% |
| Sugar | 7 g | – |
| Fiber | 1 g | 4% |
| Protein | 2 g | 4% |
| Sodium | 60 mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 80 mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 10 mg | 1% |
| Iron | 0.5 mg | 3% |
| *Based on a 2000 calorie diet. | ||
Vattayappam FAQ
What is vattayappam?
Vattayappam is a traditional Kerala snack that is made with rice flour, grated coconut, sugar, yeast, and water. It is a steamed rice cake that is sweetened and flavored with coconut, cardamom, and raisins. It is soft, moist, and fluffy, and can be enjoyed as a breakfast, tea time snack, or dessert.
How do you pronounce vattayappam?
Vattayappam is pronounced as vuh-tuh-yuh-pum. The first syllable is pronounced like “vow” with a short “u” sound. The second syllable is pronounced like “tut” with a short “a” sound. The third syllable is pronounced like “yup” with a short “u” sound. The last syllable is pronounced like “pump” with a short “u” sound.
How do you make vattayappam soft and spongy?
The key to making vattayappam soft and spongy is to ferment the batter well. The fermentation process makes the batter rise and gives the cake a light and airy texture. To ferment the batter, you need to add yeast or toddy to the batter and keep it in a warm place for at least 3 hours or overnight. You can also add some cookedrice or semolina to the batter to enhance the texture and flavor of the cake.
How do you store vattayappam?
Vattayappam can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to a month. You can reheat it in the microwave or steam it again before serving. You can also slice it and toast it on a pan with some ghee or butter for a crispy treat.
What can you serve with vattayappam?
Vattayappam can be served plain or with some coconut milk, honey, or jam. You can also serve it with some savory dishes like chicken curry, egg roast, or vegetable stew for a balanced meal.
What are the variations of vattayappam?
Vattayappam can be made with different types of rice flour such as brown rice flour, red rice flour, or black rice flour for more nutrition and color. You can also use other flours such as ragi flour, millet flour, or oat flour for more variety and texture. You can also add some nuts, dried fruits, or chocolate chips to the batter for extra crunch and flavor. You can experiment with different spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves to give it a different twist. You can also make savory versions of vattayappam by adding salt instead of sugar and some chopped onions, green chilies, curry leaves, or mustard seeds to the batter.
Is vattayappam gluten-free and vegan?
Yes, vattayappam is gluten-free and vegan-friendly, making it suitable for people with dietary restrictions or preferences. Rice flour is naturally gluten-free and does not contain any wheat or gluten. Coconut, sugar, yeast, and water are also vegan ingredients that do not come from animal sources. However, if you are allergic to any of these ingredients, you should avoid vattayappam or consult your doctor before trying it.
Where can you buy vattayappam?
Vattayappam is a homemade dish that is usually not available in restaurants or shops. However, you may find some Kerala specialty stores or online platforms that sell vattayappam or its ingredients. You can also order vattayappam from some home chefs or caterers who make it on demand. Alternatively, you can make your own vattayappam at home with our easy and simple recipe.
How do you say vattayappam in other languages?
Vattayappam is a Malayalam word that means round cake. In other languages, it may have different names or spellings. For example, in Tamil, it is called vatteppam or vettilaippam. In Hindi, it is called chawal ka halwa or chawal ki kheer. In English, it is called steamed rice cake or coconut rice cake.
What are the health benefits of vattayappam?
Vattayappam has many health benefits such as improving digestion, boosting immunity, and fighting infections. Rice flour is a good source of energy and easy to digest. Coconut is rich in healthy fats, minerals, and antioxidants. Yeast helps in the fermentation process and adds B vitamins to the cake. Raisins are dried grapes that contain natural sugars, iron, and potassium. Cardamom is a spice that has many health benefits such as improving digestion, boosting immunity, and fighting infections.
What are the history and origin of vattayappam?
Vattayappam is a traditional Kerala snack that has been enjoyed for centuries by the Kerala Christian community, especially during festivals like Christmas and Easter. It is believed that vattayappam was introduced by the Portuguese missionaries who came to Kerala in the 16th century. They brought with them yeast and sugar, which were used to make breads and cakes. The local people adapted these ingredients to their own cuisine and created vattayappam using rice flour and coconut. Vattayappam became a popular dish among the Kerala Christians who served it as a special treat for guests and relatives.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed learning about vattayappam – a delicious and healthy steamed rice cake from Kerala. Vattayappam is a nutritious snack that provides you with carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and fiber. It is also easy to make and store, versatile and customizable, gluten-free and vegan-friendly. You can serve it plain or with some coconut milk, honey, or jam. You can also try different variations of vattayappam by using different flours, spices, or toppings. Vattayappam is a perfect dish for any occasion, whether it is breakfast, tea time, or dessert.
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