Appe or Paniyaram is one of the typical South Indian snacks, prepared essentially from fermented batter, the same used for preparing idli or dosa. These small, round, bite-sized snacks turn out crispy outside and soft inside, which is very popular as a breakfast snack. The rice and urad dal are soaked, ground into a smooth paste, and fermented overnight. You can also use leftover Dosa or idli batter for convenience. Chopped onions, green chillies, ginger, curry leaves, grated carrots, and, at times, coriander leaves are added to the fermented batter for flavour and texture. Some add a pinch of asafoetida and mustard seeds to enhance the taste. The above batter is poured into a specially designed pan with small, rounded indentations called appe or paniyaram pan. First, a little oil is smeared in the pan, and into each indentation, batter is ladled, filling halfway. Cook in low to medium heat until golden brown outside and fully cooked inside; flip to cook the other side. It's a crispy and fluffy snack with a light spiciness. It can be enjoyed with coconut or tomato chutneys. Appe can be enhanced to your taste by adding seasonal vegetables or even spices. They are easy to make, healthy, and good for using leftover batter. The small, round shape is perfect for lunchboxes or to be served at parties as a light snack.

• 1 cup rice
• 3 tbsp urad dal
• 2 tbs moong dal
• 2 tbsp chana dal
• 1/4 cup poha
• Rock salt
• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 cup onion
• 1 green chilies
• 1 tbsp curry leaves
• 3 tbsp coriander leaves
• 1 tbsp oil

• Appe also spelt paniyaram in certain regions, is a rice-lentil batter preparation similar to dosa or idli. Some preparation has to be done beforehand because the batter must be soaked and fermented for a few hours. Soak equal portions of rice and urad dal for 4-6 hours, grind into a smooth batter, and ferment for 8-12 hours. Add some salt, as per your preference, and optional spices or vegetables. When the batter is ready, cook the batter in an appe pan, which is a special pan fitted with several round moulds that will give the quintessential shape to your appe.
• Now, heat the appe pan over a medium-low to medium flame. The pan should be heated well so that it does not stick and gets cooked well without burning. Keep it on the flame for a couple of minutes. Grease and pour in the batter. When you heat the pan, make sure it is not too hot; otherwise, the edges of the appe will turn crispy.
• Add a few drops of oil, about ¼ to ⅓ tsp, into each mould. Use any edible oil- vegetable oil, coconut oil, or even ghee- to give it a richer taste. Lightly oil up the appe pan using an oiling brush. Oil helps the appe develop a rich and brown colour on the outside.
• When the oil is hot, fill each mould with the prepared batter. Fill the moulds to only ¾ of the capacity, leaving room for the batter to rise while it cooks. This is so the mixture does not spill over and allows the appe to rise and fluff up during the course of cooking. Fill up the outer moulds first, as the ones in the centre will cook much faster.
• Once the moulds are filled, place a lid on the appe pan. That would trap the heat and allow uniform cooking. The batter will dry up at the top as the bottom gets golden and crispy. Once the tops of the appe have dried out and the edges of the bottom side turn to gold, it's time to flip them.
• Flip each appe over carefully with the help of a flat spatula or a skewer. Covering the pan is not required after flipping. Let the other side cook until crispy and golden in colour without the lid on. Adjust the heat accordingly to prevent the appe from charring. If the appe are turning brown too fast, then reduce the flame, or if they are taking too long, turn the flame up.
• Serve appe into a plate once both sides are crispy and golden.
• Proceed with the rest of the batter. Likewise, adjust the flame according to your stove and the thickness of your pan.
• Serve the appe recipe with coconut chutney, peanut chutney, or any chutney you prefer. The crispy appe with creamy chutney makes a great snack or a light meal.
• You can add to the variety by putting in the batter finely chopped veggies such as onions, carrots, or spinach for added flavour.
• If you liked this recipe of Appe, don't forget to share it with your friends and family.