Kuzhi Paniyaram or Appe are savory shallow fried fritters traditionally made with idli batter. These fritters are made in a special appe pan. I love how versatile this recipe is and they are absolutely delicious.
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What are Kuzhi Paniyaram / Appe?
These beautiful fritters are crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. Kuzhi paniyarams are made with Idli Batter. Traditionally onions, green chilies, black pepper, freshly grated coconut, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and salt.
In this recipe, I add finely chopped onions, shredded carrots, cilantro, shredded paneer, green chilies, black pepper, and salt. Whenever I make this for my daughter, I skip the green chilies.
Appe Pan
Paniyarams are shallow fried fritters that are made in a special pan popularly known as appe pan or paniyaram chatti. This pan is a cast iron pan with molds. You fill the molds with a teaspoon of oil and add the batter. Cover and let them cook, and then flip and let them cook on the other side.
You need this appe pan to make this recipe. I am linking the appe pan I use here.
Make the Batter
You can use either homemade idli-dosa batter or store-bought. Add finely chopped onions, grated carrot, grated paneer, chopped cilantro, and green chilies. The paneer in the batter is a great way to add some protein to this recipe. If you want to make these vegan, you can add crumbled tofu instead.
Mix everything well, and salt and black pepper. Rest the batter for 10 mins. And then start making the appe.
Other Variations To Make the Batter
- Add spinach puree to the batter, along with onions and paneer
- Add shredded beetroots, bell peppers, corn, and spinach
- Add freshly grated coconut
- You can add oat flour to the batter to add some fiber
Expert Tips
- The batter should be medium-thick in consistency. We don't need a runny batter.
- Add rice flour and rava if your batter is runny.
- Make the batter as per your taste and preferences. You can add more spice and reduce the spice level.
- If you are making these for your toddler, it is a great way to pack veggies to make a great meal/ snack.
- These are perfect for lunchbox for kids, or an afternoon snack. To make it more kid-friendly, you can add cheese to these. It will definitely make your kids excited about this scrumptious snack.
- Skip onions if you want to make these onion free.
- If you do not have the appe pan, you can shallow fry these fritters. Drop a spoonful of batter, in medium hot oil and fry them until crispy. Make sure the batter is not very runny or thin.
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Kuzhi Paniyarams | Appe Recipe
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Equipment
- Appe Pan
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Idli Batter
- ⅓ Cup Carrots Grated
- ¼ Cup Onion Finely Chopped
- 1 Thai Green Chili Finely Chopped
- ⅓ Cup Paneer Crumbled
- ½ Tsp Black Pepper Powder
- 1 Tsp Salt
- 2 - 3 Tbsp Cilantro Finely Chopped
- Oil For Shallow Frying
Instructions
Make the Batter
- In a bowl add add the idli batter.
- Add chopped onions, finely grated carrots, finely crumbled paneer, finely chopped cilantro, finely chopped green chilies, black pepper powder, and salt. Mix well.
- If the batter looks thick, add some water and if the batter is too thin, she add rice flour and rava.
Making Paniyarams
- Heat the appe pan. Once hot add ½ teaspoon of oil in each appe mold.
- Now with a spoon add the batter in the paniyaram molds one at a time.
- Cover and let them cook for 2 minutes on medium flame.
- Once the bottom of paniyarams is cooked and crispy, flip them using a spoon.
- Cook again for a minute and take them out a paper towel lined plate.
- Serve hot with your favorite chutney.
Notes
- Read the Blog thoroughly.
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