Vattayappam - Steamed Rice Cake

Is there anyone out there who don't like Vattayappam??Vattayam also follows the similar process of other Appam that is made by fermenting the rice batter.  It is Keralites favorite breakfast/snack, can be eaten as it is or can be served with spicy Chicken/Egg Curry. So let us go the process of making the simple yet delicious Vattayappam. Try it out at home for sure and see the smiles of your friends and family. Enjoy !!

Ingredients:-

1. Long Grain Rice or Raw rice (pachari) - 2 cups 
2. Grated coconut - ½ cup (or coconut milk - ½ Cup)
3. Parboiled rice cooked - ½ cup
4. Salt - a pinch
5. Sugar - Cup
6. Yeast - ½ tsp
7. Cashews and Raisins ghee fried - A handful

Preparation Method:-

• Wash the rice twice and drain the water.
• Soak the rice in water for four-six hours. Grind the soaked rice along with cooked rice, grated coconut, salt and sugar by adding water.
• The batter should of the  consistency of Idli batter. Pour the batter into a wide bowl.
• Add yeast to the batter and mix well. Check for the sugar and salt and adjust.
• Let it ferment overnight or for six-eight hours.

• Grease a round plate or cake pan, pour the fermented batter in the plate. Top it with ghee fried cashews and raisins.
• Steam it for about seven-ten minutes or a till a sharp knife or tooth pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Slice it and serve warm as it is or with some spicy Egg Masala/Chicken Curry

Ezee Vermicelli Upma

Here I'm sharing today the all famous Vermicelli Upma, the quickest and easiest breakfast and all time favorite of my kids. My son believe it is a kind of non-sticky noodle because of its texture and similarity in looks. You can either cook the Semiya/vermicelli in boiling water, drain them off and add to seasoning/tempering/thadka or do the seasoning and add the boiled vermicelli to it and mix. If you do the second way, you'll get to taste all crunchy nuts but if you are in jiffy go for the first method. This gets cooked in no time, so is a great option for woking women on their busy mornings. Try it out, Enjoy!!!!

Ingredients:-

Vermicelli - 1cup
green chilly - 2 finely chopped
Onion - 1 finely chopped
ginger - 2 tbsp finely chopped
dry red chilly -2 broken into half
mustard seeds - 2 tsp
peanut - 2tbsp
urad daal - 2 tsp
curry leaves - few
coconut oil- 3 tbsp
water - 1 3/4 cup
Veggies - ½ cup

Preparation Method:-

• Dry roast the vermicelli and keep aside(you will find the roasted vermicelli in stores, opt out roasting if you buy that).
• Heat a frying pan, add oil and splutter the mustard seeds. Add urad daal, peanut, curry leaves, dry red chilly and stir for a min.
• Add onion, green chilly, ginger and saute for 2-3 mins till onion is translucent(don't over fry the onion).
• Add the water and get to boil, add salt as well. Lower the flame to med and add the roasted vermicelli slowly and stirring it slowly.
• Keep stirring till it absorbs all the water(take care of vermicelli not to become sticky).
• Switch off the flame and serve warm as breakfast or tea time snack....

Note:- You can add mixed veggies while sauting the onion, it tastes great and serves a great, healthy breakfast

Spinach Omlette and Sandwich

Very simple and quick recipe, healthy and nutritious too. You can substitute egg with egg whites if you want to reduce the cholesterol/fat count. I often use it for sandwich filling as well. You can try it out in either way, you'll figure out its a smart option for power packed breakfast or lunch.

Ingredients:-
1) Chopped spinach:- 1/4 cup(add some salt and pepper on top, toss it and keep aside)
2) Eggs - 2
3) Salt - 1/2 tsp
4) Pepper - 1/2 tsp

Preparation Method:-

 

Beat the eggs well add some salt and pepper and mix well. Heat a non-stick pan on med heat, spread some spinach, pour the beaten egg on top and spread some more spinach on top again. let it cook for 5 mins and flip it. keep for 1 min and take out of the pan..Serve hot.

For Spinach omlette Sandwich:-

 

Divide the Omlette into 4 equal parts. Toast 2 slices of bread, top 1 slice of bread with a piece of omlette, a cheese slice, a slice of onion, tomato and cucumber pickle cover it with another bread slice and serve.
I always use brown/wheat bread or multi-grain bread, it is nutritious and healthy

Note:- I have not using any cooking oil since I made the omlette in non-stick. If you want to drizzle some oil you may do that.