Kuzhi Paniyaram

Kuzhi Paniyaram is a delightful South Indian snack made from fermented rice and lentil batter, cooked in a special pan to achieve a crispy exterior and soft interior. This vegan dish is typically enjoyed with coconut chutney or sambar for a flavorful experience.

Ingredients

• Idli rice - 1 cup
• Split urad dal - 1/4 cup
• Fenugreek seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
• Salt - 1 teaspoon
• Water - 1 to 1.5 cups (for soaking and grinding)
• Onion - 1 small, finely chopped
• Green chili - 1, finely chopped
• Ginger - 1 teaspoon, grated
• Curry leaves - 8-10, chopped
• Coriander leaves - 2 tablespoons, chopped
• Mustard seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
• Oil - for greasing the paniyaram pan

Steps

1. In a bowl, combine idli rice, split urad dal, and fenugreek seeds. Rinse well and soak in water for 4-6 hours.
2. After soaking, drain the rice and dal. Blend them together with 1 to 1.5 cups of water until you achieve a smooth batter. The consistency should be similar to pancake batter.
3. Transfer the batter to a bowl and mix in salt. Cover and allow it to ferment in a warm place for 8-12 hours or overnight.
4. Once fermented, heat a paniyaram pan on medium heat and grease each mold with a little oil.
5. In a small pan, heat a teaspoon of oil, add mustard seeds and let them splutter. Then add chopped onion, green chili, ginger, curry leaves, and sauté until the onion turns translucent.
6. Add this mixture to the fermented batter along with chopped coriander leaves and mix well.
7. Pour a tablespoon of the batter into each mold of the paniyaram pan. Cook for about 2-3 minutes until the bottom is golden brown.
8. Carefully flip the paniyaram using a skewer or spoon and cook the other side for another 2-3 minutes until crisp.
9. Repeat the process for the remaining batter. Serve hot with coconut chutney or sambar.

Nutrition

• Calories: 220
• Protein: 8 g
• Carbs: 36 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 400 mg
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Total Fat: 5 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Water: 0.3 L

Health Benefits

• Rich in protein from lentils, promoting muscle health.
• Contains dietary fiber that aids in digestion and helps maintain a healthy gut.

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