Uzhunnappam (Indri Appam)

Ingredients

1. Moong Dal (Uzhunnu) – 1/2 Cup

2. Rice flour Appam  – 1 Cup

3. Coconut – 1 Cup

4. Cumin Seeds – 1 Teaspoon

5. Garlic – 10 Cloves

6. Small Onion – 5

7. Black Pepper – ½ Teaspoon

8. Turmeric powder -1/2 Teaspoon

9. Salt – To Taste

Preparation

Wash and roast the moong dal till golden brown. When cool, powder (no need to make very fine powder) and add to the rice flour. Grind the cumin seeds, pepper, garlic and onion, add to the flour.  Drop all other ingredients into the flour and mix well with some water. Add water till you get a thick batter like the cake batter. Water should not be too much. The batter should to be very thick. I used the readymade roasted rice flour for Appam. Traditionally people use raw rice flour which is used for puttu without roasting. This year since the mills are not open most used full rice grain soaked in water and ground as we do for idli and dosa.

When the batter is ready heat a frying pan apply little oil/ghee on the pan and pour 1 or 2 spoons of the batter, spread and make a circle with the spoon as shown in picture and cover with a lid and cook on low flame. When one side is cooked Turn to the other side and cook.  Be careful of burning.

This is a very special unleavened bread prepared by Syro Malabar Catholics of Kerala, India on Maundy Thursday to remember the Passover festival and Last Supper of Jesus Christ.

In some parts of Kerala they steam this instead of roasting, in that case turmeric powder is omitted.

In Christian families plenty of this unleavened bread is prepared on Maundy Thursday and shared among neighbours and friends. This is eaten after dinner with a special milk prepared only on Maundy Thursday. The recipe of the milk is given in my next post. The head of the family cuts the bread and distributes to the family members along with the Pesaha Pal (a special milk for Maundy Thursday).

One unleavened bread is prepared very big with a Cross in the middle, usually this Cross is made with the pieces of palm leaf received from the Church on Palm Sunday.

This year because of Covid 19 there was no palm leaves so I prepared a Cross with the same batter.

As I share this recipe remembering and praying for people all over the world who are no more to celebrate Pesaha this year. May their souls rest in peace. Remembering and thanking all the doctors, nurses, parameds, health workers, ministers, police, volunteers and all the others who are really doing what Jesus wished on Maundy Thursday. “As I washed your feet, wash each others feet in remembrance of me”. That is the selfless services of people around the world. Yes that’s the real Last Supper message in action. Kudos to all of them. Remembering also the patients and all those who are suffering. Let’s all support all of them with prayers and best wishes. Eat healthy food, stay healthy and stay safe. Wish you a Happy Maundy Thursday.