I am not familiar with Easter bread other than the hot cross buns. When Renu called out to the blogger group to put forth some easter bread, it sure was a good challenge. It is a challenge and surely I wanted to explore this unknown territory.
Related recipe: steamed mango muffin.
With little hands-on experience with the Easter menu, I spoke to a friend who does easter with a flair. During the conversation, Ciya mentioned vattayappam. Made during Easter and Christmas the spongy steam cake, vattayappam is one that brings out the best of the combination of rice and coconut. Following discussions with my partner, Poonam , for this challenge in Shh cooking secretly challenge the deal was sealed for the spongy vattayappam. Poonam made some delicious eggless bread for Easter.
Related recipe: Kerala plantain chips.
Vattayappam literally translates to the round cake. Studded with raisins, this spongy rice cake is a perfect teatime snack. Typically, a naalumani palaharam (4pm snack with tea). This mildly sweet treat is known for the airy lightness. Serve it with sweetened coconut milk or on its own, the oil-free vattayappam stole our hearts very quickly.
Related recipe: aval nanachathu.
Though vattayapam seems more like a snack it is an Easter weekend special. Most Christian households make this before the weekend. There are many versions of this recipe. I choose the one that is scribbled into my mother’s notebook for recipes.
Hope you like this gluten-free, oil-less preparation. Tag us when you cut a slice, we will love to hear your review of our recipe.
Vattayappam
Equipment
- Steamer
Ingredients
- 3 cups drinking water
- 1.25 cups Raw rice
- 1 cup grated coconut
- 1 pinch salt
- 0.75 cup unrefined sugar
- 0.5 tsp yeast i used the dry one.
- 2 pods green cardamom
Instructions
- Soak the 1 1/4 cuprice with 3 cups of water for 6-8 hours.
- Grind this into a smooth paste using just enough water to make it a consistency thicker than pancake batter.
- Pou the batter into a bif stockpot with enough space to ferment.
- Grind the coconut with salt and sugar into a fine paste. Use just enough water to get this smooth.
- Add this to the batter.
- Add the yeast and mix well. Bring it to the consistency of pancake batter.
- Mix well and set aside to ferment for 3-4 hours. If in colder regions place in a oven preheated to about 60 degrees.
- Once fermented, add the cardamom seeds mix the batter well and set aside.
- Prepare the steamer with water at the base.
- Grease the mould you are making the bread in and pour the batter half way up.
- Decorate the top with raisins on top.
- Place the mould in the steamer and cook for 20 minutes.
- Once done the batter will seperate from the sides easily.
- To test the doneness, use a toothpick. If it comes clean the vattayappam is done.
- Stand the bread for 5 minutes in the mould, run a knife along the edges and remove from the mould.
- Unmould the vattayappam, and slice to serve.
Seema an unusual Easter bread or cake recipe from the normal ones we generally know of. The batter reminds me so much of the local rice bread we make here in Kenya, only that its baked. Would love to try out the vattayappam recipe.
It is certainly a unique recipe from certain pockets of Kerala. I am sure the baked one will be fabulous too. I will love to try it, share when you can.
Thank you Seema for such an interstring and I would say a lost recipe. This recipe definitely is something different and a treasure to find. Good that you were able to find it in your mother’s notebook. So glad that you made and shared this. I would definitely love to try this.
Thanks for sharing this unique recipe. Never heard about it. Steamed rice cake sounds absolutely delicious and easy to make. Loved the soft texture. I would love to try it sometime.
Vattayappam looks so Delish. I have been thinking of making this for a Long time. Now I have a perfect recipe to try Seema. I have only had it at my Mallu friend’s place. I just love it . Perfect Easter treat.
This is such a unique share for Easter Seema ! The steamed rice cake looks soft and delightful.
This is one is totally new Easter bread recipe and glad you shared this.. Sounds a very delicious, light steamed cake.. will like to try it sometime soon.
Vattayappam looks absolutely delicious! The first thing that came to my mind when the theme was discussed was this dish but I had posted this recipe couple of months back and had to drop it for this challenge. I make this often at home as a evening snack and we all like to eat it as is.
Vattayappam is a unique recipe for me. It looks so delicious and healthy as it is steamed. Will try this sometime.
Vattayappam looks so amazing with raisins. very healthy and nutritious tea time snack. They look so soft and spongy as well.