Nei Appam Recipe – Instant Nei (ghee) Appam | Karthigai Deepam Recipes

Nei Appam or neyyappam with step by step photos. Nei Appam is made during Karthigai Deepam in all South Indian households as a neivedhyam.

This is a gluten free recipe and you can make it vegan by using coconut oil instead of ghee.

It is usually made by soaking rice for few hours and grinding it into a batter and then sweetened by adding jaggery to it.

The batter is then deep fried in ghee itself and hence it got its name, as “Nei” means “Ghee” (clarified butter).

But now-a-days, no one deep fries the appams let alone entirely in ghee. All have switched to using kuzhi paniyaram pans.

I had wanted to try out the instant version of this appam by using homemade processed rice flour as we do soak the rice and grind them.

It did turn out with soft and pillowy appams and it was not hard at all as I thought.

Nei Appam recipe with stepwise photos:

1. In a mixie jar take grated jaggery, sliced bananas, cardamom

2. Grind to a smooth batter.

3. Add Rice flour to the mixie jar and pulse just once or twice for it to mix well. Use 2-3 tbsp water if too thick.

4. Transfer to a mixing bowl, add grated coconut, salt and mix well.

5. The batter should be thick like idli batter and should be of dropping consistency.

6. Grease each indent of the kuzhi paniyaram pan (ebelskiver mould) with ghee. Pour a ladle of batter into the mould till ¾ full.

7. Drizzle few drops of ghee around and close with a lid and let it cook for 2-3 mins till it becomes golden brown.

8. Using a skewer or a spoon gently flip them over and let the other side also cook for 1-2 mins.

9. Transfer to a serving bowl. Proceed with the rest of the batter.

You can also try out this Nel Pori Urundai for this Karthigai Deepam.

NOTES:

I used 1 full, small poovan variety banana. if you are using long variety banana like robusta use just ½ of the fruit.

The jaggery i used was clean, so i used it as it is. if yours have any impurities, then heat 2-3 tbsp of water in a bowl.

Add jaggery and let it dissolve, filter it and then use the syrup for grinding.

I added a pinch of salt as it enhances the sweetness of the appam.

If you are dieting or calorie conscious and do not wish to cook with ghee but still want to enjoy its flavor, mix ½ to 1 tsp of ghee to the batter and mix well and use oil for greasing the pan and cooking the appam.

If you do not have the paniyaram pan, you can always deep fry them in oil. just pour a small ladle full of batter into hot oil and cook till golden brown, flip it over and when cooked, drain onto a kitchen paper.

Nei Appam Recipe details below:

Nei Appam

Radhika

Nei Appam or neyyappam that is made during Karthigai Deepam which also can be served as a quick snack. (Gluten free)

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 25 mins

Course Snacks

Cuisine South Indian

Servings 12 Appams

Ingredients

  

• Rice flour – ½ cup homemade or store bought
• Jaggery - ¼ cup + 2 tbsp grated
• Fresh grated coconut – 3 tbsp
• Cardamom – 1
• Ripe Banana – ⅛ cup or half a banana
• Salt – 1 pinch optional
• Ghee – 1 tbsp

Instructions

 

• In a mixie jar take grated jaggery, sliced bananas, cardamom and grind to a smooth batter.
• Add Rice flour to the mixie jar and pulse just once or twice for it to mix well. Use 2-3 tbsp water if too thick.
• Transfer to a mixing bowl, add grated coconut, salt and mix well.
• The batter should be thick like idli batter and should be of dropping consistency.
• Grease each indent of the kuzhi paniyaram pan (ebelskiver mould) with ghee.
• Pour a ladle of batter into the mould till ¾ full.
• Drizzle few drops of ghee around and close with a lid and let it cook for 2-3 mins till it becomes golden brown.
• Using a skewer or a spoon gently flip them over and let the other side also cook for 1-2 mins.
• Transfer to a serving bowl. Proceed with the rest of the batter.
• Serve these nei appam either hot or warm