Unniyappam

Unniyappam is not just a snack-it’s an emotion for every Malayali. This small, round, crispy, brown delight holds a special place in Kerala’s traditional cuisine. Whether it’s a temple offering, a festive sweet, or just an evening bite with tea, Unniyappam never disappoints.

Made mainly with rice, jaggery, banana, and coconut, Unniyappam is deep-fried in a special pan called appakara, which gives it that iconic shape. The moment you pour the batter into the hot oil, the sweet aroma fills the entire kitchen-and that smell is pure nostalgia. It reminds us of grandmothers making them in bulk during festivals, storing them in large steel containers, and offering them to visiting guests with love.

The texture is something else-crispy on the outside, soft and slightly chewy inside. Each bite gives you the sweetness of jaggery, the softness of mashed banana, and a bit of crunch from the coconut bits. Some even add a pinch of cardamom or a few roasted sesame seeds to give that extra depth of flavor.

Unniyappam is also one of the offerings in many Kerala temples, especially during special poojas and festivals. That version is usually made without baking soda or other additions-keeping it simple, pure, and divine.

What makes Unniyappam truly special is how humble the ingredients are. Nothing fancy. Just everyday items from a traditional Kerala kitchen. But when they come together in the right proportions and are made with patience, the result is magical.

Whether you’re making it for a celebration or just to relive some memories, Unniyappam always brings a sense of warmth and comfort. One is never enough. And that’s the beauty of it.

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Unniyappam

Author: Ushadevi Cooking Method: Frying Cuisine: Kerala Courses: Snacks, Sweets & Desserts

Difficulty: Intermediate Prep Time 15 mins Cook Time 15 mins Rest Time 30 mins Total Time 1 hr

Cooking Temp: 180  C Servings: 10

Best Season: Suitable throughout the year

Ingredients

Scale

1/2x 1x 2x 3x

• 2 cup Rice flour
• 1 cup Jaggery
• ¹⁄₄ cup Coconut slices
• 2 Ripe Banana (palayam kodan)
• 1 teaspoon Black Sesame seeds
• 2 teaspoon Ghee
• Coconut Oil as required

Instructions

1. Unniyappam is a traditional snack of Kerala. It’s very easy to make, and taste heavenly.
2. First of all, Lets fry Coconut slices in Ghee. Fry it till light golden colour
3. Now let’s make Jaggery syrup, by melting jaggery with a two teaspoon of water.
4. Strain for impurities and keep it aside
5. Mash the bananas in to a paste in Blender.
6. In a bowl, Add Rice flour, Jaggery syrup, Mashed Bananas, Coconut slices, Sesame seeds and mix well, and make a batter ( Idli batter consistency)
7. Heat Appa kara (Paniyaram Pan) , add coconut oil, Pour the batter in each hole, fry both sides, to to Golden brown colour
8. Unniyappam is ready