Uttappam is a popular south East Indian style savoury pancake, which is also known to many as the Indian pizza.
Similar too western pancakes or crepes, these tend to be thicker, spongier and light in texture. Cooked on a flat round griddle for around 5 minutes, they are typically served with Sambar (lentil soup) and Coconut Chutney, for breakfast or lunch.
Through the years various other combinations of toppings have appeared throughout the food stalls in India, making Uttappams an increasingly popular street dish amongst locals. One of the favourite toppings is a mixture of onions, tomatoes, chillies and coriander which can either mixed into the batter or sprinkled over the pancake at the beginning of the cooking process, this we now call the Indian Pizza. Cheese can be sprinkled over the top, just before serving for that real pizza feel. Uttappam's can be found in nearly all good south Indian restaurants in the west with an array of topping choices. They make great tasty light lunches and are also low in calories, for those who are looking after their waistlines.
My own home-made Uttappam sprinkled with onions, tomatoes, chillies & coriander.
A typical batter mix making 4 pancakes consists of:
50gms Urad Flour (Black Matpe Bean Flour)
150gms Rice Flour
1tsp Salt
½ tsp Bicarbonate soda
1tsp ginger paste
1tsp green chilli paste
350ml water
Mix the flours together and then add the water, mix in well to form a batter. Add the rest of the ingredients and leave for 30 minutes.
50gms Urad Flour (Black Matpe Bean Flour)
150gms Rice Flour
1tsp Salt
½ tsp Bicarbonate soda
1tsp ginger paste
1tsp green chilli paste
350ml water
Mix the flours together and then add the water, mix in well to form a batter. Add the rest of the ingredients and leave for 30 minutes.
Heat up a small round flat frying pan/griddle with a little oil on a low to medium heat. Once hot pour in the batter and either gently turn the handle or use the back of a large spoon to spread the batter evenly to form a round shape.
Sprinkle over toppings if using and using a spoon spread oil around the edges, cover with a lid and allow too cook for around 3 minutes.
Remove lid and using a large spatula turn the uttappam over; allow cooking for 2 more minutes this time with the lid off.
Remove to a serving dish and serve hot.
You can buy Git's Uttappam Flour Mix, in specialist Indian groceries, which is a complete mix were you only have to add water, so why not give it a go.
