Vishu special kani appam

Kani appam is a special snack prepared on the auspicious day of Vishu. This is offered as part of the ‘kani’, presented in front of the deity, before distributing to children. Interestingly it looks and tastes similar to unniyappam. Check out the recipe.

Ingredients
1 cup raw rice
250 gm jaggery
3 cardamom pods
3 bananas
A pinch of salt
¼ tsp baking soda
2 tbsp ghee
¼ cup coconut shards
1 tbsp black sesame seeds
½ tsp fennel seeds
Ghee/coconut oil to fry

Preparation
Wash the raw rice and soak it for two hours
Drain the soaked rice and spread them on a cotton cloth to remove excess moisture
Pass the rice flour through a sieve to remove bits
Grind this along with cardamom in a mixer jar
Make jaggery syrup by melting it in some water
Mix pureed ripe banana, jaggery syrup, salt and baking soda with the rice flour
The batter shouldn’t be too loose
Heat ghee and roast the coconut shards
Turn off the flame when the coconut shards begin to change colour
Now add fennel seeds and black sesame seeds
After it has cooled down, add it to the batter
Mix well
Keep the batter aside for at least two hours
Heat ghee in an unniyappam mould
Pour a spoonful of batter into one mould
Fill the moulds in a similar pattern
Flip and fry until the kani appam turns brown.