The first time I visited Dubai was during my college days. I was amazed by everything, the towering skyscrapers, the huge shopping malls, the blinding glitz radiating from the jewellery shops in gold souq, the international brands which I’ve only heard and read about, be it restaurants, clothes etc;
The second time I visited Dubai, was soon after my marriage. We just went for a weekend trip, visiting friends and family. This time I noticed something else, apart from the grandioseness of Dubai. The more I visited friends and family there, I saw an emerging pattern. Apart from “wowing” you with a food spread extending from one end of the room to the other, any food related sentence is prefixed or suffixed with the term “ithu naateenu ullatha, ketto” (this is from home, take note). If you’ve ever visited your friends or family abroad, I’m sure you must be nodding your head in agreement ;)
Today, almost all “nadan” items are available here, that too surprisingly better quality compared to back home. People have even started saying that you should go to Dubai, not Kerala, to see the real spirit and celebration of Onam! Whatever said and done, “naadu” and “naadan” items are very much a sweet nostalgia to the majority of Malayalees. As I’ve mentioned here, maybe it’s because anything you love, be it – a person, place or thing, appears to be more dear or beautiful in your mind when it’s taken away from you.
The so called “marunadan” Malayali still tries her best to keep up with the traditions they are familiar or grew up with and it’s most evident sign is the food. I think this is especially true during the festival season.
No festival is complete for us unless and until we enjoy the taste of food that reminds us of home. At least, it’s true in my case, I make sure to make at least one thing that reminds me of home during the festival season. So this time, I made Achappam for this Christmas season.
I dont know why, but for sometime, I had it in my mind to make Achappams this Christmas instead of regular cookies. Unusual I know…
If you aren't familiar with Achappam, it’s a fried cookie kinda snack, may be that’s why it’s also known as Rose Cookies. I like it mildly sweet, but there are sugar coated Achappams too. It’s a traditional Kerala snack, which is now easily available in all bakeries. It’s one of my fav fried snack to munch on.
There is no fun in holiday cooking or baking, if you dont have company right? So I called my friend Sheena, got the recipe from her mom and we had a great time cooking, eating and gossiping ;) We both got very excited when the first Achappam slid off the mould easily, so much so that with the over excitement and enthusiasm the second one got stuck ;)
So now the recipe part, I was really surprised how simple and easy it is to make Achappams. The only tricky part is frying it, but am sure you’ll get the hang of it after 1 or 2 trials :) I’m sure homemade Achappams make a great gift during this holiday season.
Here is the recipe…
Put plain flour, rice flour, egg,sugar and salt in a mixie and blend just until smooth and without lumps. Add sesame seeds and Kalonji (if using)and stir well…
Heat oil in a deep and wide pan. Place the Achappam mould in it, while heating the oil. Once the oil is heated enough, it should be really hot, but not smoking hot, dip the heated achappam mould in the small vessel filled with batter…
Immediately dip the mould in hot oil and shake it a little so that the batter loosens into the oil…
Once it start getting brown around edges, flip the achappam using a slotted spoon and cook till both sides turn brown…
Please check out the notes section to see how to make Achappam without mould.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup Plain flour ((refer notes))
- 1/4 cup Rice flour (I used Appam podi)
- 1 cup Medium thick coconut milk
- 1 Beaten Egg
- 3.5 – 4 tbsp Sugar (refer notes)
- a pinch Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black sesame seeds
- 1/2 tsp Kalonji/karinjeerakam/onion seeds (optional)
- Oil (for deep frying, I used sunflower oil)
Instructions
- Put plain flour, rice flour, egg,coconut milk,sugar and salt in a mixie and blend just until smooth and without lumps. You can also Mix it well using a wooden spoon or manual whisk. Add sesame seeds and Kalonji (if using)and stir well.
- Transfer some batter to a small and deep vessel.
- Heat oil in a deep and wide pan. Place the Achappam mould in it, while heating the oil. Once the oil is heated enough, it should be really hot, but not smoking hot, dip the heated achappam mould in the small vessel filled with batter. Make sure you dip only 3/4 th of the mould in the vessel, otherwise the batter may stick to the mould and and achappam won't slip out of the mold as as it should be.
- Immediately dip the mould in hot oil and shake it a little so that the batter loosens into the oil. While the achappam is frying, place the mould in the oil (refer notes). Once it start getting brown around edges, flip the achappam using a slotted spoon and cook till both sides turn brown. Keep in mind the colour of Achappam tends to darken and hold it's shape as it rests.
- Drain the fried Achappams on paper towel. Once it's cooled completely, store in an airtight container for up to 1 week at room temp.
Notes
If you havent used your mould for a long time, soak it in tamarind water for 1-2 days(if it's brass mould do not do this step). If you are using a brand new mould, make sure you season it before using. After using the mould, wash and dry it and grease it with some oil. If you do not have an Achappam mould, use a brass cookie cutter. Make sure you dip it in oil, using tongs and follow the rest of the recipe. The shape may be different, but you still get the taste of homemade achappam. See the picture below:
Hey Maria, tried your recipe, they taste awesome but just don’t retain shape, rather they flatten out in the oil. Is it because of too much sugar?
Hello Maria, I’m a fan of your recipes and when I’m doubt I always turn to your website. I’ve been making the achappams (your recipe) for quite sometime and it’s really good. However I have a question for you: what flour can I substitute maida with? I have a friend who’s allergic to wheat based flours.
Thanks
Hi Alice,
Thank you so much! Really happy to know that you like the recipes here. You can use rice flour instead of maida. However, if using only rice flour, the Achappams may not be so soft.
Thank you very much for your reply. I know that my mother and grandmothers used only rice flour but as you rightly said it’s not soft. To get a softer texture can I use cornflour starch or arrowroot flour? Change proportions like: 1 cup rice flour, 1/4 cup cornflour/ arrowroot flour?
I look forward to to your reply.
Your recipes are a life saver for me when I want to make a typical nadan meal! Thank you very much Maria.
Hi Alice,
You are welcome! I haven’t tried it with cornflour or arrowroot flour, so I’m not sure how it works. However, given a choice, I think you can try arrowroot flour and see. Please let me know the results if you try it.
Great to know that you find the recipes here useful, thank you so much :)
Cheers
Maria
How long can we store these achappams?
It can be stored for 1-2 weeks in an airtight container.
Hi Maria,
Just tried this recipe and it came quite good, but I faced a problem which i am not seeing mentioned by others. The first couple of axhappams come good, but the next time, the batter does not stick to the mould. Instead the batter is getting slightly cooked with the hot oil from the previous dips and then it wont stick to the mould; have you experienced this, do you have any suggestions foe this?
Hi Annu,
I guess it has to do with the mould not being dipped in hot oil for adequate time. Usually, when the mould isn’t hot enough the batter won’t stick to it.
Thank you Maria, the achappams came out quite well, but the oil started bubbling and frothing after sometime. Any idea what could have caused it?
Hi Priya,
Thank you :) About the oil bubbling and frothing, whether the heat was high by any chance? Also, another guess, sometimes when you’ve egg in the batter, it may cause frothing. I havent experience that while making achappam, but I’ve heard people saying that.
Cheers
Maria
The taste And texture was on point! The first 15 or so came out perfectly and then I’m not sure what went wrong. I’m guessing it’s something to do with the temperature coz it was sticking to the mould. ( the mould has been seasoned for 3 days ). Thank u for sharing this wonderful recipe!
Thanks Suzann :) I think it’s because of the temp of the oil, the mould has to be heated well for the batter to stick on it. Hope this helps…
Cheers
Maria
what you mean by plain flour?
Hi Liju, Plain flour is all purpose flour also known as maida.
Cheers
Maria
Tapoica powder and rice flour makes it crispy and great to crunch.
Hi Maria, can we use tinned coconut milk?
Thanks
Hi Pearl,
Yes, you can :)
Hi Maria, thanks for this recipe..i tried it for christmas and it came so perfect, just the right consistency and taste ..my family and friends loved it.
Hi Priya,
You are welcome :) Thanks a lot for trying this recipe. Great to know that it worked out well for you.
Wish you a Happy New Year!
Cheers
Maria
Love you Maria???? right in time for X-mas. My favorite sweet. I tried many times but it failed. It turns soft later. I can eat dozens! Hope this receipe turns out well…..so far your receipes have never turned me down. Will make it along with your X-mas cake. Will let you know how the acchappam turns out.
Thank you so much Minnie :) I do hope it comes out perfect for you. Mine also, one or two became soft, the trick is in getting the correct heat level. If the heat is too high, Achappam will brown quickly without getting cooked properly. Try frying it on the smallest burner of your gas for better heat management.
Wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance!
Cheers
Maria
How about the non-stick mould? Has anyone used it ? Anything to be done to prepare the mould?
Hi Ann,
I’m not familiar with the non stick mould, but my guess is you dont have to season it.
Cheers
Maria
Hi Ann and Maria,
I bought the mould last time we went to India. Finally got a chance to test it this past weekend. It was so easy to make. Nothing to do to the mould at all. Just put the mould in when u warm up the oil and voila the batter just slides off.
Good luck,
Ancy
Hi Ancy,
Thanks for your comment :) Did you use a non stick mould? I guess may be seasoned moulds are available now, in that case, you can use it easily :)
Cheers
Maria
I liked how you started with Dubai story and ended with naadu and naadan items ..smooth flow of topic and i didn’t even notice where the context was headed to when i started reading it but it blended so well that i forgot how it started :D I love achappams too..I should have brought one from India during my last visit but I was debating with myself about my probability of making such a hard snack vs buying it..seems like not so hard now from all your tips and notes here ..and that is a lot of tips which are going to help a lot of people like me who have been afraid to try this recipe so for so long.. and merry Christmas in advance..planning to make your fruit cake next week.. dry fruits been soaking for 10 days now.. :)
Thanks di :) I was thinking what to write and thought about how NRI’s always talk about naadu and nadan things ;)
Yeah get the achu next time, it’s very easy to make. Hope your cake comes out well. Happy baking and eating ;)
What is the plain flour ..is that maida
Yes, it is maida only.
Hiii… is there any way to replace eggs???
Hi Priyanka,
I havent tried it without eggs. But a google search shows similar recipes without eggs, so may be you can just omit the egg and try. May be you can just test with a small batch and see whether it works.
Pls let me know how it turns out if you happen to try it :)
Cheers
Maria