Pesaha Appam and Pesaha Paal

(Passover Bread and Milk)

Pesaha Appam is a traditional dish made in Kerala, during Maundy Thursday. The bread and milk are made to commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples. This unleavened bread made of rice batter is served at dinner by Kerala Christians. The bread is decorated with a cross (Kurishu in Malayalam) made of tender palm leaf from the Palm Sunday celebration, hence it is also called Kurisappam. It is also called Inri Appam, to denote the INRI written on the cross.

Cook Time: 30 mins   Preparation Time: 2 hrs

Serves 6

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

For Pesaha Appam: 

Raw white rice – 1.5 cup

Urad Dal – 1/2 cup

Grated Coconut 1 nos

Garlic clove -1 big

Water – 2 cups

Salt – 1/3 tsp

For Pesaha Paal: 

Grated coconut 1 cup, to make coconut milk

Jaggery – 4 small pieces

Cardamom(crushed) 6 nos

Rice flour 2 tbsp.

Directions

For Pesaha Appam Method:

– Wash and Soak urad dal and white raw rice for 2 hours.

– Grind with all the other ingredients. Keep aside for another 2 hours. 

– The consistency of the batter should be slightly less than the idli batter.

– After 2 hours, pour this mixture into a lightly greased round-shaped steel plate. 

– Steam this for 15 minutes in an idli steamer. Pesaha Appam is now ready.

For Pesaha Paal :

– Melt the jaggery in half a cup of water, strain, and keep aside.

– Pour the coconut milk into a saucepan and add the rice flour. Mix with an egg beater so that no lumps are formed.

– Add the melted jaggery and cook on a medium flame, till it boils. Stir in between and make sure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.

– Finally, add crushed cardamom powder before switching off the flame.

Traditionally, the eldest member of the family breaks the bread, dips it in the milk, and feeds it to all the family members.  

-Deepa Perumal

A COO who dons the cape of a HomeChef