Dairy-Free Appe (South Indian Rice and Lentil Pancakes)

Delight your taste buds with these Dairy-Free Appe, a traditional South Indian favorite transformed into perfectly crisp and fluffy rice and lentil pancakes. Made with a wholesome blend of raw rice, urad dal, chana dal, and poha, this fermented batter develops a tangy depth that’s complemented by aromatic additions like finely chopped onions, curry leaves, fresh ginger, and green chilies. Cooked in a specialty appe pan for golden perfection, these bite-sized wonders are naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and packed with protein. Serve them hot with coconut chutney or tangy sambar for a healthy and flavorful breakfast, snack, or appetizer that will have everyone reaching for seconds. Whether you're exploring Indian cuisine or seeking new dairy-free recipes, this dish is a must-try!

Nutriscore Rating: 70/100

Prep Time:420 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:450 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup Raw Rice
• 0.25 cup Urad Dal (skinned split black gram)
• 1 tablespoon Chana Dal (split chickpeas)
• 2 tablespoon Poha (flattened rice)
• 0.5 teaspoon Fenugreek Seeds
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 medium Onion (finely chopped)
• 1 teaspoon Ginger (grated)
• 2 units Green Chillies (finely chopped)
• 8 leaves Curry Leaves (finely chopped)
• 2 tablespoon Oil
• 1 cup Water

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the raw rice, urad dal, and chana dal together in a large bowl until the water runs clear.

Step 2

In the same bowl, soak the rinsed rice and dal with fenugreek seeds in enough water to cover them for at least 4 hours.

Step 3

Rinse and soak the poha separately in just enough water to cover them. Allow them to soak for at least 20 minutes.

Step 4

Drain the soaked rice, dal, and fenugreek seeds. Add them to a blender along with the soaked poha.

Step 5

Gradually add water to blend everything into a smooth batter. The consistency should be similar to a pancake batter.

Step 6

Transfer the batter into a large bowl, cover, and let it ferment overnight or for about 8 hours in a warm place.

Step 7

Once fermented, the batter will rise and look slightly airy. Add salt and mix well.

Step 8

Stir in the chopped onion, ginger, green chillies, and curry leaves into the batter.

Step 9

Heat an appe pan (or aebleskiver pan) on medium heat and add a few drops of oil into each cavity.

Step 10

Pour spoonfuls of the batter into each cavity, filling them to just below the brim.

Step 11

Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes until the base is golden brown and the top begins to set.

Step 12

Use a skewer or a small spoon to flip over the appe, drizzle a little more oil if needed, and cook for another 2-3 minutes until golden and crispy on the other side.

Step 13

Remove and repeat with the remaining batter. Serve hot with chutney or sambar.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(653.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1184.2

Total Fat 30.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 2.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2402.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 197.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 14.2g	0%
Total Sugars 4.9g
Protein 28.2g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 168.1mg	0%
Iron 6.6mg	0%
Potassium 906.0mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 23.2%

Protein: 9.6%

Carbs: 67.2%