LIVE TO COOK

Multigrain Pancake balls – Aindharisi Paniyaaram July 7, 2008

Cooking with kids is an amazing experience. They are packed with three E’s – Energy, Enthusiasm and Exploration. They infect us with energy and enthusiasm. When we start exploring things with them, we will get to know lots of things that escaped our view earlier.

This weekend, me and my son were making pancakes balls as ever. We poured the batter in each depression of the Aebelskiver pan while my son kept counting each one of them. Suddenly he exclaimed pointing at the pan, “Look Mommy! it looks like your ear ring!”. It did look like a wonderful flower shaped ear ring. This answered a long time unanswered question “What is Paniyaaram?”

I have always wondered why they named the pancake balls as “Paniyaaram” in Tamil. My son’s observation led me to a nice explanation of the term. “Pani” in Tamil Means “Work”. “Aaram” denotes a kind of Jewelry. When it comes to cooking, If we take the “Work” as “Culinary Art” then “Paniyaaram” would mean “Jewel of culinary Art”! Those who tried to make paniyaaram will accept that its an art and needs some expertise.

This post is about one such paniyaaram, called “Aindharisi Paniyaaram”. Since it is made up of 5 different grains they named it so. “Aindhu” in Tamil means “Five”.

The urad dhal and Tapioca pearls give the recipe the spongy texture. The coconut and Moong dhal give the nutty flavor. I made both sweet and savory varieties out of the same batter. Both turned out great.

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Long grain white rice
1/2 Cup Par boiled rice ( Look for this in Asian Groceries)
1/2 Cup Tapioca pearls ( Look for this in Asian Groceries)
1/2 Cup Urad dhal
1/2 Cup Moong dhal

(*** The flours of all the above ingredients are available in the Asian stores. So, we can combine equal amounts of the flours to desired consistency. Soaking and grinding the grains is more nutritious and give better tasting final product ***)

For sweet Version:

1 Cup Jaggery or Turbinado sugar
1/4 cup Freshly shredded coconut
2 tsp Cardamom powder
1/2 tsp Salt

For Savory Version:

1 Onion Chopped
2 Carrots Shredded
1 Green Bell pepper Shredded
1 Tbsp Cilantro Chopped
2 tsp Salt

Other ingredients:

Oil for shallow frying

Method:

1. If using whole grains, Soak them in water for 2 hours. Drain well and grind to a smooth paste using 1/2 cup water. To test the consistency of the batter, Coat the back of a spoon with the batter and draw a line in the middle, with the tip of a finger. The separated batter should remain as is and should not drip and cover the line.

Batter Testing

2. If using flours, combine the flours together and mix with 1/2 – 3/4 cup of water until the consistency is reached as mentioned in step 1.
3. For the sweet version, take the Jaggery in a medium sauce pan with 1/4 cup water and boil in medium heat until the jaggery is dissolved in the water. Mix in to the batter. Add the other ingredients for the sweet version and mix well.
4. For the savory version, mix the ingredients into the batter.
5. Heat the abelskiver pan and add 1/4 tsp oil in each depression.
6. When the oil is smoky hot, drop 2 tablespoons of batter in each depression.

Batter poured in Aebelskiver pan

7. When the sides turn golden brown, ease the sides with a metal skewer and push from one side of the pancake ball. This will make the pancake ball to turn. Turn all of them and cook the other side until golden brown.
8. Serve the sweet version with honey.

Sweet paniyaram

9. Serve the savory version with sour cream and your favorite chutney

Savory Paniyaram

I am sending the savory version to WBB #24 – Summer feast event hosted by Sia and AYE #4 event hosted by Phemomenon.