Cook Like Your Mom: Arisi Adai (Rice Pancake)

South Indian food has many more to it than Dosa and Idly. Arisi Adai is a Palakkad TamBrahm recipe, which we relished all through our growing years. It is a thick pancake, which needs to be eaten by peeling it. It tastes best when it is hot.

After we grew up, we started making the thinner version(ladle version). It helps one feel lighter after eating.

Arisi adai is a pan dish, made out of soaked idly rice (par boiled rice). It goes well with something tangy and spicy. A dollop of fresh butter on top of the dish while serving, adds a signature flavour.

This is one of my favourites.

Ingredients :

For two persons.

Idly rice : 1 cup
Coconut : 1/4 cup (grated/chunks)
Salt : per taste

Procedure :

Traditional method

> Wash the rice and soak it till tender.(6 hours)
> Grind the rice in a mixer/grinder along with the coconut.
> Grind it into a smooth thick batter. (Neither runny nor too thick).
> Allow it to ferment by keeping it aside for 5 to 6 hours. (for a hint of sourness).
> Add salt per taste to the batter.
> Heat a tava and smear oil on it.
> Now take a fist full of batter (as its not runny, you will be able to hold it). Spread it on the hot tava by patting it (Wet your hands as you pat).
> Make a hole in the centre of it.
> Oil from the sides, in the hole, cover with a lid and allow it to cook (Covering will keep it soft)
> Cook on both sides by flipping.
> Serve it with a tangy side dish and a dollop of butter.

Easy way

> Wash the rice and soak it till tender. (6 hours)
> Grind the rice in a mixer/grinder along with the coconut.
> Grind it into a smooth batter. (Runny)
> Allow it to ferment by keeping it aside for 5 to 6 hours. (for a hint of sourness)
> Add salt per taste to the batter.
> Heat a tava and smear oil on it.
> Now take some batter in a ladle and spread it on the tava.
> Oil from the sides, cover with a lid and allow it to cook. (As this is a thinner version, covering is mandatory to keep it soft)
> Cook on both sides by flipping.
> Once done, serve it with a tangy side dish and a dollop of butter.

Tips :
> Don't have enough time to ferment ? Add lemon juice or sour curds.
> Don't have enough soak time ? Add hot water while soaking.
> Want Neer Dosa ? Replace the Idly rice with Raw rice and grind it (Watery). Instead of spreading it with a ladle, pour the batter on the tava and shake it to spread the batter.

Taste Enhancer : In Kerala, Murungai ilai (Leaves from the drumstick tree) is added to the batter, to enhance the taste. You may add any leafy vegetable (methi leaves / fenugreek leaves, spinach).

Try this dish, enjoy and do let me know as how you felt !