Kerala Special Chakka Ilayappam

Kerala Special Ilayappam

Ilayappam is a traditional South Indian Delicacy.  Its made with rice flour with a sweet filling steamed wrapped in leaves. Mostly Jaggery, coconut, cardamom & Jackfruit  are used to make fillings. And leaves with medicinal vaues are used for wrapping the ilayappam...we use Banana leaves, Jackfruit leaves, Indian Bay leaves (Therali), Poriyani ila (Macaranga peltata), Seelanthi leaf (Pacific rosewood) to make ilayappam. All these leaves have medicinal values & a unique aroma which makes this dish much special.

For my ilayappam I used Walnuttree leaves & turmeric leaves. Turmeric leaves are already used in Asian Cuisine, if cooked they smell just like Turmeric. Walnuts leaves has got a special aroma resembling that of Indian Bay leaves. Its been used for making Tea here. I used them for a couple of times by now...happy that I found them😊

There is one more alternative to the recipe. Instead of using Rice flour you can use whole wheat flour (Gothambu maavu). The appam will be more softer than the normal ones.

Instead of using Jackfruit you can also use small bananas .

So here goes my Recipe

Things needed : (For 15 pieces)

Rice flour - 2 cups   

Jaggery - 1/2 cup + 1/2 cup or as per need  

Grated coconut -  1/2 cup

Jackfruit - 1 cup chopped small

Cardamom powder - 2 tsp

Ghee/Oil 

A pinch of salt 

Preparation Method:

1) Preparing Rice Dough:

Take Rice flour in a deep bowl. Add 1 tsp cardamom, a pinch of salt  and 1/2 cup grated Jaggery to it.

Boil water in a vessel. Mix in this water to the Rice mixture. Pay attension to add enough amount of water (not too much or not too less  :)  ). 

Mix uniformly.  Set aside the prepared dough and keep it covered. 

2) Jaggery filling:

Take a bowl. Combine chopped Jackfruits, 1/2 cup Jaggery, 1/2 cup grated coconut & 1 tsp cardamom powder .

3) Leaves : 

Wash & drain the leaves ..here in my case I used Walnutleaves & Turmeric leaves.

 Dry them with a towel. 

Apply some oil to inner greeny side of the leaves using hand

4) Preparing the Appam: 

Take a leaf. Place 2 spoonful dough on the leave and spread the dough evenly using your finger tips.

Place 2 tbsp filling mixture on the flattened dough and spread like in picture.

Fold the leaf  in the middle. Seal the edge sides by pressing the dough.

Do similarly also with other leaves.

Place the leaves on a Steam cooker and steam it for 20 min. until done.