"Everyday Cooking"- Savory 'Black gram/Urad dal' muffins with spring onions/ Baked 'Medu Vadas'/Appe

It is kind of 'funny' to call these muffins.But they kind of are--- baked with leavening agents in a muffin pan and hence 'look' like muffins! I got the motivation to make these from the memories of something my mother made in India, it is called 'Appe'.

The batter was similar to 'Idli' or 'medu vada' batter Black gram/Urad dal paste (rice can be added), chopped onions, cilantro, green chillies etc. But instead of deep frying those, they were cooked in a 'special Appe iron gridle with depressions'. The 'Appe' came out golden brown and crispy on the outside ( kind of 'fried' appearance) , soft inside, fluffy and tasted delicious!!! They were a perfect snack! Loved eating those growing up!

Here is the picture of 'authentic' Appe being cooked-

Picture source: http://shopforhoney.com/showRecipe.asp?rid=51

I obviously do not have a 'Appe Griddle' here in USA and so came up with this version to be made in regular oven, in muffin pans! Try it out! They are delicious!

I did not use 'Rice' in the batter. I used Urad dal/ split black gram and some 'Rava'/ cream of wheat, to make these. I served these up with 'Coconut-Cilantro' chutney.But you can also serve it with Ketchup/ Hot and sweet sauce etc

Ingredients:

1cup Urad dal paste (Soak urad dal for 5-6 hrs. Grind with no or minimal water)

1/4cup Rava/Cream of wheat

1/4cup sour yogurt

1tsp lemoin juice

2tbsp spring onions chopped
1/4cup onion finely chopped

1/2tsp ginger paste

1/2tsp green chilies finely chopped

1/2tsp cumin seeds

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

salt

oil

For Coconut Chutney:

1/2cup fresh/frozen ground coconut

2 tsp roasted chana dalia

1/4 cup cilantro

1-2 green chilies

1 clove garlic

1/4tsp ginger

salt

sugar

water

oil, mustard,cumin,curry leaves for tempering.

1) Grind together coconut,chana dalia, garlic, ginger, cilantro, salt, sugar.

2) Heat 1tsp oil, add mustard, cumin, curry leaves, let it splutter.Add to the ground chutney.

For "Appe':

1) Mix together Urad dal paste, rava, onions, chilies, cumin, yogurt.Blend well.Keep aside for 10 mins

2) Preheat oven to 350 F.

3) Oil muffin pans liberally.The 'Appe' tend to stick as Urad dal is pretty sticky.So either use oil liberally or use non stick muffin pans. Oil also helps to give 'crisp' texture and 'fried' golden brown color.

4) Add lemon juice, baking powder, baking soda to the urad-rava batter.Mix only till well blended.

5) Immediately pour 2 tbsp batter into oiled muffin pans.Drizzle few drops of oil on the sides of the batter as well.Bake in the oven for 25 mins.

6) Turn up the heat to 425F. Bake for another 5-10 mins until the 'muffins/appe' look golden brown and cooked from within(check with a tooth pick).

7) Take out from the oven, let them sit for 10 mins.

8) Remove from the muffin pan

9) Serve warm with Coconut chutney/Ketchup.

                               Bite into the crisp- savory- golden brown muffin with soft- fluffy inside!