Panji Pullu(Ragi) Peechappam | Steamed Finger Millet Recipe

Ragi Peechappam (Steamed finger millet appams) is a healthy guilt free recipe that can be served as breakfast or as snack.'Peechappam' means a sort of pressed appam that is made by pressing the dough balls, making finger indentations.My MIL makes peechappam with rice flour and sugar, and that's how I got familiarized with this snack.Ragi flour (finger millet flour) is a very healthy alternative to rice flour, rich in calcium and iron.I have used jaggery in place of sugar too.My kids loved this snack very much, and I make it quite often.They taste almost similar to kozhukattas but here there is no filling and the filling is added to the flour and made dough, you get a taste of coconut flavour each time you bite through.These are much easier to do than making kozhukatta.Do try & enjoy !!

(PS:Don't judge this snack with the colour and look, they taste delicious.)

Preparation time ~ 15 minutes

Cooking time ~ 15 minutes

Serves ~ 20 peechappam

Author ~ Julie

Ingredients
roasted ragi flour 1.5 cups
grated coconut 1 cup
*grated jaggery /melted jaggery 3/4 of a large cube
cardamom powder 3/4 tsp
cumin powder 1/4 tsp (optional)
warm water 1/2-3/4 cup
salt a pinch

Watch on YouTube -

 

Method

• Roast the ragi flour in a pan for 3–4 mins until the raw smell disappears.Let it cool, then add in grated coconut, jaggery, cardamom powder, cumin powder, salt.Mix well, add in the boiled water like for idiyappam and knead like a dough for 2–3 minutes till you get a firm but smooth dough.Let the dough rest for 5–10 mins.

• In the meantime, add water to the steamer and bring water to boil.Pinch out small lemon size balls and then press the dough in your palms using your fingers to make indentations.Repeat the same step till you finish the dough.
• Place the appams in steamer and steam cook for 6–7 mins on medium flame.The colour changes to deep brown/coffee brown in colour.
• Cool slightly, serve warm with milk !!

NOTES
* I have grated the jaggery and used, as the jaggery that we get here hardly has any impurities.But you can always melt the jaggery, strain the impurities and add.In that case, adjust the water to the dough accordingly. 
* Adding cumin powder is optional, you can omit if you don't like the flavors.

* You can even add cumin seeds instead of roasted cumin powder.

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