Jackfruit Ragi Ilaiyappam(Ilai Adai)

Hi frnz..Today's recipe is a popular Kerala, Kanyakumari dish..It is Ilaiyappam..Ilaiyappam is my all tym favourite, n usually steamed with Cheelanthi leaves n hence the name, Appam made in Ilai(leaves)..We can make it with banana leaves too..Some call it as Ilai Adai..Though Ilai Adai is very famous all over Tamilnadu too, the one made with Jackfruit stuffing is popular only in Kerala n Kanyakumari..I have made a minor twist to the recipe by making it with Ragi flour instead of the rice flour(Idiyappam flour)..It was a hit today in my family n tasted great lyk the rice flour Ilaiyappam..Definitely try this n give me ur feedback frnz..Now, let's move on to the recipe..

RECIPE:

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Preparation Time: 40 mins

Cooking Time: 1 hr

Serves: 12-13 Appam

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INGREDIENTS: [1 cup=240 ml]

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For stuffing:

Jackfruit - 1.5 cups (fine chopped)

Grated Coconut - 1 handful

Crushed Jaggery - 1/4 cup

Cardamom - 3 (crushed)

Ghee - 4 tsp

Water - 1/2 cup

For dough:

Ragi flour - 1 3/4 to 2 cups(See notes)

Salt - as req.

Gingelly oil - 2 tsp

Boiling hot water - 2 cups approx.

For appam:

Banana leaves - 12 or 13 medium sized pieces
Ghee - for greasing

WATCH HOW TO MAKE THE RECIPE:

METHOD:

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For stuffing:

1. In a vessel, pour 3 tsp of ghee, add in the jackfruit, 1/4 cup water, and cook for 5 mins in simmer stirring often. You can close the lid too while cooking.

2. Add the remaining 1/4 cup water, and again cook for 5 mins.

3. When the jackfruit is almost cooked, add the crushed jaggery.

4. When the jaggery has been completely dissolved, add the grated coconut and stir for a minute. Add 1 more tsp of ghee to avoid burning.

5. Finally, add the crushed cardamom, cook for a minute, and switch off the stove. Stuffing is ready.

For dough:

1. Keep boiling the water in a vessel without switching off the stove.

2. Meanwhile, in a bowl, add the Ragi flour, salt, gingelly oil, and mix a little.

3. Add the boiling water little by little to the bowl, and mix very well until a perfect dough is formed. Need not use the whole quantity of water, I used a little less than 2 cups.

4. Now, take the banana leaves and cut into several pieces.

5. Next, take a piece of banana leaf and apply little ghee on it.

6. Make a small ball from the dough and spread it very thinly on the banana leaf piece.

7. Take a lemon sized stuffing and place it on the dough, and starting from the centre, seal on all the sides of the appam. See my video above for clear understanding. Likewise make all the appams with the stuffing.

8. Steam the appams in an idly pot in high flame for about 10 mins. That's it!!

Your super healthy n very tasty Jackfruit Ragi Ilaiyappam is ready to be served!! Njjoy as a snacks or for breakfast!!

NOTE:

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1. I used 2 cups of Ragi flour, but got a little dough as leftover, and the stuffing was over. So, you can use a little less flour, or use less stuffing while making Appam..

2. The same recipe can be made with rice flour (Idiyappam) too.

3. Try to get Cheelanthi(Poovarasan leaves)leaves, if not banana leaves can be used.

4. While making Appam, grease your hand with ghee often so that the dough doesn't stick to your fingers.

5. You can also cook jaggery first with water, strain it, and then use it for cooking jackfruit. This step can be followed if your jaggery contains impurities.