Easy Tasty Indian Pancakes
Pancakes are part and parcel of every cuisine. Known by different names, made in different thicknesses and with different ingredients, each region has its signature style, but overall, there is one common feature of all Indian pancakes – they are handy snacks that can be had anytime of the day. They are not exclusively breakfast, dinner or supper recipes. You can just conjure up a pancake anytime you feel the need for a slightly filling snack.
While in continental cuisine, pancakes are made mainly with all-purpose flour (refined flour or maida) and served with honey, sauces or fruity toppings, in India we have a much larger variety. From chilas andpudlas to pankis and dosas, we have a really huge variety of eggless Indian pancake recipes made with different combinations of pulses, cereals, flours and veggies or greens too.
What is a pancake?
A pancake is basically made by spreading some batter on a griddle (tava) and cooking it till done, sometimes soft, sometimes crisp, sometimes a pleasant golden brown. The batter may be a quick-fix made by mixing together flours with milk, curd or water. Or, it could be made by grinding soaked cereals and pulses. Sometimes, the batter may require fermentation as in the case of dosas, but mostly you can cook the Indian pancakes immediately.
Some Indian pancakes like uttappa are thick and spongy while those like chilas are thinner.
Pudlas and chilas are very famous pancakes from Western India, mainly Gujarat and Maharashtra. The main difference between the two is that pudla is smaller, thicker and crispier than chila, so usually in a pudla you will find chopped veggies like onion, tomatoes etc. added to the batter. The most common type of pudlas and chilas is made with a quick-mix batter of besan and spices. It is reasonably filling and has a rich taste, which is characteristic of besan. That said, you can make an endless variety of such eggless Indian pancakes by soaking and grinding pulses, adding greens and veggies, different combinations of spices, etc.
Another very famous, must-try pancake from this region is the rice panki. These are thin pancakes, almost like crepes and are traditionally cooked between banana leaves, which helps to cook them without sticking to each other and also gives a good aroma and taste.
In South India, dosai, adai and uttapam are the most famous pancakes. While there are a few instant variants, which you can cook without any prior planning, most of the traditional varieties require you to soak, grind and often ferment a mix of cereals and pulses.
While Dosa is the all-time favourite in Tamil Nadu, Adai is a popular dish in Kerala cuisine, and in Karnataka cuisine you can enjoy the classic Tousali, a pancake made of rice, coconut and cucumber!
While here and there you will find a couple of Indian pancakes that use eggs, you will be delighted to know that predominantly Indian pancakes are eggless. Indian moms create magic in the kitchen with their staples, quickly mixing flours to make batters, soaking and grinding cereals and pulses to make healthier batters, and often reinforcing the batter with an assortment of veggies and greens for good measure!
Enjoy the rustic taste of Jaggery Pancakes, and give yourself an iron boost too; or start your day with wholesome Mini Jowar Pancakes. Have a satisfying but low-cal Moong Dal and Paneer Chila, or an exciting Banana Sesame Pancake. When the fruit is in season, go for the irresistible Mini Mango Pancakes or the all-season delight, the Crunchy Mini Potato Pancake. Attractive ones like the Green Peas Pancake and stuffed options like the Stuffed Ragi Pancakes are truly awesome options that young and old will love!
You can delight your kids with exotic and innovative options like the Stuffed Carrot Halwa Pancake or the Baked Stuffed Mushroom Pancake.
My Goodness! The list would just go on and on, and the best part is that it does not endwith the options here. The more recipes you try from our website, the more you will get a hang of how to handle the ingredients, and very soon you will be creating your own wondrous Indian pancakes with the ingredients you have. Happy exploring!
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