Yereyappa or fried appam is a very traditional sweet which is prepared for Saraswathi Pooja, during the Navaratri festival.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup rice
• 2 TBSP Thick Avalakki / Poha
• ¼ cup fresh / frozen coconut
• 4 cardamom
• 3 to 4 TBSP jaggery powder
• 1 to 2 TBSP water
• Oil to fry (around 1½ cup)

Yields 10 yereyappas.

Method:

1. Wash and soak the rice and avalakki (poha) in 1½ cup water, for 3 to 4 hours.
2. Drain the water and grind all the ingredients in a mixer to a fine paste. Add water to get the required consistency. It should be similar to an idli batter (thick and runny).
3. Now heat the oil in a pan.
4. Once it is hot enough, add spoonful of batter to it. (Put 3 to 4 spoons at once)
5. Fry until it turns golden brown, and remove it. Place it onto a paper towel, in order to drain any extra oil.
6. Repeat the same procedure for the remaining batter.

Variation: While grinding add a small banana, It gives a different taste to Yereyappa.