Inri appam

INRI APPAM
Saint Thomas Christians from Kerala State in India used to celebrate "Passover" (Pesaha)and make "Passover Bread" (INRI Appam).As the tradition goes, the head of the family cuts the INRI appam and gives it to other members, oldest to youngest, after dipping in paalukurukku. This is done in great reverence and in a pious atmosphere. The way to make this holy bread holy milk as follows:-

Ingredients"'

Rice powder (not roasted) -1 cupor White Rice (Pachari)-1 cup (to grind)urad dal (uzhunnu)-25 gm1/2 coconut ground (medium)pinch of cuminred small onionwhite onionsalt

Directions

Soak the uzhunnu (urad dal) for a few hours. Grind well. Then grind the coconut well, add a pinch of jeera (cumin), the red onion and white onion. Grind white rice or use rice powder. Add everything together with rice powder (Arippodi) or ground rice (Ari mavu) and make a dough of idli maavu consistency.Keep only for 1/2 hour to ferment, to remind the diners of Pesaha.Grease preferably steel plates of medium round shape. Pour batter in one, and make a cross of palm leaf obtained on Palm Sunday on it. Steam till well done.

Make all other appams in the same way but with no cross.

Then make "Paal" to soak the Inri Appam.

Paalukurukku (Paal)

Ingredients

roasted rice powder-1 cupsarkkara (molasses)-1 cupcardamom powdercoconut-1

Directions

Freshly ground coconut tastes best in this recipe. Set aside the coconut milk. You can put the ground coconut in a blender, add some hot water and blend for 30 seconds; this will release the juice easily. 1st milk should be kept separately. Take 2nd and third milk also. These two should equal 1 liter of milk.Put molasses in a saucepan. Add some water and heat well. While boiling, a lather forms. This should be cleaned away. Add cumin and chukku (dried ginger). Now sieve this through a strainer to remove stones and dirt. This liquid form of molasses should be used in your recipes, as all these dirt and stones are dangerous, especially for kids. But be sure to melt it first. The consistency can be achieved by adjusting the amount of water added to it.Combine the 2nd and third milk, molasses syrup and roasted rice powder, and bring to a boil. Stir continuously, otherwise lumps will form.Mix cardamom powder with 1st milk and add it last. Also add a piece of palm leaf. Before it boils, take off the stove.

The making of Inri Appam and Paalukurukku is a traditional thing for St. Thomas Christians of Kerala. This is not a common recipe for cooking- this is a part of a great tradition.