Pesaha appam: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 14:17, 21 February 2025

Traditional unleavened bread made by the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala, India

Pesaha appam is a traditional unleavened bread made by the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala, India. It is prepared and consumed during the Passover festival, known locally as "Pesaha". This bread holds significant cultural and religious importance among the Christian communities in Kerala.

Etymology[edit]

The term "Pesaha" is derived from the Aramaic word "Pasha", which means "Passover". The appam is specifically made for the Pesaha meal, which commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples.

Preparation[edit]

Pesaha appam is made using rice flour, coconut milk, and spices. Unlike other types of appam, it is not fermented, which aligns with the tradition of unleavened bread. The preparation involves mixing rice flour with coconut milk and a small amount of urad dal (black gram) paste. The mixture is then steamed to create a soft, dense bread.

Ingredients[edit]

Rice flour
Coconut milk
Urad dal
Salt
Cumin seeds

Method[edit]

1. Soak urad dal and grind it into a fine paste. 2. Mix rice flour with coconut milk to form a batter. 3. Add the urad dal paste, salt, and cumin seeds to the batter. 4. Pour the batter into a greased steaming dish. 5. Steam the mixture until it is cooked through.

Cultural Significance[edit]

Pesaha appam is traditionally prepared on the night of Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday. It is part of the Pesaha meal, which includes a special dip called "Pesaha paal" made from jaggery and coconut milk. The head of the family cuts the appam and distributes it to the family members, symbolizing the breaking of bread by Jesus.

Consumption[edit]

The appam is consumed with Pesaha paal, which is a sweet syrup made from jaggery and coconut milk. This combination is unique to the Pesaha meal and is not typically consumed at other times of the year.

Related pages[edit]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Short description|Traditional unleavened bread from Kerala, India}}
+{{short description|Traditional unleavened bread made by the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala, India}}
-'''Pesaha appam''' is a traditional unleavened bread made by the [[Syrian Christian]] community in the state of [[Kerala]], [[India]]. It is specifically prepared and consumed during the [[Maundy Thursday]] celebrations, which is known as "Pesaha" in the local language. This bread holds significant cultural and religious importance among the [[Saint Thomas Christians]] of Kerala.
+[[File:Pesaha_at_Payyappilly's_(cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Pesaha appam prepared for the Passover meal]]
+'''Pesaha appam''' is a traditional unleavened bread made by the [[Saint Thomas Christians]] of [[Kerala]], [[India]]. It is prepared and consumed during the [[Passover]] festival, known locally as "Pesaha". This bread holds significant cultural and religious importance among the Christian communities in Kerala.
 ==Etymology==
-The term "Pesaha" is derived from the [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]] word "Pasha" or "Pascha," which means [[Passover]]. The bread is thus associated with the [[Passover]] meal, commemorating the [[Last Supper]] of [[Jesus Christ]] with his disciples.
+The term "Pesaha" is derived from the [[Aramaic]] word "Pasha", which means "Passover". The appam is specifically made for the Pesaha meal, which commemorates the [[Last Supper]] of [[Jesus Christ]] with his disciples.
 ==Preparation==
-Pesaha appam is made using a mixture of [[rice flour]], [[coconut milk]], and [[spices]]. The preparation involves the following steps:
+Pesaha appam is made using rice flour, coconut milk, and spices. Unlike other types of [[appam]], it is not fermented, which aligns with the tradition of unleavened bread. The preparation involves mixing rice flour with coconut milk and a small amount of [[urad dal]] (black gram) paste. The mixture is then steamed to create a soft, dense bread.
-# '''Ingredients''': The primary ingredients include rice flour, coconut milk, [[jaggery]], [[cumin]], and [[cardamom]].
+===Ingredients===
-# '''Mixing''': The rice flour is mixed with coconut milk to form a smooth batter. Jaggery is melted and added to the batter along with spices like cumin and cardamom.
+* Rice flour
-# '''Steaming''': The batter is poured into a banana leaf-lined vessel and steamed until it is cooked through.
+* Coconut milk
+* Urad dal
+* Salt
+* Cumin seeds
-[[File:Pesaha Appam.jpg|thumb|right|Pesaha appam served with Pesaha paal]]
+===Method===
+. Soak urad dal and grind it into a fine paste.
+. Mix rice flour with coconut milk to form a batter.
+. Add the urad dal paste, salt, and cumin seeds to the batter.
+. Pour the batter into a greased steaming dish.
+. Steam the mixture until it is cooked through.
 ==Cultural Significance==
-Pesaha appam is not just a culinary tradition but also a religious ritual. It is prepared on the day of Pesaha and is consumed after the evening prayers. The head of the family cuts the bread and distributes it to the family members, symbolizing the breaking of bread by Jesus during the Last Supper.
+Pesaha appam is traditionally prepared on the night of Maundy Thursday, the day before [[Good Friday]]. It is part of the Pesaha meal, which includes a special dip called "Pesaha paal" made from jaggery and coconut milk. The head of the family cuts the appam and distributes it to the family members, symbolizing the breaking of bread by Jesus.
-==Accompaniments==
+==Consumption==
-Pesaha appam is traditionally served with "Pesaha paal," a sweet syrup made from coconut milk and jaggery. This combination is unique to the Pesaha meal and is an integral part of the tradition.
+The appam is consumed with Pesaha paal, which is a sweet syrup made from jaggery and coconut milk. This combination is unique to the Pesaha meal and is not typically consumed at other times of the year.
-==Variations==
+[[File:Knajewfood.jpg|thumb|left|Traditional Pesaha meal setup]]
-While the basic recipe remains the same, variations exist in the addition of spices and the method of preparation. Some families may add [[banana]] or [[cashew nuts]] to the batter for added flavor.
 ==Related pages==
-* [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]]
+* [[Saint Thomas Christians]]
+* [[Passover]]
+* [[Appam]]
 * [[Kerala cuisine]]
-* [[Maundy Thursday]]
-* [[Saint Thomas Christians]]
 [[Category:Indian breads]]
 [[Category:Kerala cuisine]]
 [[Category:Christian cuisine]]
-[[Category:Unleavened breads]]