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If you love experimenting in the kitchen, you may have come across a paniyaram pan. Although it is mostly used for making the South Indian delicacy called paniyaram, this simple pan can be put to so many more uses than you would imagine. Small, easy to use, and wonderful to work with, it does make breakfast preparation much easier and fun, especially if you crave something tasty and do not want too much of a hassle.
The paniyaram pan is also referred to as an appe pan and offers a great way to prepare small portions evenly through small round indentations. Best used for minimizing oil usage while still yielding crispy, perfectly cooked snacks, it is very convenient to add to any kitchen. The appe pan is pretty cool, it can prepare loads of healthy snacks in no time, to say the least.
While paniyaram might be the first dish that comes to mind, this pan is so versatile that you can use it to cook a wide variety of snacks, both savoury and sweet. Savoury and sweet, crunchy fritters to decadent desserts, here are six innovative snacks you can prepare in a paniyaram pan that go beyond the usual fare.
Vegetable Fritters
Probably, one of the most enjoyed uses of a paniyaram pan is to prepare vegetable fritters. Enjoy onion pakoras to mixed vegetable fritters with minimum use of oil by using the paniyaram pan. Mix gram flour, spices, chopped onions, carrots, or bell peppers together to prepare a mix. Pour into the greased paniyaram moulds and let it turn golden brown in the pan. Keep roatating for even cooking and you can enjoy crispy and soft fritters for a perfect healthy snack.
Stuffed Potato Balls
Another interesting snack that can be made in a paniyaram pan is stuffed potato balls. Here, boiled and mashed potatoes seasoned with spices are used to stuff a mixture of peas or paneer. These are shaped into balls, placed in the cavities of the pan, and cooked with a drizzle of oil. This creates golden-brown, bite-sized delights that are perfectly crispy on the outside and creamy inside. These are great for serving as appetisers or tea-time snacks.
Mini Uttapam
Mini uttapams is also something you can prepare in paniyaram pan. It's just mini-sized pancakes prepared with the fermented dosa batter. Juts top them with lots of finely chopped veggies like onions, tomatoes, and green chilies. Mini uttapams thus become a healthy breakfast option to be consumed with chutney or sambar. The paniyaram pan ensures they cook evenly with a soft and spongy texture inside and don’t let you disappoint in taste.
Sweet Banana Appe
For a sweet treat, try making banana appes. These little morsels are made by mixing mashed bananas and jaggery with coconut powder and a hint of cardamom powder into a thick batter. Pour the batter in the paniyaram pan and create golden, caramelised banana appes, perfect for a quick dessert or an afternoon snack. Also great for kids' lunchboxes.
Cheesy Bread Balls
If you have a paniyaram pan, then it's no big deal to get crispy cheesy bread balls. All you need is some bread slices, grated cheese, and regular spices. Roll the bread and cheese mixture into small balls, place them in the pan with a little oil, and cook till they get golden and crispy. The cheese will melt inside, making for a gooey cheesy centre and nice crispy exterior. These bread balls are great for parties or evening snacks.
Mini Falafel
You can even make mini falafel in a paniyaram pan! Soak chickpeas overnight, grind them with spices, garlic, and herbs, and shape the mixture into small balls. When cooked in the paniyaram pan, they turn out perfectly round, crunchy, and less oily. The mini falafels are a good source of protein, making them a great snack item and when served along with hummus or yoghurt dip, they turn out to be quite a healthy snack.
