Uttapam Recipe: How Special It Is?

India is a vast country. Due to its size, it is home to various cultures and traditions. The cultural image is best reflected by the varied cuisine that India possesses within itself. The diversity of the cuisines is also striking. From the non-veg and spicy food of the north to the simple and low spicy food of the south, India is an unforeseen collection of cuisines.

The influence of foreign cultures is also worth noting in Indian cuisine. There are still places across India that has held on to it’s colonial past as their cultures intermixed with the colonial powers and rulers that conquered India.

The Southern part of India has a cuisine that is unique to the rest of India. The staple food of a region is usually the driving force of any cuisine. India, due to it’s large size, has a wide variery of staple food. Thus, there exists the rich diversity.

The Southern part of India likes low quantities of spices as is reflected by one of the most famous recipes, Uttapam recipe. It is one of the most versatile food and has taken on various ingredients as it spread over the subcontinent.

Uttapam is primarily like another South Indian delicacy, Dosa. But Dosas are made to be thinner and crisp while Uttapam is thicker and softer. The batter can take up any topping depending on the wish of the cook. This versatility has enabled it to take up various toppings.

Nutritional Facts of Uttapam recipe

Uttapam Recipe | Image Resource : shutterstock.com

The batter for Uttapam is made using vignamungo and rice in the ratio 1:3. The most common toppings of an Uttapam are tomatoes, onions, chilli, capsicum and coriander. There are other options to be used as topping as well. Grated coconut, beet and carrots are excellent examples of lesser known toppings.

The nutritional value changes with changing toppings. But uttapam generally provides calories in the tune of around 160. It has parts of protein and a considerable concentration of carbohydrates.

The recipe of Uttapam is rather simple and with practice, the preparation may even become convenient. It is a quick and healthy food that people of all ages can afford to make when even in a hurry. The creative cooks among us have the liberty to experiment with its topping and thus add nutrients and favourite ingredients to it.

Why is Uttapam a favourite?

Uttapam offers the feeling of three different dishes in the one. The crunchy outer crust is in close resemblance to the texture of Dosa. The soft inner part is similar to and idli. While the topping choices gives one the feel of pizza. Uttapams are generally eater along with the famous South Indian dal, Sambhar. Whatever maybe your choice of form, Uttapam recipe will tell you they are super easy to make and are versatile when it comes to taste.

Say bye to Pizzas – try the soft and fluffy Uttapams

Eating the same kind of breakfast items like Upma, Idlis, and dosas can become pretty boring and mundane. To break the monotony using the same Dosa batter, one can choose to make a new and a different dish that looks like Dosa but is known as Uttapams. Onion Uttapams almost resemble a Pizza from the European continent and can be made using a lot of vegetables and other ingredients too.

Uttapam Recipe

Uttapam is generally the thicker version of Dosas and is generally made using finely chopped onions that are loaded on the top as the Dosa batter is spread on the Tava. The onions are to be cooked well in order for the flavor to be released completely.

Most of the people would also add chopped coriander, finely chopped chilies as well to make it spicier. The main ingredient used in Uttapams is lentils and rice that is ground into a fine paste and mixed with water until it forms a semi-liquid consistency.

Origin and variety of Uttapams

The origin of this dish is from Southern India, and people from Tamil-Nadu are known to make the best Uttapams. Apart from Tamil-Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra, and Kerala also make Uttapams in different styles. While a few people restrict the toppings to just onions, some of them would also experiment with this Indian Pizza by making toppings with finely diced tomatoes and capsicum.

A few of them would also make use of grated cheese as topping along with the Onions and Capsicum. This would give a completely different taste, and children would generally prefer eating these Uttapams.

The traditional Uttapams are topped with onions and are served hot with a blob of butter to bring out the taste. These days Uttapam recipe has also undergone a lot of changes, yet, in some parts of India, we still get to eat the actual ones.

Reasons for Uttapams popularity

• Recipe for Uttapam is easy to make and can be made using the same batter that is used for making Dosa; hence, there is no separate preparation required.
• It is fluffy, soft, and it is easier to be eaten.
• Tastes extremely delicious because of the onions and the butter.
• Generally, it is one of the main items on the breakfast menu, but most of the people down South would also prefer eating them for dinner as well.
• Since they are loaded with vegetables, they have a great nutritional benefit.
• Eating 2 Onion Uttapams for breakfast can keep you going throughout the day without loss of energy.
• Uttapam recipe is readily available on the internet, and it can be made easily.

This time if your stomach is growling for some Pizza, try your hands on these Indian Pizzas, and we are sure you would ask for more!