Kalathappam

Dr Roshan Radhakrishnan
22

If you carefully observe the savory dishes showcased in a traditional Onam sadya or even the traditional Malabar cuisine, you will find an abundant use of easily available local products including coconuts, rice, bananas et al.

Thus, it should come as no surprise if I reveal to you that when it comes to making sweet dishes too, the usual suspects once more find their way into our recipes.

Kalathappam is a sweet dish prepared commonly in the Malabar regions of Kerala, especially in Kannur and Thalassery. Think of it as a jaggery based rice cake, if you must.

  • Commonly seen as a tea-time snack, it is quite easy to make. 
  • Key ingredients include rice (or rice flour), coconut flakes, jaggery and shallots. 
  • The dish itself can be prepared using a pressure cooker or a non stick pan.
  • While it may not look amazing at first glance, the real beauty (at last for me) comes when you cut it and you see these wonderfully distinctive 'incomplete striated columns' (for want of a better description!) 
  • Thus, much like how we describe various luxury chocolates, the humble kalathappam too boasts of 'a hard and crunchy exterior and a soft interior.'







Spongy? Juicy? Crunchy? The kalathappam has it all. And it makes for a wonderful tea-time snack. For those who would like to try it out, I'm adding a couple of recipes for the same which I came across online ( here and here ).

Authors note:
All pictures shown above were of a kalathappam made at home by le mom.

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22Comments

Let me know what you think.

  1. Hey doc...You just gave it away at the end. I thought you were a chef, too :)
    I loe this appam. My aunt makes adds pumpkin as well apart from the shallots...Yummy!

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    1. I am the judge of Masterchef Kannur... I eat everything and then hum and haw before finishing my plate... It's a very important role!

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  2. Kalathappam! I believe an Indian colleague made this for the others in my husband's office the other day, and it was delicious! What a coincidence you're writing about it today!!

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    1. It is quite possible it is the same thing :)
      Its meant as a snack more than anything else...

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  3. We love mom's !! It looks very yummy and lovely pictures. I don't have a sweet tooth but even I wouldn't mind a small slice of it.

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    1. small slice... that is the difference between you and me :D
      I don't do anything less than XXL slices :D

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  4. Thanks for the recipe, looks yummy and easy to make. Must try making it :)

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    1. Please do try it out and tell me how it turned out...

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  5. Thanks for sharing this....I had Onam sadya with my friend at office this year...Loved it actually :)

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    1. Glad you enjoyed it... lots more unique dishes where that came from :)

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  6. Roshan, this is my favourite too. It was often on our office party menu when I was working in Kannur. In fact "Sheen Bakery" opposite the Kannur Rly. Station is famous for this delicacy.

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  7. Wow this looks soo yummylicious !

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  8. Now it seems like you wanna make the feeling of jealousy in a vegetarian too!!
    It is so yummy!!
    This is not fair Doc! How can you do this!! :/ :)

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  9. This looks amazing. I will try it soon and will tell you how my tongue felt :D

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  10. My dad's favourite. He can polish off the entire thing in seconds hehe

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    1. hehe... leave me alone with him and a plate of this and a war will start in that case! :D

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  11. Hey man this isn't good. You filled water in my mouth and I am sad because I can't eat this.

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    1. haha,... so sorry pal. When you come over to Kerala, find this dish and enjoy its awesomeness :D

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