Vattayappam / Steamed Kerala Rice Bread

Vattayappam is basically a soft  Rice Bread made with Rice and Coconut.I can say this is a traditional recipe followed all year around in almost all Christian homes of Kerala including mine.

Raw white rice – 2 cups
Grated fresh coconut – 1 cup
Sugar – ¾ cup
Cooked Rice ( Preferably Rose matta- Optional) - ½ cup
Yeast – 1 teaspoon
Water – ½ cup
Cardamom powder – ½ teaspoon (optional)
Salt – a pinch or two
Raisins – for garnishing

Method:

*Soak the white rice in water for about 5-6 hours and drain them
*Grind the rice to a fine paste.

*Take a table spoon of this paste and heat it in medium flame along with bit of water to get a starchy paste called the "kappi".
*Add in the coconut and cooked rice to the grinder and grind them as well

* Prepare Yeast: Add Yeast to luke warm water with a teaspoon sugar and lmix well. let it stand for a minute.  *Transfer to a pot and add sugar and "Kappi", yeast, salt & cardamom powder (if you are using it).The batter should not be very watery; preferably it should have the idly batter consistency.
*Keep this batter over night.
*Check for the sugar and cardamom powder (I prefer w/o cardomom)
*Grease a flat shallow round pan and pour the batter into it half way.(It raises on steaming)
*Garnish it with  raisins or cashew nuts or both. (optional)
*Steam for about 15-20 minutes, take it out from the steamer.Allow it to cool in the pan for about 10 min and loosen the sides with a knife, then gently take it out and cut it into pieces.  (I dint have the patience and cut it immediately so the sides are not even.)