My Special Uttapam Recipe with a Twist

Hello hive families,
For this week’s Creative Sunday, I’m excited to share one of my favorite South Indian dishes – Uttapam, but with my own special twist. South Indian cuisine holds a special place in my heart, and among the many dishes I love, Uttapam is my absolute favorite. While I also enjoy dishes like dosa, idli, appe, rasam, and sambhar, Uttapam stands out because it’s not just delicious but also incredibly healthy, packed with vegetables.

I remember the unique rice cake made by my South Indian neighbor, crafted with ground rice and sugar. Though I can’t recall its exact name, it was a delicacy I cherished. But today, I’ll focus on sharing the recipe of my beloved Uttapam, a dish that’s as colorful as it is flavorful, thanks to the variety of vegetables added. While traditional Uttapam is already delicious, I added a few extra ingredients that gave it a completely new flavor, and my kids absolutely loved it!
Ingredients:

1 cup dosa batter (store-bought or homemade)

1 onion, finely chopped

1 tomato, finely chopped

1 small capsicum, finely chopped

1 carrot

1 small beetroot

1" paneer slice

1 cube cheese

Fresh coriander leaves, chopped

Oregano

Twist ingredients:

Black pepper, to taste

Oregano, to taste

chilly flakes

Grated cheese (any kind you like)

Salt, to taste

Oil or ghee for cooking

Step to Make Uttapam with a Twist:

🌼 Prepare the Batter: Start with your dosa batter, making sure it’s slightly thick. If homemade, allow it to ferment for that perfect tang.

🌼 Heat the Pan: Preheat a non-stick pan or tawa on medium heat and lightly grease it with oil or ghee.

🌼 Pour the Batter: Pour a ladleful of batter onto the pan, spreading it gently into a thick, round shape like a small pancake.

🌼Add Veggies: Sprinkle the chopped onions, tomatoes, capsicum, grated carrot, beetroot and coriander on top of the batter. This makes the base colorful and nutritious.

🌼Add paneer cube

🌼 Add the Twist: Now for the fun part! Sprinkle black pepper and oregano over the veggies, and finally top it off with grated cheese. The combination of these flavors gives a delicious fusion taste.

🌼 Cook the Uttapam: Drizzle a bit of oil or ghee around the edges and cook on medium heat until the base turns golden and crispy. Once the cheese melts and the veggies are softened, flip the Uttapam gently and cook the other side for another 2-3 minutes.

🌼 Serve; Once cooked to perfection, serve your Uttapam hot and enjoy your South Indian pizza.

The addition of black pepper, oregano and cheese gave the traditional Uttapam a fun and flavorful twist. The spicy kick from the Schezwan sauce, combined with the creaminess of the melted cheese and the herbs, made it feel like a mix of South Indian and fusion pizza. My kids were thrilled with the new taste, and it’s now one of their favorite versions of Uttapam.

I hope you’ll give this recipe a try and enjoy this creative twist on a classic South Indian dish!