Neypathiri / Malabar Special Rice Pancakes

A traditional treat of North Malabar- the Neypathiri / Neypathal. It is a deep fried rice roti which is a common breakfast, evening snack or dinner item at houses in North Kerala. There are different varieties of pathiris like the Ari Pathiri ( for all the health conscious people), Prawn Pathiri, Irachi Pathiri, Chatti/atti pathiri, Tyre Pathiri.. 

Neypathiri

(Printable Recipe)

INGREDIENTS

2 heaped cup rice powder
Fennel - 1 1/2 tbsp+1 1/2 tbsp

Onion - 1

Scraped Coconut- 1 cup loosely packed

3 1/4 cup water

Salt as required (1 tsp app)

METHOD

Measure and place the rice powder in a wide bowl.

Pulse the onion and 1 1/2 tbsp fennel seeds in a mixer 5 times. 

Remove and add it to the rice.

Add the remaining fennel and scraped coconut into the rice mixture.

Add salt to the water.

Pour the water into the rice mixture.

Mix it into a soft dough with your hand.

Divide it into small lemon sized balls.

Rub little oil on your palm and  place each rice ball on your palm and flatten it to form small disc shape pathiris or place it on a piece of banana leaf smear little oil and flatten each ball into discs with your hands. Neypathiris are as thick as three puris kept together.

Heat oil in a kadai and slip the pathiris into the oil.

The pathiris will rise up in the oil and bloat up which is when you need to flip it over.

Fry until it is golden.

Remove from oil and place on paper towels to drain excess oil.

Serve hot with Peas Masala / Chicken stu / Nadan Chicken Curry / Mutton Masala.

Tips: 
I used very fine rice powder. You can also use equal proportions of coarse and fine rice powder.
You just need to crush the fennel. Do not over grind it.
Add shallots instead of onion. 
The dough will be a little squishy. 
The water quantity depends on the rice used. Use as required.