Macadamia Free Vegan Vegetable Uttapam
Uttapam is one of South India's most satisfying comfort foods — thick, savory rice-and-lentil pancakes loaded with fresh vegetables and cooked until golden and slightly crisp at the edges. The batter starts with just idli rice, urad dal, and fenugreek seeds, soaked and then fermented overnight so it develops that signature gentle tang entirely on its own. That slow fermentation is what gives these pancakes their airy lift and complex flavor without any dairy, eggs, or animal products involved. A colorful scatter of tomato, red onion, green bell pepper, and cilantro gets pressed right into the batter before it sets, so every bite is packed with texture and a little heat if you opt for the green chili. The whole thing comes together on a cast iron griddle with just a drizzle of neutral oil, making it a naturally wholesome meal that doesn't rely on any specialty ingredients or hard-to-source items. Serve them hot alongside coconut chutney or a bowl of sambar and you have a meal that feels both deeply nourishing and genuinely exciting to eat.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the batter
- 2 cups idli rice or parboiled rice
- ½ cup urad dal (split black lentils, hulled)
- ¼ tsp fenugreek seeds
- 1 tsp salt
For the toppings
- 1 medium tomato, finely diced
- 1 small red onion, finely diced
- ½ green bell pepper, finely diced
- 1 green chili, finely sliced (optional)
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
For cooking
- 3–4 tbsp neutral oil, divided (for cooking)
For serving
- coconut chutney, for serving (optional)
- sambar, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the idli rice, urad dal, and fenugreek seeds in a large bowl. Cover with cold water by at least 2 inches and soak for 6–8 hours or overnight.
- 2
Drain the soaked rice and lentils, reserving about 1 cup of the soaking water. Transfer to a blender and blend, adding the reserved soaking water a little at a time, until the batter is smooth and pourable — it should be slightly thicker than a crepe batter but thinner than a pancake batter, with a consistency similar to heavy cream. You may need up to 1 cup of water total.
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