Get your appam fix

DUBAI It’s hard to miss the chef’s antics when you enter Aappa Kadai in Discovery Gardens as he playfully rolls out the batter into the appachettis (a round vessel) in which the restaurant’s signature dish is prepared – appam (rice pancake). Prepared with batter made of rice, yeast, salt and some sugar, this South Indian speciality is a rage even among non-South Indians too.

“It’s all about practice. The batter has to be perfectly done, the vessels have to be rightly tempered. The timing too is crucial as the appams have to kept soft,” the chef explains.

My attention is diverted from the chef as some hot appams finally arrive on my table. Being neutral in taste, they are usually served with a hot and spicy curry. I decide to have a go with the Mango Fish Curry (Dh20).

Firstly, the appams are so soft they simply melt in the mouth. The curry too does wonders on the palate. Tangy from the raw mango slices floating in it, the dish is absolutely finger-licking good, and hard to stop devouring with just one appam. If you are a mango fan, you can relish the pieces – they are soft enough.

I find it hard to pull away from the fish curry – but I am here to taste other dishes as well. So I decide to check out the Chicken Chettinad (Dh17) and Prawns Chettinad (Dh24). Both are dry dishes and make for good starters – I should have sampled them first. However, to relish the appams, I would only recommend a curry to go with it.

In case you are a vegetarian, don’t lose heart as the restaurant has a choice of curries that blend well with the appams.

The vegetable stew for example is for the mild palate – and is usually served in a combo meal with two appams and raita (a yoghurt based dish). Priced just Dh12, extra appams come for just Dh1.50 per piece. For those of you with a penchant for stronger spice, the vegetable curry is a great option.

Aappa Kadai, however, is not just about appams. It also serves a number of cuisines – North Indian, Chinese, a variety of bread including some originating from Sri Lanka.

A new addition to their menu – the Midnight Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani (Dh18) and the Midnight Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani (Dh21) makes for a complete meal in itself. Served with a raita and gravy, the biryani is well done and mildly spiced for the average spice lover. The Midnight Hyderabadi Biryani is available only on weekends (Thursday and Friday) between 7.30pm and 12.30am.

On the whole the restaurant offers a variety of dishes at very economical prices. What’s more, the appams are light, leaving you guilt-free calorie-wise even after a large meal.

Details

Meal for two: Dh30-Dh40

Location: Discovery Gardens

Timings:

Sunday-Wednesday: 11.30 am to 3.30 pm and 6.30 pm to 11.30 pm.

Thursday: 11.30 am to 3.30 pm and 6.30 pm to 12.30 am.

Friday: 1 pm to 4.30 pm and 6.30 pm to 12.30 am.

Saturday: 11.30 am to 4 pm and 6.30 pm to 11.30 pm.

Contact: 04-334 8030 and 04-354 8080