Hoppers (Appam)

About This Recipe

Hoppers are delicate, lacy rice and coconut crepes cooked in a special hopper pan. Often served with vegetable curry or fish. Rooted in the everyday cooking of Sri Lankan Tamil kitchens, Hoppers (Appam) balances technique and tradition: the rice flour is treated with care, drawing on time-honoured ratios that locals have refined across generations. The dish carries an unmistakable sensory signature — aromas that fill the kitchen as it cooks, layered textures that reveal themselves bite by bite, and a depth of flavour that comes from patient seasoning rather than shortcuts. Whether served as a weeknight breakfast or as the centrepiece of a celebratory table, it reflects a regional pantry where local produce, seasoning habits and cooking vessels shape the final result. Home cooks who make this dish often note how forgiving it is once the core method is understood, and how a few small choices — the freshness of the rice flour, the order of additions, the resting time at the end — separate a good version from a memorable one. This recipe walks through those choices so the dish arrives with the character it has on its home turf.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 1.5 cupsrice flour
• 0.5 cupcoconut milk
• 0.5 tspsalt
• 0.25 tspyeast
• 2 tbspoil
• 0.75 cupwater

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare batter

   Mix rice flour, salt, yeast, coconut milk, and water

2. 2

   Ferment

   Let batter sit 2-4 hours until slightly bubbly

3. 3

   Heat hopper pan

   Oil hopper pan and heat over medium-high

4. 4

   Cook

   Pour batter, cover, cook 2-3 minutes until golden

Variations

• •

  Add jaggery for sweet version

• •

  Include chopped herbs

• •

  Vegetarian: replace the main protein with mushrooms, paneer, tofu or hearty beans for a meat-free version.

• •

  Spicier: add fresh chilli, a chilli paste or a pinch of cayenne with the aromatics for a warmer profile.

• •

  Lighter: reduce the fat by a third and use stock in its place — flavour stays intact but the dish feels less rich.

Storage

Best served fresh; store in airtight container for 1 day Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently on the stove over low heat with a splash of water or stock to loosen, or microwave at 60% power covered so it warms without drying. Freezes well for up to 2 months in portioned containers; thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. Dishes built on dairy or fried elements may shift in texture after freezing — refresh with a crisp garnish.

Frequently Asked Questions