View source for Pesaha appam

{{Short description|Indian rice cake}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox prepared food
| name            = Pesaha appam
| image           = Pesaha at Payyappilly's (cropped).jpg
| caption         = Pesaha appam and Pesaha milk made during [[Holy Week]] by [[Christians]] of [[Kerala]], [[India]].
| alternate_name  = Kurishappam
| creator         = 
| course          = 
| served          = Dinner<ref name="nasranifoundation"/>
| main_ingredient = Rice batter
| variations      =  [[Palappam]] (fermented bread for festivities and other days)
| calories        = 
| other           = Cultural cuisine of the [[Nasrani (India)|Nasrani]]
}}
[[File:Knajewfood.jpg|thumb|Pesaha Appam of another variant.]]
'''Pesaha appam''' or '''Kurisappam'''<ref name="nasranifoundation">{{cite web |title=Pesaha of Mar Thoma Nasranis |url=http://www.nasranifoundation.org/articles/pesaha.html |website=Nasrani Foundation |access-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417200005/http://www.nasranifoundation.org/articles/pesaha.html |archive-date=17 April 2019}}</ref> is a firm rice cake made by the Christians of [[Kerala]], [[India]], to be served on the night of [[Maundy Thursday]] (Pesaha).<ref name="nasranifoundation"/> It is made from rice batter like [[Appam|palappam]],<ref name=Amprayil>{{cite web |last=Amprayil |first=Kuruvilla Cherian |title=Kerala Nazranee Pesaha Receipes{{sic |nolink=yes}} |url=http://nasrani.net/2008/03/16/kerala-nazranee-pesaha-receipes/ |date=16 March 2008 |publisher=Nasrani Syrian Christians Network |access-date=22 August 2009}}</ref> but is not fermented with yeast in its preparation.<ref name="Manorama"/>  A cross is made using the palm leaves from [[Palm Sunday]], and placed in the middle of the batter.<ref name="Manorama">{{cite web |title=Pesaha Appam and pal, the toast of Holy Thursday |url=https://food.manoramaonline.com/food/foodie/pesaha-appam-paal-maundy-thursday-special-unleavened-bread.html |website=Manorama |access-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417194702/https://food.manoramaonline.com/food/foodie/pesaha-appam-paal-maundy-thursday-special-unleavened-bread.html |archive-date=17 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="Mathrubhumi">{{cite web |title=Pesaha Appam |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/food/kerala-food/pesaha-appam-english-news-1.902439 |website=Mathrubhumi |access-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417194736/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/food/kerala-food/pesaha-appam-english-news-1.902439 |archive-date=17 April 2019}}</ref>

==Background==
The Pesaha celebration of Christians falls on Western [[Maundy Thursday]] and lasts for a single day.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nagarajan|first=Saraswathy|date=2021-03-30|title='Pesaha' appam is a must on Maundy Thursday in many Christian households in Kerala|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/food/the-tradition-of-making-pesaha-appam-on-maundy-thursday-in-christian-households-of-kerala/article34198692.ece|access-date=2021-06-21|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Waring|first=Olivia|date=2018-03-29|title=What is Pesaha Appam and why is it eaten on Maundy Thursday?|url=https://metro.co.uk/2018/03/29/pesaha-appam-eaten-maundy-thursday-7425280/|access-date=2021-06-21|website=Metro|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=പെസഹാ അപ്പം വീട്ടില്‍ തയ്യാറാക്കാം|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/food/recipies/kerala/pesaha-appam-recipe-kerala-1.5562214|access-date=2021-06-21|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203331/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/food/recipies/kerala/pesaha-appam-recipe-kerala-1.5562214|url-status=dead}}</ref> Traditionally, Pesaha appam is served in a ceremonial manner at night in Christian households across Kerala.<ref name="Koder"/> The senior male of the family cuts the appam, dips it in paalukurukku (syrup) or Pesaha pal (coconut milk), and serves it to the other family members.<ref name=Amprayil/><ref name="Koder"/> The brown palkurukku is made mainly using [[jaggery]] and [[coconut milk]]. The meal also includes small banana variants in Kerala such as poovan pazham or njalipoovan pazham.<ref name="nasranifoundation"/> Some families{{Who|date=June 2021}} have the custom of singing traditional [[Saint Thomas Christian music|Kerala Nasrani Christian songs]] during this meal.<ref name= "Choondal">Chummar Choondal (1983) Christian folk songs, Kerala Folklore Academy pp 33-64</ref>

The Pesaha appam is said to have been derived from traditional [[Judaism|Jewish]] [[Matzah|matza]].<ref name="Menachery">[[George Menachery|Menachery, G.]], ed. (1973) The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, B. N. K. Press, vol. 2, {{ISBN|81-87132-06-X}}, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568; B. N. K. Press</ref><ref name="Menachery1">Menachery, G. (ed.) (1982) The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, B. N. K. Press, vol. 1;</ref><ref name="Menachery2">Menachery, G. (ed.) (1998) The Indian Church History Classics, Vol. I, The Nazranies, Ollur, 1998. {{ISBN|81-87133-05-8}}.</ref><ref name="Podipara">Podipara, Placid J. (1970) The Thomas Christians. London: Darton, Longman and Todd, 1970. (is a readable and exhaustive study of the St. Thomas Christians.)</ref><ref name="Lbrown">Leslie Brown, (1956) The Indian Christians of St. Thomas. An Account of the Ancient Syrian Church of Malabar, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1956, 1982 (repr.)</ref><ref name="Puthiakunnel">Thomas Puthiakunnel, (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, ed. George Menachery, Vol. II. Trichur.</ref><ref name="Koder">Koder S. "History of the Jews of Kerala". The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of Indial ed. G. Menachery, 1973.</ref><ref name="VPillai">T. K. Velu Pillai, (1940) The Travancore State Manual; 4 volumes; Trivandrum)</ref>{{Excessive citations inline|date=January 2025}} Like matza, it is prepared without yeast.

==See also==
* [[List of Indian breads]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category inline|Pesaha Appam}}
{{portal|right=yes|Food}}{{clear|left}}
{{Pancakes}}
{{Indian Dishes}}
{{bread}}

[[Category:Pancakes]]
[[Category:Fermented foods]]
[[Category:Saint Thomas Christians]]
[[Category:Indian breads]]
[[Category:Kerala cuisine]]
[[Category:Easter bread]]