Apam Balik

Apam Balik or turnover pancake is one of the national dessert of Malaysia.Apam means thin cake while balik means back/turn over or turned over in this case.It is supposed to have originated from Chinese influence and is popular throughout the peninsula.It is also known as Marthabak manis in Indonesia.It is a yeasted pancake which is panfried and filled with peanuts,sugar,optionally creamed corn,butter,sesame seeds or whatever you like.These days several yeastless version with baking powder and soda are available.I had got the recipe from here and I have adapted it by making it vegan.There are several versions available though and the yeasted version can be found here.

The recipe I followed was perfectly simple with milk and eggs which I respectively replaced with soymilk and Ener G egg and made it vegan.Instead of Ener G egg replacer,you can even use cornstarch mixed in water or even soy yoghurt or whizzed tofu can be used to replace the egg replacer.

Ingredients:
All Purpose Flour :1 cup
Baking Powder: 1 tsp
Baking Soda: 1 tsp
Sugar: 4 tbsp +/- as per taste

Egg:1 lightly beaten
(I used Ener G egg where 1 egg = 1.5 tsp of Ener G + 3 tbsp of water/soymilk)
Milk/Soymilk: 1 cup

Yellow colouring:2 or drops or 1 big pinch yellow colour powder
Vanilla extract: 1/2 tsp

Filling:
Crushed toasted peanuts: several handfuls. I used honey roasted peanuts
Sugar
Creamed corn, sesame seeds ,bananas etc : optional I did not use

Preparation:

In a bowl mix together the flour,sugar,soda and baking powder.Add to this ,soymilk and EnerG egg and colouring and vanilla and mix well such that there are no lumps in the batter which looks like

Heat a non stick pan (optionally spray/drizzle little oil on it) and pour 2-3 big ladles of batter to it.Gently rotate the pan such that the batter runs to the sides as well.Allow it to cook.After 1 minute or so bubbles may appear on the surface like..

Add crushed peanuts and sugar and it looks like...

When the sides start browning and finish cooking,turn the pancake half over the other and remove from fire .It looks like...

I was under the impression that since only one side is cooked,it may taste a bit raw but no it turned out perfectly cooked and was soft and spongy. Cut into pieces and serve as a delicious dessert.It looks like...

The lovely yet simple Apam balik is onway to IAVW:Malaysian by Vaishali of Holycow.

The pancake were nutty as expected.This is the first time I had used EnerG in a pancake .Those who like sweet panckaes will definitely love this but those who prefer the savoury and vegan version can can be found at Vaishali's HolyCow.