imported>Paul Varkey at 03:18, 31 August 2021

2021-08-31T03:18:12Z

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{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox prepared food
| name = Pesaha appam
| image = Pesaha at Payyappilly's.jpg
| caption = Pesaha appam (unleavened bread) and Pesaha milk made during Passover by [[Saint Thomas Christians|Saint Thomas Syrian Christians]] of [[Kerala]], [[India]].
| alternate_name = Kurishappam
| creator = [[Jewish diaspora]]<ref name="gilmarks">Marks, Gil (2010) Encyclopedia of Jewish Food, John Wiley and sons</ref>
| course =
| served = Dinner<ref name="nasranifoundation"/>
| main_ingredient = Rice batter
| variations = [[Palappam]] (fermented bread for festivities and other days), [[injera]] (Ethiopian yeast risen flatbread), [[lahoh]] (in Yemenite Jewish cuisine)<ref name="gilmarks">Marks, Gil (2010) Encyclopedia of Jewish Food, John Wiley and sons</ref>
| calories =
| other = Cultural cuisine of the [[Nasrani (India)|Nasrani]]<ref name="gilmarks"/> community and [[Malabar Jewish]] community.<ref name="gilmarks"/> It is not prepared on any other day except on Passover. The leftovers are to be finished by the next day and any other left over on the third day if at all is to be burned according to the rules in Leviticus.
}}
[[File:Knajewfood.jpg|thumb|Pesaha Appam of another variant.]]
'''Pesaha appam''' ({{lit|Passover unleavened bread}}) or '''Inriyappam''' 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 the unleavened [[Passover (Christian holiday)|Passover]] bread made by the [[Saint Thomas Christians|Saint Thomas Syrian Christians]] of [[Kerala]], [[India]] to be served on the night of [[Maundy Thursday]].<ref name="nasranifoundation"/> The whitish Pesaha appam is a firm rice cake. It is made from rice batter like [[Appam|palappam]],<ref name=Amprayil>{{cite web |last=Amprayil |first=Kuruvilla Cherian |title=Kerala Nazranee Pesaha Receipes |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 different from palappam in that Pesaha appam is not fermented with yeast in its preparation.<ref name="Manorama"/> The meal also includes small banana variants in Kerala such as poovan pazham or njalipoovan pazham.<ref name="nasranifoundation"/> The brown palkurukku is made mainly using [[jaggery]] and [[coconut milk]]. 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>

Traditionally, Pesaha appam is served in a ceremonial manner on Passover night in Catholic and other Syrian Christian households across Kerala. The head of the family cuts the appam, dips it in paalukurukku (syrup) or Pesaha pal (Passover milk), and serves it to the other family members.<ref name=Amprayil/>

The Pesaha appam is derived from the ancient bread of Jewish tradition.<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> During Passover, the bread is prepared without yeast, in accordance with the commemoration of Pesaha or Passover in the [[Old Testament]]. This unleavened bread is prepared only for Passover, and is called as Pesaha appam, or Passover unleavened bread.

The Pesaha celebration of Saint Thomas Christians falls on Western [[Maundy Thursday]] and lasts for a single day, unlike [[halakha|halakhic]] passover which lasts for 7-8 days.<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}}</ref>

Pesaha pal (passover coconut milk) is served along with Pesaha appam on the night of Passover.<ref name="Koder"/> Some families{{Who|date=June 2021}} have the custom of singing traditional [[Saint Thomas Christian music|Kerala Nasrani Christian songs]] on Passover night.<ref name= "Choondal">Chummar Choondal (1983) Christian folk songs, Kerala Folklore Academy pp 33-64</ref> This tradition of Pesaha appam is observed by the entire Malabar Nasrani people as well as the Malabar [[Cochin Jews]].<ref name="Koder"/>

==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}}
{{Jewish baked goods}}
{{bread}}

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

Pesaha appam - Revision history

imported>Paul Varkey at 03:18, 31 August 2021