Pesaha Appam

Pesaha Appam (Passover unleavened bread) & Pesaha Pal (Passover milk)

The Pesaha Appam (Passover unleavened bread) and Pesaha Pal (Passover drink) from Kerala, South India made during Passover by Saint Thomas Christians (Nasranis)
Creator	Jewish Diaspora [1]
Serving temperature	Served after dinner without any yeast[1]
Main ingredients	Rice batter
Variations	Pal appam (fermented bread for festivities and other days), Injera (Ethiopian yeast risen flatbread), lahoh (לחוח) in Yemenite Jewish Cuisine
Other information	Cultural cuisine of the Nasrani[1] community and Malabar Jewish[1] community. It is not prepared on any other day except on Passover. The left overs 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
Cookbook: Pesaha Appam (Passover unleavened bread) & Pesaha Pal (Passover milk)  Media: Pesaha Appam (Passover unleavened bread) & Pesaha Pal (Passover milk)

Pesaha Appam (പെസഹാ അപ്പം) of another variant.

Pesaha Appam is the unleavened Passover bread made by the Saint Thomas Christians (also known as Syrian Christians or Nasrani) of Kerala, India to be served on Passover night.^[1] It is served on passover night of Maundy Thursday. Pesaha appam is made from rice batter like Palappam,^[2] but it is not fermented with yeast in its preparation.^[1]

Traditionally, Pesaha Appam is served in a ceremonial manner on Passover night in Syrian Christian households. 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.^[2]

The Pesaha Appam is derived from the ancient bread of Jewish tradition.^{[1][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]} During Passover the Saint Thomas Nasrani Christian prepare bread without yeast in accordance with the Jewish commemoration of Pesaha or Passover. This unleavened bread is prepared only for Passover and is called as Pesaha Appam or Passover unleavened bread. This was also followed by the Malabar Yehuden or Malabar Jews of Kerala.^[1]

Pesaha pal (passover coconut milk [חלב קוקוס]) is served along with Pesaha Appam on the night of Passover.^[9] Some families have the custom of singing traditional Kerala Nasrani Christian songs on passover night.^[11] This tradition of Pesaha appam was observed by the entire Nasrani people until Portuguese persecution as well as the Cochin Jews.^[9]

See also

• Passover
• Cochin Jews
• List of Indian breads
• Saint Thomas Christians

References

1. Marks, Gil (2010) Encyclopedia of Jewish Food, John Wiley and sons
2. Amprayil, Kuruvilla Cherian (16 March 2008). "Kerala Nazranee Pesaha Receipes". Nasrani Syrian Christians Network. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
3. Menachery G (1973) The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 81-87132-06-X, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568; B.N.K. Press
4. Menachery G (ed) (1982) The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, B.N.K. Press, vol. 1;
5. Menachery G (ed); (1998) "The Indian Church History Classics", Vol. I, The Nazranies, Ollur, 1998. [ISBN 81-87133-05-8].
6. Podipara, Placid J. (1970) "The Thomas Christians". London: Darton, Longman and Tidd, 1970. (is a readable and exhaustive study of the St. Thomas Christians.)
7. 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.)
8. 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.
9. Koder S. 'History of the Jews of Kerala".The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India, Ed. G. Menachery,1973.
10. T.K Velu Pillai, (1940) "The Travancore State Manual"; 4 volumes; Trivandrum)
11. Chummar Choondal (1983) Christian folk songs, Kerala Folklore Academy pp 33-64

External links

• Pesaha Appam (recipe)