Appam is a type of pancake made with fermented rice batter and coconut milk. It is a common food in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Appam is also popular in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. It is eaten most frequently for breakfast or dinner. It is considered as a staple diet and a cultural synonym of the Nasranis (also known as Saint Thomas Christians or Syrian Christians) of Kerala. According to Gil Marks, each of the three separate Indian Jewish communities - Cochin, Mumbai, Calcutta - counts in its culinary repertoire grain dishes called appam.
