Kerala cuisine
Kerala’s food culture is mostly dominated by coconut.Kerala’s cuisine is one of the salient features of its culture.The cuisine of Kerala is hot and spicy and the people of Kerala love to experiment with variety of foods.In most of the dishes, people use coconut which adds additional flavor to those dishes.People also use chilies, curry leaves, tamarind in most of their dishes.Generally rice , curry leaves, vegetables for vegetarians and fish for non-vegetarians are the staple food items for the people of Kerala.A variety of desserts also form an internal part of their cuisine.Appam and Puttu are the tasty cakes that are prepared in Kerala.The Nendranga Chips of Kerala, that are made from Banana are famous across the world.The important spices that are used in Kerala cuisine are chili, cumin, dill seed, fennel, fenugreek and garlic.
Traditional Kerala cuisine
From ancient times, people from different cultures and traditions arrive landed in Kerala and due to their distinct cultures and cuisines,their influence also was greatly seen in the cuisine of Kerala.The state cuisine is broadly divided into that of the Syrian Christians, Malbari Muslims, Moplah Muslims and various Hindu communities.Depending on the type of these communities, the cooking style and taste changes.Many varieties of dishes are prepared using rice , vegetables, meat, sea food and few items are prepared using rice flour.Spices are generally used to add flavor to the food items.Meals with multiple items are served on banana leaves that add memorable dining experience.
Food items of Kerala
Kerala food items is not only about recipes, but it also reflects the cultures of different people in Kerala.Hindus in Kerala have a large vegetarian menu and use coconuts in most of their food items.Syrian Christians eat more fish and meat while Muslims prepare delicious bread and biryani.Keralites use coconut oil for cooking which keeps the cuisine distinct from other states.Kerala is famously known as the ‘Land of Spices’ which has attracted many traders and travelers from centuries. Because of the abundant availability of coconuts in Kerala, it is widely used in almost everything- from hot curries to delicious desserts.Unripe mango is also used in some fish and vegetable recipes.Here are some of the top recipes that you must taste when you visit Kerala.
Chemmeem Pollichathu:
Chemmeem Pollichathu
Chemmeem Polichathu is a prawn recipe made from mostly all types of required spices that adds its taste.The prawns are first marinated and washed with turmeric, chilly powder and salt.The pollicha masala is made and once the vegetables are cooked, turmeric, coriander are added and mixed with coconut milk.The marinated prawns are wrapped in a banana leaf and grilled on a hot plate by sauted masala to it and are served.
Fish Mappas:
Fish Mappas
Fish Mappas is the favorite food recipe of Kerala.This is a fish curry cooked with coconut milk and is a perfect combination with appams.As Kerala is full of lakes,fishes are abundant in marine life.Coconut milk adds additional flavor to these Mappas.Fish is marinated for 15 minutes and the fish pieces are heated on a pan until they are half cooked.Then,prepare gravy with the required ingredients and add fish pieces to the gravy.Thick coconut milk is added to the curry by rotating the pan.Put off the flame when the curry starts to boil and the recipe is ready to serve.
Meen Murringakka Curry:
Meen Murringakka curry
Meen Murringakka is a fish curry that comes from the House of Taj in Kerala.This delicious fish curry is made out of tamarind, coconut and drumsticks( famously known as murringakka in Kerala ).The recipe is heated along with onions and red chilies.This recipe is absolutely delicious and is usually served with steamed rice.
Cheera Thoran:
Cheera Thoran
Cheera Thoran with coconut is an everyday side dish with rice for Keralites.In Kerala, cheera is a variety of Spinach that grows in the backyards of their houses.Most popular among them are the red cheera and green cheera.Cheera Thoran tastes very good with hot white rice.Cheera is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.This is also a perfect combination with chapathi.Most of the people use this as a side dish along with meat curries, rice, appams, dosa and malabar paratha.
Kozikode Biryani:
Kozikode Biryani
This is a famous Kerala chicken biryani.Usually,the name biryani itself makes one’s mouth to water.The name biryani is derived from the Iranian word “birian”, which mean fried before cooking.There are many varieties of chicken biryani and is named differently depending on various places.Traditionally Kozikode biryani is made with rice and leg pieces of goat, but now-a-days people are making it with chicken, beef, egg, fish etc.In most of the special occasions, biryani is made in many houses as a special dish.This Kozikode biryani is made around Malabar Area in Kerala.This recipe is made out of rice, huge amount of spices, small amount of chili and one perfectly boiled egg.
Kerala fish curry:
Kerala fish curry
As Kerala is having many lakes, fishes are mostly seen in the Kerala cuisine.Fish curries in Kerala gets extra flavor because of the use of cocoum and coconut milk in their preparation.For preparing this recipe, we need a fleshy white fish and fry it by using onion, tomatoes, garlic, green chilis and coconut paste.This fish tastes great with appam, kappa, puttu, chapathi and rice.
Chicken Stew with Appams:
Chicken Stew with Appams
Chicken Stew is a traditional Kerala recipe usually prepared on sundays.Lightly spiced chicken stew is cooked in coconut milk with vegetables like potatoes and carrots.This chicken stew is mostly served as a breakfast with bread and appams.Appams are thick at the center and like soft paper at the edges.These appams form a tasty combination with any type of recipe.Appams with chicken stew will be a great combination for even breakfast.
Karimeen Pollichattu:
Karimeen Pollichattu
Karimeen is a type of pearl spot fish found in Kerala.This Karimeen Pollichattu is a typical and unique fish curry prepared in Allepey.The fish is marinated with rich spices and then baked in a banana leaf.This is one of the delicious fish recipe of Kerala.Once you eat it, you will always wish to eat it.
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