Kerala is rightly called God’s Own Country. The verdant beauty of this coastal state rivals the rich and decadent cultural practices followed here. The Hindu, Muslim, and Christian population of the state are almost equally proportioned making the cuisine of Kerala an eclectic mix drawing from local, Arabic, Syrian, and Portuguese cultures. The state is famous for its spice production and these are used liberally in the dishes. And then there is the use of coconuts, rice, and bananas which grow aplenty in the state. Here are 10 of the top dishes you must try when in Kerala –
- Puttu Kadala – Puttu kadala is one of the best loved breakfast items from Kerala. Puttu is rice flour cakes with grated coconut in between, steamed in long cylindrical casts. This amazing dish is served with a side of Kadala or black chickpea curry that is bursting with flavours. Not only is this high on protein, puttu kadala is very high on satiety value and is definitely very delicious.
- Appam & Stew – If you think idli and dosa mark the corner stones of South Indian cuisine, try the combination of the both – appam. Crisp and wafer thin on the sides and fluffed up and dense in the center – the appam is another favourite breakfast dish that is made from rice and lentils. It is served with a rich vegetable stew with lots of steamed vegetables and coconut curry.
- Pineapple Madhura Curry – The one fruit that grows very widely across Kerala is the Pineapple. This fruit is used in a variety of sweet dishes but it is also used in main courses too. The Pineapple Madhura Curry is a sweet and sour curry which is prepared on special occasions and served with steamed rice. Pineapple is cooked with jaggery and a coconut-green chilly based curry.
- Ada Pradhaman – If you are in Kerala during the Onam festivities, there is one rich, creamy sweet dish that is popularly served in homes and restaurants at the best 5 star hotels in Kerala. The Ada Pradhaman is quite like the kheer or payasam served in other states but instead of plain rice, tiny parcels of rice paste cakes are used. The making of these ada is a labourious process but the result is an amazing one. These ada are cooked in sweet jaggery and coconut milk and served with fried cashews.
- Kerala Beef Fry & Malabar Parotta – From the smallest street side shops to the top notch restaurants of Kerala, you will find one item on the menu – the Kerala beef fry. Spiced with curry leaves, cloves, cinnamon, coriander, and chilly and laced with coconut, this is one of the favourite beef dishes to be served in the state and is a classic accompaniment for the fluffy and light Malabar Parotta.
- Meen Moilee – The Meen (fish) moilee is one of the best-loved dishes in the Syrian Christian community of Kerala. The dish is believed to be of Portuguese origin. It is a stew usually prepared with King fish or Pomfert. The marinated fish is cooked in a subtle yet flavourful coconut milk curry with traditional spices. Meen moilee is popularly served in all Kerala Christian festivals and is a great combination with steamed rice.
- Mappila Biryani – The Mappila culture of Kerala is rich and full of colourful ceremonies. One of the favourite dishes that is served in the Islamic households of Kerala is the Mappila Biryani. It is also a popular dish served in the business hotels in Bekal and other popular tourist centres. Fragrant long grained rice and chicken are cooked in robust flavoured indigenous aromatic spices of Kerala. It is usually served with a side of raita.
- Kallummakkaya curry – Like most of the states in the western coast of India, seafood is at the heart of Kerala cuisine. The Kallummakkaya curry is a type of curry made from the freshly caught mussels along the coast. It is cooked in coconut oil. The mussels are marinated in green chillies, ginger-garlic paste, and leaves. The curry is again coconut based but combined with onions, garlic, chillies, and garam masala.
