Kerala Cuisine

Enjoy the delicious Kerala Cuisine

Enjoy the delicious Kerala Cuisine

Spices, Coconut and Seafood Make Kerala Food Unique

Indians in general and Keralites in particular are known for their hospitality. So if you visit a home in Kerala, they will offer you something to eat or drink. Accept it with grace, they will be happy. But it is necessary to know a little about how to eat Kerala food. Simple, use your fingers- That is how Kerala food is eaten. If you are uncomfortable, you could use a spoon. But anyway there are too many dishes for which no cutlery (except your fingers) would do.

Fish

Cuisine of Kerala has a lot to do with Kerala’s geography. Kerala is a narrow strip of tropical land with the majestic mountain ranges of Western Ghats on the east, and the mighty Arabian Sea on the west. The long coast line (more than 650 Kilo Meters) and large number of inland water bodies make fish easily available. So fish is a usual item of the diet of a Keralite. Every possible fish is eaten here.

Spices- Cardamom, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Cloves

Cardamom, nutmeg, pepper, tea and coffee are grown in abundance in the high ranges. At lower elevations spices such as clove, ginger and turmeric are grown. The midlands have paddy fields, tapioca, and variety of vegetables such as yam, gourd, drumstick, etc. You will also notice a huge variety of tropical fruits-banana, jackfruit, mango, pineapple and cashew in Kerala. Coconut palms and paddy fields are common sights in the lowlands.

Rice and Coconut

The easy availability of rice, coconut and spices has influenced the eating habits of Keralites. Rice, the unpolished variety (it is light brown in colour), is the staple Kerala diet.

Coconut finds its place in Kerala food as coconut powder, coconut oil and as coconut milk.

Foreign Influence

The long coast line and the famous ports of Kerala have attracted many a seafarer to this land. Since the beginning of the last millennium, Kerala had trading relations with Arabian countries. Christianity is believed to have reached Kerala coast in AD 52, much before it reached many European countries. Judaism and Islam also came via the sea. Over the years, voyagers from Greece, Italy, China France and Africa came to the spice coast of Malabar. The meat rich cuisine of Kerala is a reminder of their influence.

Christians, Hindus and Muslims

Kerala’s population is roughly equally divided among Christians, Hindus and Muslims. Cuisine of each community has its own flavors. Richly flavored biryani-made of mutton, chicken, egg or fish-are popular among the Muslims. The Arab influence is evident in the rich meat curries and desserts of the Muslim Community.

With the Christians of the southern part of Kerala, Stew, with appam is highly popular. Beef cutlets, chicken roast, fried mutton, beef or pork, meen moilee (a yellow fish curry), meen mulligattathu (a fiery red fish curry), and peera pattichathu (a dry fish dish of grated coconut) are other favorite dishes of Christians. 

Kerala’s cuisine

Spicy Food with Ginger, Black Pepper and Coconut Oil Thanks to its relative isolation from the rest of India and the interaction with foreigners, Kerala’s cuisine is distinct from the rest of India. Kerala’s cuisine is hot and spicy yet healthy. Natural herbs, spices, and coconut are extensively used while oil and sugar are limited. Artificial additives are hardly ever used. Most dishes are flavoured with curry leaves and mustard seeds. Tastes of coconut powder, coconut milk and tamarind would be easily discernable. You are sure to enjoy the sharp pungency of the spices and tamarind. 

Break fast

In Kerala, you get one of finest possible breakfasts in the world. Puttu, Appam, Egg Curry, Kadala Curry, Coconut Chutney, Sambar etc are served for break fast. Puttu is a breakfast speciality made from steamed rice flour. Appam is a pancake made of rice. Various kinds of Appams are made. The pathiri is yet another kind of bread, which may be had sweet or stuffed with meat.

Desserts and Snacks

The most popular sweets are payasams. Pradhaman ranks high among Payasams. Banana Chips is the most favourite snack in Kerala. Chips are made of Yams, Jack fruit, Tapioca etc too.