Top Dishes to Try in Kerala: Part One

David — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 23:40:04 +0000

Kerala, in Southern India, is known as “God’s own country” for its glorious beaches and luscious backwaters, but the food is also heavenly. Check out the top dishes to try in Kerala.

There are plenty reasons to visit Kerala, ranging from the pure relaxation possible on the Malabar Coast’s golden beaches to the adventure-fueled madness of a rickshaw challenge adventure rally. However, there may be no better reason than to enjoy the incredible food, of which the top dishes to try in Kerala are just part.

Photo by Augustus Binu

The beauty of Kerala’s cuisine is that — like the region itself — it’s so diverse, with plenty for vegetarians, or lovers of meat and seafood, to enjoy. Expect a lot of coconut, rice, and the flavourful seasoning you would expect from an area known for millennia as the “land of spices”. The region is filled with mouthwatering dishes, far too many to list, and of course there are also many specialties of South India generally that are available there. Here, though, is the first part of our selection of meals that make a trip to Kerala such a culinary treat:

Puttu with Kadala Curry

Photo by John Jackson

Let’s start with breakfast. While masala dosa is very popular in Kerala, it originates in Karnataka so doesn’t make the list. Puttu, though, is a local dish beloved all over the state. It’s delicious, healthy, and simple: it’s a combination of just steamed rice, grated coconut, water and some spice, often cumin. It’s often accompanied by Kadala curry, a thick coconut gravy with spiced black chickpeas. The perfect way to start the day.

Idiyappam with Egg Roast

Photo by Viewfinder18

Idiyappam is a classic breakfast, so it works just as well at dinner. Sometimes known as string hoppers, it consists of steam rice noodles. Along the Malabar coast you’ll find it mixed with sweetened coconut milk. Because of its simplicity idiyappam can be eaten with pretty much any curry, but a classic addition is egg roast. Roasting eggs in think masala gravy is a Kerala classic in its own right, and matches perfectly with this and other dishes.

Appam with Stew

Photo by Devika

Egg Roast is also regularly eaten with appam, a delicious rice pancake that is spongy in the centre and delicately thin around the edges. The beloved dish is an easy selection as one of the top dishes to try in Kerala, delighting locals and tourists alike with its unique texture. It’s most popularly served with stew, commonly chicken soaked in a spicy coconut gravy, though any will do so long as it includes coconut milk!

Sadhya

Photo by Yashima

Sadhya is a way of eating that is at the very heart of food culture in Kerala, when people come together for a feast. A variety of foods are placed on a large banana leaf, while the invited sit cross-legged and eat without cutlery, using only their right hand. There can easily be thirty or more different dishes, mostly vegetarian, with separate courses from starter to dessert. The centerpiece is usually boiled rice, along with a wide variety of curries and side dishes. This is not only one of the top dishes to try in Kerala, attending Sadhya is one of the must-try experiences in Southern India.

The options for a hungry traveler in Kerala are tantalising, and there’s even more to come in Part Two. If these dishes (not to mention the golden sands and gorgeous backwaters) tempt you to visit Kerala, there’s no better way to experience the region that by participating in a Rickshaw Challenge. The Malabar Rampage sets off from Trivandrum, travels up the Malabar coast through Kerala, and finishes in Goa. Your week on a tuk tuk will be full of crazy experiences and stunning beauty, and you’ll have plenty chances to enjoy some of the finest food India has to offer!

Are you crazy enough to come along for the ride? Then join us on the next Rickshaw Challenge. Get a team together and let’s see you at the starting line! If you want to join us in spirit, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagramto keep up with our latest antics.

Essence of India with Samira Nanda

admin — Tue, 27 May 2014 08:07:53 +0000

Join chef Samira Nanda as she travels India in search of the origins of authentic Indian cooking, uncovering culinary secrets and experiencing street cooking.
“Samira Nanda, a New York City chef, mother and journalist leaves busy Manhattan to go back to her roots in India and discover the authentic tastes and flavours its cuisine. In this series of six episodes, she travels through Delhi in her ‘Essence of India’ auto rickshaw, gaining access to some of the most exclusive restaurant kitchens, convincing chefs to part with their secrets, cooks with street cart vendors, wanders into the heart of ancient spice markets and gives the viewers a peek into the rich culinary and cultural heritage of India.
She goes on an exciting curry trail, demystifying some of India’s most popular curries, explores the origin of vegetarian food, delves into decadent Indian desserts and gets a crash course on tandoori cooking. Vibrant, visual and informative, watch Samira as she enthusiastically goes through six fast paced, recipe filled, intoxicating episodes that shake up the traditional concept of the cooking show. It’s a traveling food show, with humour and attitude!”