Image Credits- Sharmin PashaKerala is not only known for its breathtaking natural beauty but also for its rich culinary heritage. Kerala offers a bunch of flavours much like Tamil Nadu. South Indian food appeals to people all over the country.
Appam is like a pancake which is majorly made from rice batter and coconut milk. People mostly have it as breakfast in Kerala. It is usually served with stew, a curry made with vegetables, coconut milk, and at times meat. The appam’s combination with the spicy and savoury stew is unique, flavourful and delicious.
Karimeen Pollichathu which is a primary seafood of Kerala, that consists of a pearl spot fish marinated in spices which are then wrapped in banana leaves, and pan-fried or grilled. The banana leaves impart a subtle aroma to the fish making it’s taste even more appealing. Karimeen Pollichathu is mostly served with steamed rice.
Puttu paired with Kadala curry is another of their famous dishes. Puttu, a cylindrical shaped rice cake, is mostly eaten with kadala curry, a spicy chickpea curry cooked with onions, tomatoes, and spices. The combination of the steamed puttu with the flavorful kadala curry makes for a wholesome meal enjoyed by both locals and visitors.
Fish Moilee, another of their famous seafood items, is a creamy and moderately spiced fish curry. It is made with coconut milk, spices and curry leaves, It is rather lightweight and has a soft aromatic flavour to it. It is typically served with steamed rice or appam.
Erissery is a traditional dish of Kerala consisting mainly of coconut chutney, lentils and majorly pumpkin. It is a blend of different flavours. Erissery is often seasoned with mustard seeds, curry leaves, and dried red chilies adding on to it’s varied flavour. It is commonly served as part of a traditional Kerala meal known as sadya.
Kerala Parotta, also known as Malabar Parotta, is like a layered flatbread. It is usually served with chicken curry, made with a rich blend of home-grown spices. It is a popular dish which people have usually during lunch or during dinner.
Payasam is a traditional Kerala dessert that is enjoyed on special occasions and festivities. It is a sweet dish made of primarily rice, milk, sugar, and is further enhanced with cardamom, saffron, nuts and raisins. Payasam comes in varieties, including palada payasam (made with rice flakes), parippu payasam (made with lentils), and semiya payasam (made with vermicelli).
Kerala’s culinary landscape showcases its diverse food options ranging from sweet to spicy- sure to leave its consumers asking for more and more.
