Known as the land of spices, Kerala boasts one of the most unique and flavorful cuisines in India. Influenced by the fusion of French, Malabari, and Arabian tastes and a blend of Kerala’s unique spice box, the state is home to various lip-smacking cuisines like the Hindu cuisine, the Moplah cuisine, the Nasrani cuisine, and many more. Here are some of the most famous traditional dishes of Kerala that will take your taste buds on a ride of joy.
Sadya
Source - Hindustan Times
It is the traditional meal served on a plantain leaf. It consists of a wide variety of vegetarian dishes which are sweet, sour, savoury and bitter. The plate includes boiled rice in the centre, salted banana chips and ‘sharkaravaratti’ (banana chips coated in jaggery) on one side.
The range of curries includes ‘puliserry’ (made with curd), ‘eriserry’ (made with pumpkin), ‘aviyal’ (curry made with grated coconut and mixed vegetables), ‘thoran’ (stir-fried vegetables with coconut shreds), pickle, pineapple curry, and a lot more.
Sadya is served as a single course. At the end of the feast, one is served some rice again, which has to be eaten along with rasam, a traditional soup, or with some buttermilk. These are supposed to help with digestion.
After that, payasam, Kerala’s traditional dessert, is served, which marks the end of the Sadya. Most Sadyas consist of 8 different varieties of curries, even though the spread can go up to 28 at a time. People sit cross-legged on floors and relish the traditional taste.
Puttu and Kadala Curry
Source - Sailu's Food
It is the go-to breakfast dish for Keralites. Its rich aroma and easy-to-follow recipe make it a great breakfast option. Puttu is basically a soft rice cake. In a bottle-shaped vessel, the wet rice flour is steamed with grated coconut as the upper layer and lower layer.
This is how the delicious Puttu is made. Kadala curry is made with boiled black chickpeas cooked in a spicy gravy with roasted coconut. Puttu and Kadala Curry form an amazing combination that is a blast of flavors in the mouth.
Ada Pradhaman
Source - Sharmis Passions
It is a traditional dessert made as a part of the Onam, Kerala’s harvest festival, and many other occasions like birthdays, temple festivals, etc.
It is made using ada (rice flour flakes) and coconut milk. The ada is cooked in ghee and jaggery syrup and mixed with coconut milk till it becomes thick and creamy. It is garnished with cashew nuts and raisins, sautéed in ghee. It is mostly eaten with small ripe bananas and pappadam (dough of black gram bean flour that is deep-fried).
Karimeen Pollichathu
Source - Kerala Tourism
It is one of the most popular dishes in Kerala, which has gained a lot of tourist attraction. Pollichathu means ‘roasted in banana leaf.’ The Pearl Spot fish, known as Karimeen, available in the backwaters of Kerala, is fried and coated in special masala.
It is then wrapped in a banana leaf and roasted.The special masala consists of onions, tomatoes, ginger ,garlic and a variety of spices, which leaves the mouth watering. It is famous in the Alappuzha district of Kerala, famous for its backwaters.
Thalassery Biriyani
Source - Slurrp
It is one of the most famous biryanis of Kerala, especially in the Malabar region. What makes it unique is its rice and cooking technique. Thalassery biryani is made with a special rice called Jeerakashala or Kaima rice in contrast to the regular Basmati rice.The dish includes a distinct blend of spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves which gives it a rich aroma. It is cooked using the ‘dum’ method in which the rice and meat are cooked together in a sealed vessel so that the flavors blend nicely.
Pazham Pori
Source - Nish Kitchen
Pazham pori (banana fritters), also known as Ethakka appam in different parts of Kerala, is a traditional snack recipe. Ripe bananas are cut into thin slices, dipped in flour batter, and deep-fried until the color becomes golden brown. It is eaten hot and crisp with a cup of hot tea.Nowadays Pazham pori is paired with beef roast, which brings a spicy twist. It is seen as one of the beloved evening snacks of all the Keralites.
With its distinct blend of spices and different cooking methods, Kerala’s cuisine is a true reflection of the state’s cultural heritage and diverse tastes. If you are a food enthusiast who loves sweet, savory, and spicy tastes, Kerala’s traditional dishes are sure to satisfy your cravings and leave you wanting more.
Written By Irene Elina Eldhose
This article has been authored exclusively by the writer and is being presented on Eat My News, which serves as a platform for the community to voice their perspectives. As an entity, Eat My News cannot be held liable for the content or its accuracy. The views expressed in this article solely pertain to the author or writer. For further queries about the article or its content you can contact on this email address - ireneelinaeldhose@gmail.com
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