Cuisine of Kerala


The cuisine of Kerala, a state in the south of India, is linked to its history, geography, demography and culture. Kerala cuisine offers a multitude of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes prepared using fish, poultry and red meat with rice a typical accompaniment. Chillies, curry leaves, coconut, mustard seeds, turmeric, tamarind, and asafoetida are all frequently used.
Kerala is known as the "Land of Spices" because it traded spices with Europe as well as with many ancient civilizations with the oldest historical records of the Sumerians from 3000 BCE.

Historical and cultural influences

In addition to historical diversity, cultural influences, particularly the large percentages of Muslims and Christians, have also contributed unique dishes and styles to Kerala cuisine, especially non-vegetarian dishes. The meat eating habits of the people were historically limited by religious taboos. Brahmins eschew non vegetarian items. However, most modern-day Hindus do not observe any dietary taboos, except a few of those belonging to upper castes who do not consume beef or pork. Most Muslims do not eat pork and other items forbidden by Islamic law. Alcohol is available in Kerala in many hotels and over a thousand bars and liquor stores, but state authorities plan to close the vast majority of these outlets in a ten-year plan, beginning in 2014, to combat problem drinking.

Overview

One of the traditional Kerala dishes is vegetarian and is called the Kerala Sadya, which is an elaborate banquet prepared for festivals and ceremonies. A full-course Sadya, which consists of rice with about twenty different accompaniments and desserts is the ceremonial meal of Kerala eaten usually on celebratory occasions including marriages, Onam and Vishu. It is served on a plantain leaf.
Because of its rich trading heritage, over time various indigenous Kerala dishes have been blended with foreign dishes to adapt them to local tastes. Coconuts grow in abundance in Kerala, so grated coconut and coconut milk are commonly used for thickening and flavouring. Kerala's long coastline and numerous rivers have led to a strong fishing industry in the region, making seafood a common part of meals. Rice is grown in abundance along with tapioca. It is the main starch ingredient used in Kerala's food.
Having been a major production area of spices for thousands of years, the region makes frequent use of black pepper, cardamom, clove, ginger, and cinnamon. Kerala also has a variety of breakfast dishes like idli, dosa, appam, idiyappam, puttu, and pathiri.

Hindu cuisine

The vast majority of Kerala's Hindus, except certain communities and ovo-lacto vegetarians, eat fish, chicken and beef. Some communities, on the other hand, are famed for their vegetarian cuisine consisting of milk and dairy-based dishes, especially various varieties of sambar and rasam. In most Kerala households, a typical meal consists of rice, fish, and vegetables. Beef, contrary to the outlook of the remaining Indian society, also plays a prominent role in Kerala cuisine. The meat is featured in Hindu, Christian and Islamic communities of Kerala.

Sadhya

''Erachichor''

Erachichor is a traditional meat-rice dish in Kerala cuisine. Erachichor is cooked in a mud pot, and steamed with a banana leaf covering.

Christian cuisine

Christians especially Mar Thoma Nasranis, of Kerala have their own cuisine. Particularly well-developed are the snacks and savouries of Christians such as "achappam" and "kuzhalappam". A favourite dish of Kerala Christians is "mappas", or chicken stew. For this dish, chicken, potatoes and onions are simmered gently in a creamy white sauce flavoured with black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, green chillies, lime juice, shallots and coconut milk. In Central Kerala this is made only with Beef or lamb, the usage of Chicken in stew is very rare. Lamb and duck can replace chicken in the stew recipe.
Other dishes include piralen, meat thoran, sardine and duck curries, and meen molee. This is eaten with another dish known as appam. Appam, kallappam, or vellayappam are rice flour pancakes which have soft, thick white spongy centres and crisp, lace-like edges. "Meen Mulakittathu" or "Meen vevichathu" is another favourite item.
"Pidi", a type of rice dumplings in thick gravy, is a famous Christian delicacy. "Pidi" is paired best with chicken curry.
In addition to chicken and fish, Christians along with a section of Hindus and all Muslims in Kerala eat red meat. "Irachi ularthiathu" is a beef dish cooked with spices.
Additionally among the Anglo Indian and Latin Communities, they have their own dishes in which we can see a lot of Portuguese influence. Notable ones include Vindaloo which is a beef based red dish made with chillies and Vinegar. It has a goan counterpart with similar name. Vivinga is a coconut cake, made with wheat flour, coconut and spices. Popular across coastal regions of Ernakulam and Alapuzha. The millet and wheat based Lethiri which is similar to Idiyapam is also another major delicacy. Kappa biriyani is another delicacy among the Christians of Central kerala. Mainly among Christians of Coastal Ernakulam and Alapuzha, the black duck curry is one among the popular dishes. It is made with a liberal amount of black pepper and coconut milk with the accompaniment of pieces of big cuts of Duck meat.

Muslim cuisine

or Mappila cuisine is a fascinating blend of traditional Kerala, Persian and Arab food culture. This amazing confluence of culinary cultures is best seen in the preparation of most dishes.

Biriyani made as ‘dum’ tops the list of delicacies. ''Thalassery Biriyani the only version of biriyani in Kerala. Kallummakkaya curry, erachi puttu, parottas, pathiris and ghee rice are some of the other specialties. The characteristic use of spices is the hallmark of Mappila cuisine. spices like black pepper, cardamom and clove are used profusely.

The snacks include unnakkaya, pazham nirachathu, muttamala made of eggs, chattipathiri, a dessert made of flour, like baked, layered chappatis with rich filling, arikadukka and so on