Karma Kerala Kook Book

Kerala cooking is the most under represented of all India's cooking traditions in the west. You will find few Keralite restaurants in London or Manchester even though Kerala cuisine is arguably the most delicious and diverse of all Indian cooking. This rich tradition springs from Kerala's cultural diversity and the abundance of delicious fresh ingredients all at hand for the cook. 

Food with a cultural flavour

Kerala food is a treat for your taste buds. The wide variety of delicacies makes it very difficult for one to decide what do eat and what not. The list starts from a healthy breakfastwith a high nutritional value to charge you up for the day ahead. Kerala cuisine has a distinct flavour and aroma.

The traditional kerala meal which is called sadhya is served on a banana leaf. The manner in which it is served and its presentation make it a special experience. The rice and curries are served on a bannana leaf in the traditional way,and the dessert also finds its place on the same leafy plate.

The different communities in Kerala have their own special variety of dishes. The Hindus have a wide variety of vegetarian dishes such as sambar, rasam, aviyal, olan, kaalan, pachadi, kichadi, thoran and many more.The Christians and Muslims who are non-vegetarian have special delicacies in sea foods, chicken, mutton etc. The meen pollichathu - a spicy fish in gravy preparation - is a Christian specialty; the fish molee - fish cooked in coconut milk - is also a tasty delight and a part of the Portuguese legacy. Pan cakes and plum cakes also are hot favourites.

The famous Muslim biriyani ( a different version of the paella) is rice layered with meat that has been cooked with onions, chillies and other spices. Kerala food has a distinct flavour because coconut oil is the main medium used for cooking. Coconut milk an essential ingredient in most of the dishes adds a special flavour.

All these make eating in Kerala a unique experience. The natural beauty of Kerala,coupled with the warm hospitality of the people, and the tasty food which varies from simple and homely to spicy and rich is a wonderful combination.An opportunity to taste the tempting Kerala dishes should not be missed.A wide variety of fruits and vegetables are available in Kerala; this makes it easy to find food suitable for children.