Syrian Christian Cuisine

The south Indian state of Kerala entices visitors with a bouquet of cuisines to offer, ranging from traditional Hindu food, to Malabar Muslim delicacies and the exotic Kerala Syrian Christian cuisine. Each of these distinctive cuisines encompasses an interesting combination of vegetables, meats and seafood flavored with a variety of spices, and characterized by the use of coconut.

Kerala Syrian Christian Cuisine is essentially the name given to the distinctive culinary art of the Syrian Christians, who live in large numbers in districts like Kottayam and Pala in Kerala. A gourmet's delight, this cuisine is noted for offering some delectable meat preparations such as lamb stew and 'piralen' - a stir-fried meat marinated in vinegar and spices.

The most favored dish of the Kerala Syrian Christians (or Saint Thomas Christians) is the 'stew'. It is made by bringing chicken and potatoes to a slow boil in a creamy white sauce seasoned with black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, green chilies, lime juice, shallots and coconut milk. These appetizing stews are generally made with chicken, lamb or duck.

Some other popular delicacies of Kerala Syrian Christian Cuisine include 'meat thoran' - dry curry with shredded coconut, 'fiery vindaloos', sardine and duck curries, and 'Meen Molee' - spicy stewed fish. This stew is generally eaten with 'Appam', which is a rice flour pancake with soft, thick white spongy centers and thin, golden, crisp lace-like edges. Other well known preparations are beef cutlets with 'sallas' (a salad made of finely cut onions, green chilies and vinegar) and 'peera pattichathu' (a dry fish dish of grated coconut).

Don't miss trying 'Meen vevichathu' - a famous fish preparation, cooked in fiery red chilly sauce, and Duck Roast while sampling Kerala Syrian Christian Cuisine. One of the exotic items of the Christain cuisine in Kerala is 'erachi orlarthiathu' or red meat. Beef (or lamb) is boiled with roasted red chilies, cloves, onions, cumin seeds, garlic, ginger, fried coconut chips and a little vinegar. When the water gets reduced, the meat is almost fried dry in a little oil that has been flavored with sliced shallots and curry leaves.

Wine is an essential part of Kerala Syrian Christian Cuisine. Another interesting feature of the cuisine is the liberal use of coconut oil, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and coconut milk.

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