Malabar Cuisine
The distinctive cuisines of the south Indian state of Kerala encompass an interesting combination of vegetables, meats and seafood flavored with a variety of spices, and cooked, almost always, in coconut milk. The northern parts of Kerala specialize in Malabar Cuisine, which is noted for its liberal use of a wide variety of spices.
In the ancient past, voyagers from Greece, Italy, China, France and Africa came to the spice coast of Malabar in southwest India. Malabar cuisine, with its enchanting array of fish and meat delicacies, is a wonderful reminder of the foreign influence on India's southwest coast. The long stretch of coastline and the rich marine life ensure that seafood, coconut and spices are an integral part of Malabar cuisine.
The cuisine of Malabar, also referred as 'Mappila cuisine', boasts of a distinct flavor and taste that has been influenced by the Arabs as well as by the locally available spices, products and culinary traditions. Traditional Malabar cuisine is spicy, characterized by the regular use of spices like black pepper, clove, cardamom, and almost always, cooked in fragrant coconut oil.
The most famous dish of Malabar Cuisine is the 'Malabar Biryani' - introduced in India by the Arab Seafarers. 'Biryani' is a 'Moghul' dish comprising a rich rice preparation, cooked with meat, onions, chilies and other spices. The mutton is cooked tender, the rice flaky and delicately spiced with the right blend of seasonings, to leave a lingering taste in the mouth. The Malabar Muslims are believed to have a distinct culinary culture, bearing a strong influence of Arab, Moghul and local Kerala cuisine.
The mildly flavored and gently cooked Malabar cuisine is also famous for its variety of pancakes and steamed rice cakes made from pounded rice. 'Pathiri' is a popular pancake made of rice flour. Some other mouthwatering Malabar dishes include Thoran, Appam, Avial etc.
'Meen Pathiri' (Steamed Rice Flour Pie with Fish), 'Adaku Pathiri' (Layered Rice and Egg), 'Kohzi Curry' (Chicken Curry) and 'Alsa' - a traditional Arabic delicacy made of wheat, meat (or chicken) and salt, are some of the well known dishes of Malabar cuisine which are worth a try while on Kerala Tour.
Some of the exotic recipes of Malabar Cuisine include the 'Beef/Erachi Varatiyathu' - a flavored meat preparation with very little gravy, and 'Aadu Porichathu' - whole roasted goat stuffed with chickens, which are further stuffed with eggs!
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