New Delhi: Kerala, the land of spices, offers a wide variety of flavourful cuisine. Apart from the famous dishes such as Puttu, Appam, Sadya and Dosa, many delicacies are lesser-known. These dishes are deeply rooted to the region and highlight the bold flavours of Kerala. If you love the burst of flavours and like exploring new dishes, these are a must-try on your trip to Kerala.
Chakkara Choru or Jaggery rice is a sweet rice dish that is prepared with coconut and ghee, and is a staple in the tribal regions of Kerala. For those who love meat, Irachi Puttu has a unique twist to the loved steamed rice cake of Kerala, in which layering is done with spiced meat. Apart from this, the lesser-known Mutta Maala and Pinjanathappam, both egg-based dishes, are worth a try.
Some lesser-known delicacies of Kerala
- Kappa and meen curry: Kappa or tapioca is boiled to perfection and is served with spicy fish curry. It is a staple dish in many households in Kerala.
- Puttu and Kadala: Puttu is a type of steamed rice cake that is layered with coconut, and is often served with kadala ( a black chickpea) curry. It is a very famous dish that is often eaten for breakfast.
- Kizhi: This dish is a mixture of spices, meat, which is usually chicken or fish, and vegetables that are wrapped in banana leaves. It is then steamed to cook till perfection. It is a flavourful dish fondly loved by people of Kerala.
- Neyyappam: It is a sweet dish that is prepared from rice flour, jaggery, and coconut, and is often seasoned with cardamom and then deep-fried in ghee. It is made in many households during festivals.
- Sadhya: Dishes in Sadhya, such as Pachadi, which is a yoghurt-based side dish, Kaalan, a curry prepared with yoghurt and vegetables, and Avial, which is a mixed vegetable dish prepared with coconut, are often looked at but are fondly enjoyed by people.
- Thoran: It is a stir-fry that is prepared with a variety such as cabbage, beans, or carrots and coconut. It is often tempered with mustard seeds and curry leaves.
- Paal payasam: It is a traditional rice pudding that is prepared with milk, rice, and sugar. It is flavoured with cardamom and often garnished with cashews and raisins. It is fondly enjoyed by people and is a festive delight.
- Fish moilee: It is a fish curry that is cooked in coconut milk with a blend of spices. It is comparatively less spicy than many other Kerala curries with a creamy texture.
- Kuttanadan duck curry: It is a speciality from the Kuttanad region. This dish is prepared with duck meat and is cooked with a mix of spices. It is often enjoyed with rice or appam.
- Chakka varuthathu: It is prepared from ripe jackfruit that is sliced and fried till they turn crispy. It is a popular snack among local people in the state.
The hidden culinary dishes of Kerala promise to deliver a delightful experience to every food enthusiast. Exploring these unique dishes delivers a deeper liking towards the state’s rich and varied food legacy.