Kēraḷa Bhakṣaṇaṁ

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Photo of Kēraḷa Bhakṣaṇaṁ by Dipan Bhatt

Kerala has a lot in one state where its own identity Munnar valley which cover its self with tea gardens and where Alleppy have amazing back water town, Thekkady save its culture in its heart and Kovalam beach's sunset can give you peace of mind. I always keep wondering why people called it- “Gods Own Country” but when I find out I got some different answers.

1. According to Hindu mythology, Kerala was created by Lord Parasurama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu by throwing his axe across the sea to create new land for his devotees to live peacefully. So, Kerala is God's own creation, hence it is called God's own country!

2 Every nook and corner in Kerala you will see Hindu temples, Muslim mosques and Christian Churches; and unlike many other parts of India, people live happily without communal riots and great religious tolerance. Hence it is God's own country full of worship places!

3 The ancient Kerala was ruled by benevolent Rakshasa king Mahabali, He was such an exalted person who loved his subjects so dearly, he gave away everything he possessed like a benevolent God! That is why it is called, God’s own country!!

When Lord Vishnu pushed him to patala , he gave a boon to mahabali that he would personally guard him there! But in that process Mahabali left his non benevolent rakshasa subjects in Kerala, whom he visits on ThiruOnam day. That is why it is called Inhabited by Devils own people!

I don’t know which one is right answer but for me Kerala is place where you can get everything this is the place where you can feel you are in nature’s lap. Their traditional activities connect you to the roots of Indian cultures, in this Hi-Tech medical world they are still believe in India’s thousands of years old Ayurveda and their spices are still making the whole world’s food tasty and when we talk about food how can I control myself from the aroma of spices that bring me to kerala and maybe that’s how God has also fallen in love with this place.

1)Kai bajji

Kai Bajji is very common “ANYTIME” snacks in kerala which is also known as Banana Fritters. You can get it anywhere in kerala street area. It has perfect combination of some sweet and masala flavor. Thinly chopped fresh raw banana slices are dipped in spiced gram flour batter and deep-fried and the end result is just yumm !! Local people enjoy this dish with morning tea or filter coffee.

Photo of Kerala, India by Dipan Bhatt

2)Sugiyan

Sugiyan is typically look like batata vada(Potato Fritter) but when you eat it you realize it is totally different from batata vada it’s upper masala layer and inside sweet stuff will blow your mind. Surgiyan made by pulse and jaggery. You can get it anywhere in kerala it is one of the favorite food for breakfast. My personal advice is to try it with filter coffee. Combination of these two items can make your morning.

Photo of Kēraḷa Bhakṣaṇaṁ by Dipan Bhatt

3)Undampori(Wheat Bonda)

Big, dark brown round shaped fritter that can easily catch your eyes from small snacks shops. It’s sweet smell will make your tongue watery. Undampori is also family member of fritters but it is big in size and it’s sponginess make it different from others. Undampori made by wheat flour, banana, jaggery and some other spices. It is a high calorie; heavy on the stomach snack if you are in Munnar you can try it in “Mirchis Foodcourt and Bakery”

Photo of Kēraḷa Bhakṣaṇaṁ by Dipan Bhatt

4)Vermicelli Upma

We all are very familiar with Upma which is very famous dish from south India but when I had Vermicelli Upma It feel like it is Indian version of Hakka noodles but when I have it I swear within seconds my mind was totally blown by the taste of curry leaves and local spices which made it very delicious.

Photo of Kēraḷa Bhakṣaṇaṁ by Dipan Bhatt

5)Idiyappam

Idiyappam is still mystery dish for me when I looked at it I was so confused how to make it but someone told me to try it with kadala curry. you won’t believe but from that moment I fall in love with dish. Now you will ask me what is kadala curry? For that you will have to read my whole blog. Ok ok now back to Idiyappam it is also known as rice noodles. It consists of rice flour pressed into noodles, woven into a flat disc-like shape and steamed. Idiyappam is very common dish in kerala but one of my favorite place is in Fort kochi “Vijya Laxmi Bhavan” where you can get authentic taste of south Indian dishes at very affordable rate.

Photo of Kēraḷa Bhakṣaṇaṁ by Dipan Bhatt

6)Puttu

Puttu is classic traditional dish in kerala. Puttu is served hot with sweet side dishes such as palm sugar or banana, or with curries such as dal, chickpea, mutton, fish or chicken. In Bhatkal, puttu is served with side dishes such as ghee and sugar or Paya. Interesting thing about puttu is that it is cooked in Bamboo. If you are a really foodie you can feel sweetness of bamboo. You can get Puttu as morning breakfast anywhere in kerala

Photo of Kēraḷa Bhakṣaṇaṁ by Dipan Bhatt

7)Banana Pan Cake

You may have tried many types of pan cakes at different places but I am dam sure you didn’t get Amazing Taste like “Kashi Café”, yes if you are in Fort kochi don’t miss this place. Kashi Café is one of the best option for make your morning shine. Combination of Fort kochi’s vintage atmosphere and kasha café’s food fill your body with new energies. Not only Banana pan cake but here you can also try john Abraham omelet and many other healthy dishes and they also serve vegan food.

Photo of Kashi Art Café, Burger Street, Fort Nagar, Fort Kochi, Kochi, Kerala, India by Dipan Bhatt

8)Veg Stew

Vegetable Stew is one of the most popular traditional Kerala recipe made with mixed vegetables and coconut milk. It is served as breakfast (side dish) with Puttu, Idiyappam or Appams. It is also enjoyed with piping hot rice, Parottas or chapatis. As per my experience “Misty lake resort” is one of the best place where you can get authentic taste of veg stew

Photo of Misty Lake Resorts, Sengulam, Anachal, Kerala, India by Dipan Bhatt

9)Kadala Curry

Here is your answer of what is kadala curry? Kadala curry is one of the best option for Vegetarians. People in karala like to have this food with puttu, idiyappam and appam. Kadala curry made by kerala local spices, black chickpeas and coconut. The taste of Kadala curry is little bit spicy. Once again “Misty Lake Resort” is the place where you can get this amazing dish .

Photo of Misty Lake Resorts, Sengulam, Anachal, Kerala, India by Dipan Bhatt

10)Sandhya

Sandhya is one of my favorite dishes from my kerala bucket. If you are planning for kerala trip put this dish first on your wish list. Sandhya is not just a thali but you can say whole kerala in one plate. Anywhere in kerala people serve you in very traditional way. eating on banana leaves surely make you feel connected with the roots of India. I get this amazing experience at “clay oven Hotel” which is on the way from kochi to munnar. This restaurant serves jain, north indian and as well as south Indian dishes in very traditional way.

Photo of Clay Oven, Aluva - Munnar Road, Oonukal, Kerala, India by Dipan Bhatt

11)Kappa Mutta

Kappa Mutta is known as Kappa egg Masala. This dry kappa recipe is a special street food of kerala made with just precooked tapioca pieces and egg. It is just like egg bhurji mix with Tapioca. This dish is one of the best options for healthy breakfast. Actually there are many varieties in Kappa dish you can try Kappa Chicken, Kappa Biriyani, Kappa mutton.

Photo of Kēraḷa Bhakṣaṇaṁ by Dipan Bhatt

12)Karimeen Fish

Karimeen Fry is a famous seafood fry mainly served in the house boats for lunch. This recipe is an exotic dish of Fish fry cooked in Kerala style. The Karimeen fry is a spicy fish fry coated with lively masala. Karimeen is one of the most important fish species in kerala state and is also the state fish of Kerala. Karimeen which is also known as Pearl Spot fish is a freshwater fish available in southern India, especially in back waters of Kerala. It is too hot a delicacy and one of the most expensive fish in Kerala. Having lunch in middle of the big lake where you can only hear water waves and cold air. Peaceful atmosphere one more time fall in love for Kerala and “Pick my house boat” can give you this amazing experience.

Photo of Kēraḷa Bhakṣaṇaṁ by Dipan Bhatt

13)Meen Pollichathu

Meen Pollichathu is a Kerala delicacy found in most of the fine restaurants and also in the house boats that you will find in the backwaters between Kollam and Alleppy (Alappuzha). Meen means fish and pollichathu means burnt/fried. The fish most commonly used in Kerala is the pearl spot fish (karimeen), which is abundantly available in the backwaters. Traditionally in Meen Pollichathu, fish is first fried, then wrapped in banana leaf with a spicy onion masala and is fried / roasted again on a tava to get the fried and burnt flavor of banana leaf. Banana leaf gives a unique flavor to the fish and makes it more appetizing and mouth-watering. “Thakkary Café” is one of the best place where you can get this mouthwatering dish.

Photo of Kēraḷa Bhakṣaṇaṁ by Dipan Bhatt

14) Malabar chicken

Malabar Coast is a region of southwestern shoreline of the mainland Indian subcontinent. Malabar Chicken Curry is a Kerala Style Chicken Curry that is creamy, delicious, and goes well with roti, appam, ghee rice, Kerala parotta, pathiri, or coconut rice. "coffee routes resort” is best place for this dish this resort is cover with aruvedic garden and its wood designed ambiance will relaxes your mind.

Photo of Coffee Routes, Thekkady, Kumily, Kerala, India by Dipan Bhatt

15)Mexican Rice with Octopus fry

If your are truly sea food lover and you want to try something new that make your craziness on next level for food you must try “The Big Bang Café” which is in Kochi. Their specialty in Mexican rice with octopus fry.

Photo of The Big Bang Cafe, Chakkaraparambu, Vennala, Kochi, Kerala, India by Dipan Bhatt

16)Thalassery Biriyani

We have many varieties of biriyanis in India – Mughalai, Awadhi, Sindh, Hyderabadi, Chettinad, Ambur, Malabar, Bengali, Kashmiri, the list will go on. And I love them all! The basic premise is the same. You have rice, meat (red, white, or even seafood), and spices, and they are all brought together in one pot making it a deeply satisfying meal in itself. Thalassery, a small commercial town in the North Kerala district of Kannur, is famous for the celebrated Malabar cuisine. Their world famous Thalassery biriyani is a culinary treat. Fragrant meat in a soulful gravy, and rice cooked with spices are married together by slow cooking again in layers, all absorbing each other’s flavours. Topped up with fried onions, sultana raisins and cashew nuts, I know your tongue start watering. Lol and one again your tongue can get this mind blowing dish in “coffee routes Resort”

Photo of Kēraḷa Bhakṣaṇaṁ by Dipan Bhatt

17)Payasam

Aha…Payasam!! The taste of this dish is still fresh in my mind. I have never tried this kind of amazing sweet dish. It is totally different from all north Indian sweet dish so don’t forget to end your Kerala journey after having this dish. Normally people serve this dish in Sandhya but if you miss it you can get it anywhere at the sweet shop. This pradhaman is a variety of payasam (pudding) made with rice, jaggery, coconut milk and a touch of ghee (clarified butter). It’s topped off with some fried cashew nuts, raisins and coconut chips, and finished off with a dusting of cardamom powder.

Photo of Kēraḷa Bhakṣaṇaṁ by Dipan Bhatt

18)Padimukham water

If you have ever been to a Malayali friend’s house, you may have been served a glass of pink-coloured water with a deep, wooden stick. Ever wondered what it is? The pink-tinted water is actually made by boiling water with shavings of sappanwood or Pathimugam as it is called in Kerala. This water have many benefits some of them I have mentioned below

It has antimicrobial properties

It can curb acne

It is rich in antioxidants

It has anti-allergic properties

It helps against seizures

It is good for the heart

Photo of Kēraḷa Bhakṣaṇaṁ by Dipan Bhatt

19)Dry ginger coffee

Dry Ginger Ayurvedic Coffee (ChukkuKapi) is a spicy and sweet traditional South Indian beverage. A very good remedy for cold, its rich aroma opens nasal blocks and provides relief from throat infections and fever too.

Photo of Kēraḷa Bhakṣaṇaṁ by Dipan Bhatt

20)Cinnamon tea

Cinnamon tea is a comforting warm drink that’s brimming with antioxidants. It’s the perfect recipe to sip on during cold & flu season, or anytime you need to warm up!

Photo of Kēraḷa Bhakṣaṇaṁ by Dipan Bhatt

21)Toddy

Toddy is kerala’s local alcoholic drink which is made from coconuts. But it has another version which known as neera which is good for health and In many parts of India, the unfermented sap is called neera (pathaneer in Tamil Nadu) and is refrigerated, stored and distributed by semi-government agencies. A little lime (calcium hydroxide) is added to the sap to prevent it from fermenting. Neera, similar to fruit-juice products, is relatively rich in potassium.

In India, palm wine or toddy is served as either neera or pathanee

Kerala have so many things to explore my blog is just introduction of Kerala. I want to thank to the people who were connected with me during this journey and made it wonderful memory.

Photo of Kēraḷa Bhakṣaṇaṁ by Dipan Bhatt

Thank You

First of all I want to thank my driver “shirju” infact i don't want to call him my cab driver he was my "Sarthi" he always took me in right direction and suggested me good foods

If you are planning for kerala Trip and you need a cab, contact shirju he will take you to your destination safely. You can contact him on +91 80891 71261

Photo of Kēraḷa Bhakṣaṇaṁ by Dipan Bhatt

Second I want to say thank who made my Kerala trip “Budget Holidays”. If you are planning for Kerala and you want any trustworthy travel agent contact Budget Holidays they customize tour package as per your budget and requirements, even I can say they provide you more than your budget. specially I want to thanks to “Dona Joseph” who made my trip as per my convenience and always ask me throughout my journey unlike some other travel agents who are like once you pay them they never ask you where ever you are but Dona always take care of my tour. you can contact her on +91 92077 72455 or website- www.budgetholidaysindia.com

Photo of Kēraḷa Bhakṣaṇaṁ by Dipan Bhatt

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