Food in Kerala

Kerala (Keralam’s) food is defined by its coasts, abundant spices and usage of coconuts. The state offers you with a diverse mix of vegetarian staple food, flavorsome seafoods and delightful meat dishes. The dishes in Kerala are heavily influenced by the state’s cultures of Hindu, Muslims and Christians.

As the state is located along the Malabar Coast, throughout history, this south Indian state had regular interactions with the whole world. Spide traders from far away countries visited Kerala back over 3,000 years, making it the focal point of the ancient world for spice trades. During this period, all the travellers have left their cultural imprints on Keralite cuisine. Thus, the food is a delightful fusion of Arab, Portuguese, and British influences.

Food lovers can explore the rich culinary heritage of the state, and many Kerala Tour Packages include opportunities to savour authentic dishes.

Must Try Kerala Dishes

• Puttu and Kadala Curry is the ultimate comfort breakfast. In this dish, you’ll find pairs of Puttu that is a soft, cylindrical steamed cake made of rice flour and fresh coconut alongwith the Kadala curry which is a spiced gravy made from black chickpeas.
• Savor the taste of Idiyappam and Fish Moilee. It has a delicate, frilly texture of the steamed rice noodles that are soaked up the creamy, spiced coconut gravy of the fish.
• A must-try dish is Pidiyum Kozhiyum. It is a traditional and very popular dish. The dish consists of Pidi, it is made from rice flour, cumin, and coconut, made into small, soft dumplings and then boiled. Another part of this dish is Kozhi, which is a spicy chicken curry cooked with coconut and spices.
• Appam and Stew is the classic breakfast of Keralites. Appam is a soft, bowl-shaped pancake or crepe with crispy, lacy edges made from fermented rice batter and coconut milk. Stew is a mildly spiced, creamy curry flavored with coconut milk and whole spices.
• Indulge in the Malabar Biryani, in this biryani the rice that is used is a short-grain rice rather than Basmati, and is layered with slow-cooked meat, mild aromatic spices, and a heavy garnish of ghee-fried onions, cashews, and raisins.
• One local favourite is Karimeen Pollichathu. This is an iconic Kerala delicacy featuring the Pearl Spot fish that is marinated in spices. Then it is coated in a rich onion-tomato masala and then pan-fried. To get that distinct, earthy banana leaf aroma the fish is wrapped in a banana leaf, and slow-roasted. This is a traditional cooking method that locks in exotic flavors to the fish.
• Another legendary dish is Kappa and Fish Curry. Kappa is Malayalam for tapioca. In this dish, tapioca is boiled and mashed with spices. It is accompanied with the fish curry that is a fiery red, spicy, and tangy gravy.
• Try the traditional Sadhya. It is a traditional, multi-course vegetarian feast. The meaning is "banquet" in Malayalam. It is served on a fresh banana leaf for lunch during festivals like Onam and Vishu. You can also find Sadhya in weddings and special gatherings.
• The classic fritter called Unniyappam is made with aromatic batter, heavily flavored with natural sweetness and warm spices.
• A popular dessert here is Pazham Pori, which is a popular snack consisting of ripe bananas coated in a sweet batter and then deep-fried until golden brown.
• The state is known for Banana Chips, they are the iconic, crispy wafers made from raw Nendran bananas. The bananas are sliced and deep-fried in pure coconut oil with a touch of turmeric and rock salt.
• Food lovers must try Payasam. It is a dessert that is closely related to the North Indian kheer.
• Sample the famous Elaneer Pudding which is a refreshing and mildly sweet dessert. It is made primarily from tender coconut flesh, coconut water, milk, and condensed milk. Then it is naturally set using agar-agar or gelatin and served chilled.
• Dessert lovers must try the Kozhikode Halwa. This dessert is famous for its melt-in-the-mouth chewiness and use of pure coconut oil instead of ghee. This treat was brought by Arab traders centuries ago, and it comes in endless flavors like black jaggery, tender coconut, and banana.