8 Kerala Dishes You Must Try for an Authentic South Indian Dining Experience
The taste of Kerala is a perfect combination of fragrant spices, fresh coconut, curry leaves and locally available ingredients. This coastal southern state in India has an entirely unique and memorable food culture, aptly named the “Land of Spices.” If you are someone who has never had their hands on South Indian regional food before or if you enjoy culinary tourism, it is essential to try dishes from Kerala at least once in a lifetime. Below listed are 8 Legendary Kerala Dishes that will take you on a journey through the authentic taste of your South Indian table.
8 Must-Try Kerala Dishes for an Authentic South Indian Dining Experience
1. Kerala Puttu and Kadala Curry
Puttu are steamed cylinders of ground rice with layers of freshly grated coconut and is typically served with Kadala Curry spicy black chickpeas simmered in roasted coconut masala. A traditional Kerala breakfast, this combination is perfectly earthy and ever-so-slightly sweet.
2. Vegetable / meat stew with Appam
Prepared from fermented rice batter mixed with coconut milk, appams are soft and bowl-shaped pancakes have a fluffy center, and paper-thin crispy edges. They are beautifully paired with a mildly spiced, rich coconut milk-based curry filled with fresh veggies + chicken or lamb.
3. Meen Curry: Kerala Style Fish Curry
Popular for its spicy and tangy flavour, Kerala fish curry contains red chilies, mustard seeds and Kumpula (Malabar tamarind). Cooked in authentic clay pots with a wonderfully smoky depth, this dish is best enjoyed with steamed matta rice.
4. Dine Authentic Kerala Feast at Kera by Charles
For desirable regional tastes made with a home-cooked approach, head to Kera by Charles. Puliyogare, a homegrown company founded on the culinary traditions of Kerala where we cook as home cooks do–using freshly grated coconut, ground hand-milled spices and time-honoured techniques. Catch up with family or celebrating a loved one, our menu delivers a piece of the warmth & lively spirit of Kerala hospitality straight to your plate in Australia. Book your table or see our menu at Kera Hospitality
5. Recipe for Kerala Style Business hours Malabar Parotta with Beef Fry (Kerala Parotta & Beef Roast)
Malabar Parotta is a flaky, layered Flatbread prepared from Refined Flour dough and it’s one of the most used comfort food options. Best served with slow-cooked roasted beef topped in caramelized sweet soy caramel that is mixed with shredded coconut flakes, black pepper, and garlic.
6. Karimeen Pollichathu (Roasted Pearl spot fish)
Karimeen (Pearl Spot fish) coated with aromatic and hot red masala paste, wrapped carefully in fresh banana leaves, grilled. The moisture in the banana leaf traps, and imparts an earthiness and deep flavour to fish.
7. Erissery (Pumpkin and Lentil Curry)
Erissery is a hot nurturing vegetarian curry loaded with sweet pumpkin, green plantains, lentils and large copious volumes of coconut toasted in ghee with cumin and mustard seeds. It is an essential dish that made its way to festival feasts like Onam Sadya.
8 . Kerala Palada Payasam
There is no South Indian meal worth its salt without a proper dessert. Palada Payasam is a decadent, creamy sweet pudding that involves hours of simmering rice flakes (ada) in milk and sugar until it takes on a stunning pale pink colour and silky consistency.
Conclusion
Rich Appam to sweet smelling fish curries, the Keralite cuisine is as rich as it is diversified. These eight traditional dishes provide an authentic experience of the culture and cuisine that South India has to offer through its age-old cooking techniques. For a taste of authentic regional flavours, prepared with all the homely warmth in the world, find yourself at Kera by Charles. Cooked the way it would have been in a home in Kerala, rooted deep into its gastronomic depth with fresh coconut, hand ground spices and heirloom techniques. Be it a get-together with family or any other celebratory occasion, we have got you covered here with the goodness and spirit of Kerala hospitality right on your plates in Australia. Book Your Table or Visit Kera Hospitality Today to Discover Menu.