Caramelized bananas may use a French cooking technique, but the bananas themselves are a pure South Indian treat. There are about 20 varieties of bananas indigenous to Kerala. As far as we could tell, in our very serious banana connoisseur fact-finding mission, each is tastier than the one before. Our host at The Turmerica, Ranjini …
Puri – Deep-Fried Bread is a thin, round, and flat unleavened bread. It might seem daunting to deep-fry something but we promise, it’s easy and the only ingredients you need are whole wheat flour, water, salt, and oil. It’s fun to make and to eat – immediately from the pan. And, it’s highly entertaining, too, because …
Cherupayar is a green gram curry that uses whole moong beans. Moong beans are high in fiber, protein and antioxidants. They are also very tasty. After soaking the moong dal overnight, the recipe comes together quickly. Ranjini whipped this up for us early one morning as part of our South Indian breakfast at The Turmerica.
This Pumpkin Leaf Dry Curry recipe comes from Akila. Akila is a Paniyas tribal woman from Wayanad. She studied hospitality at school and now works with the Menon family at The Turmerica. Akila made this dish for Ranjini and Ranjini liked the Pumpkin Leaf Dry Curry so much she wanted to share it with us. …
This recipe for Royal Malabar Kalan is a vegetable stew made with key Keralan ingredients. There’s locally grown pepper, of course, and elephant’s foot yam, then raw bananas and chilies plus a little coconut to bring it all together. Our friend Ranjini Menon of The Turmerica in Wayanad loves to research the history of Keralan …
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Ethaka Appam or Banana Fritters are a favourite tea time treat. We’ve eaten them while floating through the Backwaters of Kerala, and they go beautifully with chai at our favourite roadside stops. They’re a great distraction from the perils and excitement of our road trips. No matter where we eat them, banana fritters are a …
Mariya Family Restaurant Bakery and Ice Cream is a favourite roadside cafe in Kerala. It’s located in Pullapara on Highway 183. This road leads from the coast near Kottayam to Periyar in the hills and depending on which way you are headed it seems to be ever-ascending or descending. It’s a hairpin turn infested snake …
All Indian food goes better with an astringent chutney or pickle on the side. This is a quick and easy recipe for a pickle that can be as hot or as mild as you like. We used one teaspoon of the chilli powder but the recipe from chef Jerry Matthew at Spice Village called for …
There’s so much to like about this dish. Jackfruit is a beloved food of South India and, when in season, locals dice the fresh ripe fruit, combine it with a bit of ghee and jaggery, and boil off the liquid to create a dry jam or veratti that they preserve for future use. A tablespoon …
Paliyakudi is a tribal village in the Idukki district of Kerala. Ammachi is the word for grandmother. Kaada means quail. The people of Paliyakudi were traditionally animal farmers and also existed by hunting, fishing and honey collection. Grandmothers cooked for the family using quail the family raised and spices from the lands surrounding them. Traditionally, …
Read more about Paliyakudi Ammachi Kaada – Grilled Quail with a Mint and Green Chilli Marinade