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A South Indian Spice Primer from Mr. Abraham’s Spice Garden in Kumily

Our friend Mr. Abraham has a two acre spice garden surrounding his home and two more gardens nearby. They are completely organic and open for tours. Lunch can be booked. In our previous post, we described our day in the spice garden in his backyard. Now, with Pauli-Ann’s beautiful photos, we want to lead you …

Read more about A South Indian Spice Primer from Mr. Abraham’s Spice Garden in Kumily

Mr. Abraham of Abraham's Spice Garden.
Faces

Mr. Abraham and his Spice Garden

I’m excited to write this piece for you because Mr. Abraham’s Spice Garden is a must every time we visit Kerala. As a cook, it’s the kind of place that I dreamed of experiencing because it is chockablock full of spices. I had always longed to see where and how spices grew. I imagined a …

Read more about Mr. Abraham and his Spice Garden

Anna Zacharria's garam masala.
Plates

Anna’s Secret Garam Masala

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Award-winning writer and photographer Karen Anderson and Pauli-Ann Carriere spent over 40 days in South India in 2016 and 2017 travelling and researching this project to bring you closer to the people, food and rich culture of this place.

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This Mango Pie with Date Nut Crust was inspired by This Mango Pie with Date Nut Crust was inspired by the 200-year-old mango tree that we saw while touring the gardens at Kalari Kovilakom in Palakkad. Chef Velu shared that the tree produces a few tonnes of fruit each season. We're quite sure, being an Ayurveda Hospital, the fruits are all used in the most healthful way possible. While this Mango Pie with Date Nut Crust might not cut it in that department, it is much healthier than most pies. The mango purée means little sugar is needed. The crust is not a typical flour and fat formulation but instead dates and nuts are combined for maximal nutrient content. Above all, mango season is a time of hot temperatures. We thought anyone who loves mangoes in season would enjoy a mango pie served chilled. It will be a great way to cool down with each silky sweet bite. Link to the recipe, and more on Ayurveda, in our bio. . . . #mangodesserts #pie #mangopie #fruitpie #mangoes #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip @kalarikovilakom_cghearth @cghearthayurveda
You'll feel light as a feather after a breakfast o You'll feel light as a feather after a breakfast of Steamed Apple Slices. This is the fare on offer each morning at CGH Kalari Kovilakom - The Palace for Ayurveda. It may not sound like much. But for the guests who will undertake a morning of yoga and treatments, it's an important part of the daily regimen to help them regain balance and health. On days you'd like to eat lighter, this will be an excellent way to start the day. Link to the recipe, and more on Ayurveda, in our bio. . . . #Ayurvedicrecipes #Ayurveda #breakfastideas #steamedapples #morningfood #fruitforbreakfast #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip @kalarikovilakom_cghearth @cghearthayurveda
This Lemon Rice recipe is another contribution fro This Lemon Rice recipe is another contribution from Chef Velu at Kalari Kovilakom and The Palace for Ayurveda. It's a fantastic side dish for vegetables, dal or seafood. Link to the recipe, and more on Ayurveda, in our bio. . . . #Ayurvedicrecipes #Ayurveda #ricedish #sidedish #lemonrecipe #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip @kalarikovilakom_cghearth @cghearthayurveda
This vibrant Pumpkin Pigeon Pea Erissery is a trea This vibrant Pumpkin Pigeon Pea Erissery is a treat when travelling through Kerala. Each year at the fall harvest festival of Onum it's an essential part of the banquet feast, or sadya, for that festival. And a whole lot of feasting goes on during that 10 days each year! We are truly delighted chef Velu at Kalari Kovilakom shared the Palace for Ayurveda's version of this dish. We've modified it slightly to adapt to some of the more common pumpkin, or squash, varieties outside of Kerala. With the grated coconut and black pepper, plus a healthy dose of curry leaves, this pairing, or erissery - as it's called in Malayalam - of squash and beans is loaded with the flavours that define Keralan cuisine. We hope this Pumpkin Pigeon Pea Erissery becomes a perennial favourite for you. Link to this recipe and more healthy Ayurvedic dishes in our bio. . . . #Ayurvedicrecipes #Ayurveda #squashrecipes #pigeonpeas #vegetarianrecipes #pumpkinrecipes #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip @kalarikovilakom_cghearth @cghearthayurveda
Without the use of oil, this Moong Dal Curry is ni Without the use of oil, this Moong Dal Curry is nicely spiced. It hits a home run for flavour and ease of cooking too. Overall, it will leave you feeling light, satiated and refreshed – just like the ideal Ayurveda meal should. This curry recipe is proof that simple can be sublime. In Ayurveda, appreciating the essence of our food leads to a strengthening of our own essence too. Find the link to the recipe for this Moong Dal Curry, and more Ayurvedic dishes, in our bio. . . . #Ayurvedicrecipes #Ayurveda #curryrecipe #moongdal #vegetarianrecipe #healthyrecipe #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
Happy International Women’s Day! We’d like to Happy International Women’s Day! We’d like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the women we have learned so much from on our Faces, Places and Plates journey through South India 🙏 We are truly grateful for their generosity and nurturing. They make the world a better place everyday 🌏 __ #iwd2021 #womensupportingwomen #womensday2021 #womencooks #womeninfood #womeninbusiness #womentravelers @theturmerica @nimmyscooking #greenpalmshomestay @chindi_varadarajulu @abidarasheedclt @keralatourism #ktmtravelmart #ktm @tamilnadutourism #southindiaroadtrip #southindia #southindianfood #southindiancooks #facesplacesandplatesblog #foodtravel #cooksandtheircultures
Fresh and organic food are the key medicines in Ay Fresh and organic food are the key medicines in Ayurveda. This recipe for Spinach and Moong Dal Soup is light and simple, easily digestible and loaded with nutrition. The flavour shines through and help lead the eater along the road back to balance and health. Soups like this are a cornerstone in the Ayurvedic way of eating. They make us slow down and pay attention to what we are doing. When we are conscious of what and how we eat, we eat less. The brain reaches its satiety level naturally. This is in stark contrast to the modern day tendency to eat quickly and distractedly. A basic principle of Ayurvedic treatments is that mindful eating helps the body assimilate the full essence of the food. Link to this recipe, and more on Ayurveda, in our bio. . . . #Ayurvedicrecipes #Ayurveda #spinachsoup #moongdal #vegetablesoup #KalariKovilakom #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
What makes this Ayurvedic Tomato Soup Ayurvedic? H What makes this Ayurvedic Tomato Soup Ayurvedic? How you prepare it is the key. Many of us sauté aromatics (celery, onion, carrots, garlic) in oil to bring out maximal flavour in soups and sauces. Ayurvedic cooking is much lighter, avoiding unnecessary oils. But that does not mean the results are less flavourful. This Ayurvedic Tomato Soup is a great example. It maximizes flavour by using the freshest organic ingredients possible. Subtle spicing with ginger, garlic, onion and coriander also bring the dish to life. This recipe comes from the professional cooks at Kalari Kovilakom. And they know Ayurveda! Link to recipe in our bio. . . . #Ayurvedicrecipes #Ayurveda #tomatosoup #healthysoup #KalariKovilakom #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip @kalarikovilakom_cghearth @cghearthayurveda
It's important to have an introduction to Ayurveda It's important to have an introduction to Ayurveda when travelling in South India because it's a term that you'll encounter frequently. We’ve experienced both authentic and less than authentic versions in our travels. What started as an ancient system for wellness has turned into a $4 billion USD per year industry for the state of Kerala alone, which has over 1,400 Ayurveda enterprises. Our crash-course introduction to Ayurveda, the mega 5000-year-old system of complete wellness, is up on our blog now. If you've ever been curious about the foundational elements of Ayurveda, this is a wonderful place to start. Link to our blog in our profile. . . . #Ayurvedalife #Ayurveda #AyurvedaIndia #Ayurvedalifestyle #holistichealth #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
Seeing Chef Velayudhan's team at Kalari Kovilakom Seeing Chef Velayudhan's team at Kalari Kovilakom Vengunad (KKV) in action was a chance for us to learn how to put Ayurveda food principles into practice. KKV is known as A Palace for Ayurveda. We popped in for 24 hours on our way south from Wayanad to Kochi. Our micro stay was just long enough to get a feel for the life of the guests and to wonder what it would be like to be in their shoes…not that shoes are necessary here! Join us on the blog (click the link in our bio) for a tour of the palace gardens with Chef Velu, and an inside look at the KKV kitchen during Ayurvedic dinner preparations. Our coming blog posts will feature an introduction to Ayurvedic principles and several Ayurvedic recipes. Please join us. . . . . #Ayurvedalife #Ayurveda #AyurvedaIndia #Ayurvedalifestyle #CGHEarthAyurveda #MeandCGHEarth #KalariKovilakom #holistichealth #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip @cghearthayurveda @kalarikovilakom_cghearth . . . Thank you to CGH Earth Experience Hotels and the team at Kalari Kovalikom for hosting us during our visit to Palakkad, and to the KTM Society and Travel XS for sponsoring our travel throughout South India in 2016.
Happy New Year 2021! . Best wishes to all our frie Happy New Year 2021! . Best wishes to all our friends, followers,and partners. May we continue to enjoy armchair travel and support each other locally as we journey on to new beginnings in 2021! . Much love from Karen and Pauli-Ann ❤️ . . . #HappyNewYear2021 #SouthIndiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #SouthIndia #Indianfoodtravel #culinarytravel #SouthIndiaTravel #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood
Whether you are a visitor travelling across South Whether you are a visitor travelling across South India or a local bustling through a frenetic day in the life of Mother India, street food is often the easiest fuel supply to keep the human engine running. We spied these Green Chilli Fritters at a stall across from a monument we were visiting in Kochi. The fragrance of these chana (chickpea) flour encased green chillies hitting hot oil drifted our way like a welcome lifeline. Our noses had a conference with our tummies and demanded us to stop. We hope you love them as much as we do. Link to the recipe in our profile. . . . #greenchillifritters #Indiansnacks #streetfoodindia #snackfood #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #SouthIndiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kochi #Cochin #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
Thin, crisp, round flatbread papadam (papads) are Thin, crisp, round flatbread papadam (papads) are typically made from seasoned dough of black gram (urad dal) flour. They're either fried or cooked with dry heat (usually flipping over an open flame). We always imagined Indian home cooks would make their own papadam. But, in India, just like here in Canada, cooks typically buy them ready-made and dried for convenient storage. There is quite an art to making and drying papadam, and this task is often taken up by enterprising women and women’s empowerment projects throughout the country. Our latest blog posts features Usha from Kochi, who has been making papadam her whole working life, started as a young girl alongside her mother. We were drawn to her brilliant smile and perfect papadam technique while on a stroll through Kochi's spice market district. We also explore larger-scale papadam making as the focus of a women's empowerment projects, also in Kochi. Please join us by clicking the link to this post in our bio. . . . #papadam #pappadam #papads #flatbreads #crunchysnacks #streetfoodindia #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kochi #Cochin #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
When you go out for a walk at night on the streets When you go out for a walk at night on the streets of Kochi, as you near the Old Fort harbour front, you’ll find a wonderful assortment of street food vendors. Known as wallahs or workers in India, they usually do one thing and they do it very well. This is definitely the case for these Chilli Salted Cassava Fries. We met the young wallah, Shivalingam, responsible for them on our research trip in 2016. As we stood watching, he took tender young cassava roots and sliced them paper thin onto a makeshift wooden counter at the side of his small cart. A light bulb glared its starkness down over him and allowed him not to cut off his fingers while he sliced. He then patted the slices dry and slid them gently into a waiting wok of sunflower oil. While they turned golden, he slit open a paper bag to act as a receptacle for their exit from the pan. Once they were all out, he shook the perfect amount of salt and chilli powder over them and scooped them into newspaper cones for us. We couldn't wait to get back to our hotel. We began munching those Chilli Salted Cassava Fries immediately. And, we still had some left when we ordered a couple of mugs of beer back at our hotel's lounge. What a perfect end to a tropical evening's walk. That's the delight of street food. It always seems to be exactly what you're craving - whether you knew it or not. And, it leaves an indelible taste memory that makes you crave it eternally. Link to the recipe in our profile. . . . #cassava #cassavachips #streetfoodindia #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kochi #Cochin #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
Chefs love to talk food. And, we love to know what Chefs love to talk food. And, we love to know what they are cooking - both professionally and at home. We always ask about their favourite dishes. Often, they are amazingly simple recipes like this Shallot Salad. This is a dish that one of the @bruntonboatyard_cghearth Hotel's chefs - Francis Noble of Brunton Boatyard - shared. He got a smile on his face when we asked him about it. "This Shallot Salad was something I made for my college roommates when we lived on a very low budget," he said, "But, that doesn't matter, those were great times and it’s still my favourite." Taste it and you'll see why! Link to the recipe in our profile. . . . #shallotrecipes #shallots #saladrecipe #keralacuisine #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kochi #Cochin #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip #bruntonboatyard_cghearth
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