Kerala, also called ‘God’s own country’ is the South Indian state that is renowned for its strong culture, history, natural beauty and of course food. From soothing Avial (mix veg curry) to hot and tangy Malabar chicken curry and Mor Kozhambhu (buttermilk curry), Kerala’s wide and varied cuisine has something for everyone, whether you are vegetarian or a hard-core meat eater. Here are five of our favourite dishes from Kerala that you can make for lunch.
Mor Kuzhambu
A delish Onam Sadya staple, ‘Mor’ is a word for buttermilk. Since the base of the curry is made with yoghurt, the curry is slightly tangy, which makes it so ideal for summer. It is flavoured with green chillies, coconut, curry leaves lending that perfect balance to the curry. Add veggies of your choice to make it more wholesome.
Mambaza Pulissery
A summertime staple hailing from Kerala, this curry made with ripe mangoes, coconut and yogurt is best paired with hot rice. Perfectly sweet, sour and soothing, the mangoes add a lovely tropical touch to the curry, while yogurt and fresh coconut helps build the base of the gravy. Green chillies, garlic and ginger add much-needed spunk.
Malabar Ghee Rice
Not in the mood for complex curries, no problem. This rice dish is comfort food for slew of people in the Malabar region. Ghee adds a lovely velvety touch to the rice that is also flavoured with other common, everyday masalas such as cinnamon, cloves, dried red chillies, bay leaf, garlic et al. You can pair this rice with any chutney or stew or have it as is.
Cabbage Thoran
Not in a mood for heavy curries, no problem. This yummy stir-fry made with cabbage and mustard seeds will give your lunch a yummy facelift it deserves.
Avial
Avial is a hearty, mixed vegetable stew from Kerala that is said to have roots in Mahabharata apparently. A famous legend goes that Bhima was the original creator of Avial. During the year, when the five Pandavas and Draupadi had to spend in exile without getting recognized, Bhima adopted the role of a cook a king’s court. One day, he added all available vegetables in a pot and created a dish that is said to be the precursor of modern-day Avial. Avial recipe differs from household to household, this simple one comes with goodness of ash gourd, pumpkin, drumsticks, bananas, yam and more. It is cooked with coconut paste, mustard seeds and is best paired with rice.