We have been staying at a lovely homestay Padmini House in Kovalam beach, Kerala. We had the opportunity for a cooking lesson with the host family and as Keralan food is is now firmly in my top 5 favourite foods this was top of my to-do list! I can’t wait to recreate it at home, especially for my Dad who is the king of curries. 

Thali is a traditional Keralan meal served on a banana leaf and consists of a variety of dishes using fresh local ingredients including coconut, vegetables and spices. 

Dahl Curry

Blitz in a food processor:
3 tbsp fresh grated coconut (or dried as an alternative)
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp turmeric
1 green chilli
1 garlic clove
Dash of water

Mix with some cooked lentils in water and heat with 1 tbsp coconut oil.

Avial

Peel and chop vegetables (such as snake goard, brinchal (aubergine), green mango, green banana, drumsticks) into batons and cook in a lidded pan with a small cup of water, 1 tbsp salt, 1 tsp turmeric, 2 tbsp oil.

Make a paste from:
5 tbsp grated coconut
2 cloves garlic
1 green chilli
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp chilli powder

Add the paste to the pan, add curry leaves and simmer until the water has evaporated.

Dosa

This is a favourite of all of ours, even the girls like a plain one. The traditional method uses grated rice and urid dahl which is soaked in water to make a batter and fried like pancakes.

Masala Dosa

Fry 1 cup of chana dahl (lentils) in oil and add red onions. Add:

4 peeled, cooked and mashed potatoes
2 green chillis
2 tsp salt
1 tsp turmeric
1/2 cup of water

Add coriander and curry leaves, then once the water is absorbed it is ready.

This is served inside a dosa folded in half.

Thoran

Fry cabbage (or other vegetables such as beetroot, carrots) with:

2 tbsp oil
Indian mustard seeds
1 dry red chilli
Chopped onion
2 tsp salt

When the cabbage is cooked add:

1 tsp cumin
1 tsp turmaric
1 tsp chilli powder

Kitchadi

Chop and peel cucumber and cook with green chilli, water and 1 tsp salt. Boil for 2 minutes then drain the water. Add:

Fry together:
Shallots
Dried red chilli
Mustard seeds
Curry leaf

Once cooled stir in yoghurt and serve cold.

Carrot Masala

Chop carrots into discs and fry with:

1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp salt

Cook for 2 minutes in a lidded pan.

Payasam

This is a delicious South Indian pudding made with vermicelli, sugar, ghee, milk, cardamom, vanilla, cashew nuts and raisins. Here you can buy it as a packet mix – I am hoping a visit to Taj in Brighton might help me out with this!