**Short answer Kerala Cafe:** Kerala Cafe is an Indian film consisting of 10 short films directed by various directors. The movie released in 2009 and each story is set in a cafe located in different parts of Kerala. It features actors like Mammootty, Suresh Gopi, and Jayasurya.
How to Experience the Authentic Taste of Kerala at a Cafe
Kerala is a state in India where food plays a significant role in the daily life of its people. Rich in spices and flavors, it’s no surprise that Kerala cuisine has become popular among food connoisseurs around the world. But if you want to experience the authentic taste of Kerala without traveling overseas, you can simply visit a cafe that specializes in this cuisine.
So, how do you ensure that you’re getting an authentic taste of Kerala at your local cafe? Here are some tips:
1. Look for menus that focus on traditional Kerala dishes
A good starting point is to look for cafes that specialize in traditional Kerala dishes such as appam, puttu, and dosa. These dishes are typically made with rice and coconut, combined with local spices like cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and black pepper.
2. Pay attention to ingredients
When selecting a dish from the menu, pay attention to the ingredients used. Where possible, choose options that use locally sourced produce and spices. You’ll find that many cafes specializing in Kerala cuisine will go out of their way to source fresh and authentic ingredients.
3. Choose homemade over commercial
Opt for homemade preparations over pre-packaged or commercially produced ones whenever possible. This will ensure that you’re experiencing the true flavors of Kerala without any added preservatives or artificial flavors.
4. Experiment with side dishes
In Kerala cuisine, side dishes play an important role in adding flavor and texture to meals. Look out for cafes that offer different chutneys and pickles made from vegetables like mangoes and ginger or seafood such as prawns or fish.
5. Don’t forget beverages
Finally, don’t forget about beverages! Sip on traditional drinks like tea prepared with fragrant spices like star anise and rose petals instead of sugar-laden syrups.
By keeping these tips in mind while ordering your meal at a cafe featuring traditional Keralite fare will help you enjoy an ideal culinary experience. However, keep in mind that Kerala cuisine is all about the delicate balance of flavors and aromas, so do not be hesitant to ask for recommendations from your server or taste a few different options before settling on your favorite dish.
In conclusion, if you’re looking to experience authentic Kerala cuisine flavors outside India, visiting a cafe specializing in Keralite food is an excellent option. With detailed understanding one can easily crack the complexity involved in Keralite cooking and taste palette as well. From appetizing starters to lip-smacking desserts consumed daily by locals, cafes have a lot to offer when it comes to satisfying the taste buds of gastronomical connoisseurs!
Step-by-Step: Recreating Traditional Kerala Dishes at Home
Kerala, the land of coconuts, spices and traditional dishes, is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after culinary destinations in India. Its cuisine, which is diverse and unique in its flavors, consists of a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes that use a range of ingredients such as coconut milk, tamarind, mustard seeds, curry leaves and more.
If you’re a foodie who wants to recreate some of these classic Kerala dishes at home, we’ve got you covered! Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to make some mouth-watering traditional Kerala recipes:
1. Fish Moilee: This is a popular Syrian Christian dish that’s made with fish cooked in coconut milk. To prepare this dish at home, heat coconut oil in a pan and add green chilies, ginger-garlic paste and onions. Once the onions turn translucent, add turmeric powder and coriander powder. Then add thin slices of fish (preferably seer or kingfish) along with thick coconut milk. Cover the pan with lid and cook for around 8-10 minutes until the fish is fully cooked.
2. Karimeen Pollichathu: This is yet another famous Keralite seafood delicacy where whole fish (pearl spot preferred) marinated with spices like ginger garlic paste,turmeric,chilly powder,salt etc.. wrapped up tightly within banana leaf and grilled/roasted over stovetop/fire stove can serve as an exotic dish for your table.
3. Avial: A vegetarian delight, this is a medley of vegetables cooked in coconut oil along fresh grated coconut ,ginger garlic paste,jaggery etc.. It’s typically served as an accompaniment to rice or chapattis. To prepare Avial at home,start off by cutting various vegetables like pumpkin,cucumber,yam,long beans,drumstick,ladiesfinger,cucumber into smaller pieces and cooking them in a pan with water,salt,chilly powder along with turmeric.Once the veggies are cooked, add some fresh grated coconut, cumin seeds and coarsely ground green chilies. Cook for a couple of minutes and garnish with curry leaves.
4. Appam: This is one of Kerala’s signature breakfast dishes that’s made from fermented rice batter and coconut milk. To make appam at home, start by soaking raw uncooked rice in water overnight. The next day, grind the soaked rice into a fine paste along with grated coconut. Add yeast(powdered or granules) to warm water for fermentation.Mix well until properly incorporated and let it ferment for around 8-10 hours.The batter then can be used to prepare spongy soft centred fluffy appams.
5. Payasam/Kheer: This popular dessert is made by boiling rice/vermicelli in milk along with sugar,jaggery,ghee,nuts & raisins.. To make payasam at home,start boiling milk in heavy bottom vessel.Add sugar
Frequently Asked Questions about Kerala Cafe
Kerala Cafe is a unique and charming cafe that offers authentic Kerala cuisine in an inviting atmosphere. Our menu features a range of delicacies from the southern Indian state of Kerala, known for its distinctive flavors and use of local spices. As such, we often receive questions from our customers about our food, service, and overall experience at the cafe. In this blog post, we aim to answer some frequently asked questions about Kerala Cafe.
1. What is Kerala cuisine?
Kerala cuisine is characterized by the use of coconut, curry leaves, mustard seeds, tamarind, and other aromatic spices that are popular in south India. It is predominantly vegetarian but also includes fish and seafood dishes due to its coastal location. Some popular dishes include appam with stew or egg roast, dosa with sambar or chutney, puttu with kadala curry or beef fry.
2. Are there vegetarian options on the menu?
Yes! Our menu includes an extensive vegetarian selection including vegan options as well. Some of our most popular vegetarian dishes include idiyappam with vegetable kurma or tomato curry as well as masala dosa filled with spiced potatoes.
3. Is it spicy?
While Kerala cuisine features plenty of spices in the form of cinnamon, cloves and ginger among others; we ensure that our dishes do not burn your taste buds off! We prepare each dish to order so you can choose how spicy you want your dish to be.
4. Do you offer takeout services?
Of course! You can call us ahead of time to place your order for takeout so that it’s ready when you arrive. Alternatively we have partnered with major delivery apps like Uber Eats & GrubHub for online deliveries
5.How are your Samosas compared to other Indian resturants in area?
Our samosas are handmade everyday using fresh ingredients like peas,potatoes,onions,garam masala etc.. They are crunchy on the outside yet are soft on the inside and a perfect snack to start your meal. Don’t just take our word for it, come try it yourself :).
6. Do you accommodate food allergies?
Absolutely! Our staff is trained to assist customers with their dietary requirements and can recommend dishes based on their needs. Just inform us in advance so we can customize your order accordingly.
We hope this blog post has answered some of your questions about Kerala Cafe. At Kerala Cafe, we strive to provide an authentic culinary experience, welcoming atmosphere, and exceptional customer service. Come visit us today or give us a call to order delicious Kerala cuisine!
