Taste of Kerala

Food is a huge part of Kerala's identity. The food culture of Kerala is unique and diverse, attracting many food enthusiasts from around the globe. Whether savory or sweet, Kerala offers an array of delicious dishes. Kerala cuisine is rich in spices like black pepper, cardamom, cloves, ginger, and cinnamon, reflecting the region's historical spice trade. The food here is characterized by its balance of flavors, incorporating sweetness, sourness, spiciness, and a hint of bitterness, making it a unique and cherished part of Indian culinary heritage. With coconut and rice as staples, Kerala’s food culture always incorporates the nourishment from the region's seasonal produce.

Breakfast Specialties

The fragrance of coconut oil is the first thing one notices in Kerala cuisine. Grated coconut and coconut milk are widely used in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, as well as sweet and savory, dishes. Rice is included in all three meals of the day. Apart from the usual idly and dosa, Kerala is famous for its rice-based steamed dishes like puttu, appam, and idiyappam. When served with spicy chickpea curry, fish curry, or a rich stew, these dishes offer a mouth-watering experience. Coconut is used to make a wide variety of dry sambal or chutney that can be paired with breakfast, lunch, or dinner options.

Banana in a Kerala Household

All Keralites consume all parts of a plantain. From meals served and snacks made on banana leaves to curry or stir-fried banana stem and flower, everything is used. Both raw and ripe banana chips are famous snack items in Kerala. The use of mangoes and jackfruit in preparing side dishes, sweets, and snacks shows how the culture celebrates seasonal produce. Sadya is a major feast of at least ten items, including sweet dishes, served on a banana leaf and relished during important festive events like Hindu marriages, Onam, Vishu, etc. The authentic Kerala-style preparation of fish in banana leaves keeps the fish succulent and enhances its flavor.

Seafood and Biriyani

For all seafood lovers, Kerala's coastal location makes seafood a significant part of the diet, with dishes like prawn curry, squid fry, and various fish preparations being popular. Malabari cuisine features fragrant Dum biryanis and a wide variety of snack items like pazham pori, poricha pathiri, and sweet dishes. The bold use of spices elevates the meat delicacies. The Kottayam-style “meen-mulakuchaaru” (fish curry), a spicy-hot fish curry, when paired with boiled tapioca, is a tantalizing treat. Payasam, a sweet pudding made from rice, milk, or coconut milk, sweetened with jaggery or sugar and flavored with cardamom, is the main sweet dish with several varieties.

At Unwynd, enjoy the local flavors made with love by your host. Home-cooked food with seasonal produce delivers authentic Kerala-style cuisine to complement your time spent in the ambiance. Enjoy the flamboyant flavors of Kerala at Unwynd.