Travel Secrets Nov-Dec 2015 | Page 67

3 Kerala Treats TASTENOTES Appam Appam is a famous dish from the Keralite repertoire of South Indian cooking. It is a type of pancake made with fermented rice batter and coconut milk with a soft and spongy center and a lacy border. Considered as a staple diet and a cultural synonym of the Nasranis of Kerala, Appam is served hot from the pan with sweetened coconut milk or coconut based stew. Meen Pollichadu Meen Pollichadu is a much sought after Kerala delicacy. It is a grilled Sole fish fillet marinated with a rich blend of hot spices and then baked in a banana leaf. Since the dish is cooked and served in a banana leaf, it carries a lovely banana leaf aroma which adds a lot to the flavour. Pachakkari Stew Seasonal vegetables gently simmered in creamy coconut milk. Served hot with appam, idiappam or puttu. In Keralite Christian households, Appam with stew combo is usually served for breakfast on special occasions like Christmas. Chef Velu spoke to TS writer Siddharth Birla. Photos by Ritesh Keshi. November-December 2015 Travel Secrets  67