Kerala - The best destination for Vegan and Vegetarian Foodies

Kerala’s ethnic cuisine has a variety of options that are vegan by default. This makes Kerala a must try for vegan and vegetarian foodies.

Breakfasts 

You get to try:

o    Nadan Idlis served with Kerala style sambar and chammanthi (chutney)
The sambhar and chutney are different from the regular options you get at Shanthi Sagars,  Udupi restaurants,  Arya bhavans, Sarvanna bhavans, and other similar hotels.
The sambhar is dense with more vegetables and the chutney is made of coconut.

o   Puttu , Appam, and  Idiyappam: You can mix and match these main dishes with gravies such as veg stew, kadala (Black Chicpeas) curry, or cherupayar (Green gram) curry.  

Puttu with Kadala curry

Appam with Veg stew

Idiyappam

o   Puzhukku -  A mixture of cooked tapioca, ground coconut, and spices.

o   Kappa and Ulli Chammanthi - Cooked tapioca is served with a spicy chutney made of mashed onions, green chilies and tamarind

o   Kozhakkatta -Sweet steamed rice dumplings filled with coconut and jaggery.

Lunch or Dinner

The options and the combinations are endless. You can decide on whether you would like to try a whole lot of items in one go or try various combinations separately. One way to try multiple combinations at one go is to eat an elaborate sadya (feast). This feast have at least 25 different items. While, this option is may be available only at certain hotels, you can try this if you have limited time. 

Meals are a combination of:

o   Thoran -  This dish can be made of any vegetable. Finely chopped vegetables are steamed, mixed with with shredded coconut, and tadka.

o   Mezhukku peratti – This dish can be made of any vegetable. Vegetables are chopped into medium sized pieces, boiled, and shallow fried in coconut oil.

o   Avial –This dish is made by cooking multiple vegetables in coconut paste.
Caution- Avial is available in both vegetarian and a vegan versions. The vegetarian version contains curd and the vegan version has raw mango or green tomato to make it tangy. So, check if the vegan version is available before you order.

o   Thiyal - This curry is made of  fried shredded coconut and ground with spices.

o   Olan – This dish is made of ashgourd cooked with brown lentils and coconut milk

o   Parippu curry – This curry is made of dal and coconut.

o   Erissery - This dish can be made of any vegetable, cowpeas, and coconut.

·         For an instant energy food or a comfort meal, you must try the kanji chammanthi ( Rice porridge served with thoran, pappadam, and pickle.)

  Tea

Tea lovers can get Black tea and suleimani (Kerala style lemon tea) anywhere including street side stalls and villages too. The lemon tea here is vegan because  honey is not added to it. And it's very affordable too.

Snacks

Evening tea time snacks include

o   Vatteyappam - A pressrre cooked rice cake filled with nuts and raisins.

o   ElayAppam: Type of dumpling made using rice flour. It's covered in banan leaves and steamed.

o   Pazhampori - Banana dipped in batter and deep fried.

o   Uzhunnu Vada - Vada made of urad dal 

o   Kumbilappam (Vazhanaila Appam):Deleicios sweet made by cooking jackfruit with jaggery. 

o   Parippu vada - Vada made with channa dal, spices, and onions.

·         You can also pick up many things to munch on such as Kappa (Tapioca) chips , Chakka (Jackfruit) chips, and ethekka ( nendran bananas) chips, churuttu and kuzhalappam. And these are healthier than the processed we find at stores regularly.

·         In addition to these, you can also get the regular Indian options like veg fried rice, fried noodles, and Gobi Manchurians.

Remember this before you order:

You need to keep a few things in mind while ordering the food though, such as:

·         Exclusively vegetarian or vegan restaurants or bakeries are minimal. So, do not keep looking for them unless you already know about such a place.

·         Some hotel/bakeries assume everyone eats both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, which may lead to unpleasant situations. So, give clear instructions in advance. There could be situations like these:

o   Sometimes, hotels may serve fish curry without fish pieces and call it ‘a curry’. Tell them clearly while ordering that you do not want this in your meals.

o   Bakeries assume that everyone eats both veg and non-veg snacks. Therefore, if you are with non-vegetarians who have ordered non-veg snacks, they will put both the vegan and non-vegetarian snacks in the same packet and give it to you. Tell them that you want each item packed separately.

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Despite these limitations, the best part is you get these options anywhere in Kerala for very affordable prices.

Source of Images: Google Images