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Top 5 Kerala snacks that you will love

Indian cuisine is diverse in itself. It is like several cuisines within one! Food of every region and state has different taste and unique characteristics. When you closely look at them, you will find a lovely combination of same ingredients in various ways. And outcome of the same is of course worth appreciating. In this context, we will be focusing on traditional Kerala snacks which are famous worldwide. The richness and soothing flavors of coconut in Kerala snacks are worth giving a try. So let us talk about some of the favorite snacks from Kerala and know about them in detail.

 

Banana chips

kerala snacks

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One cannot talk about Kerala cuisine without mentioning banana chips at least once. It is one of the most loved Kerala snacks for kids. The crunchiness and amazing flavor of banana chips is unbeatable. One can definitely not stop themselves from falling in love with this snack. There are different recreations of banana chips if you want to bring about a twist in your usual routine of snacks.

Talking about nutritional value of banana chips, it has potassium that comes from banana. This helps in regulating the blood pressure and ionic balance of our body. Also, we know that banana chips are fried in coconut oil. Hence, the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of coconut will also increase the immunity. One can sprinkle some pepper/black salt/table salt over these chips and enjoy with hot or coffee.

 

Sweet banana chips

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As we talk about banana chips, it would be unfair if we didn’t mention about the sweet ones. Yes, these are special banana chips which are prominently available in Kerala. While the salty ones are made with raw bananas, these are prepared with ripened ones. Hence, the sweetness quotient remains intact.

The ripened bananas are sliced and fried in coconut oil with added sugar. Hints of spices are also added in some cases to enhance the taste of this wonderful Kerala snacks. It is served by Malayalis on all occasions ranging from festivals to house parties and marriages. Again, the nutrition and minerals of banana gets retained in these sweet chips.

 

Sharkara Varatti

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Talking about the recreations of banana chips, one cannot miss out on this mouth watering Kerala snacks. It is a unique version of banana chips which is coated with jaggery and has flavors of ginger and cardamom. It is exclusively restocked for the festival of Onam and is loved by every resident of South India. These are prepared by making slightly thick slices of raw bananas and are fried in coconut oil until they turn golden brown. It is coated with appropriate consistency of jaggery which is fused with flavors of ginger and cardamom.

Looking at the nutritional value, we all know that jaggery gives required warmth to body and helps in maintaining the metabolic activities. On the other hand, ginger is also one of the best anti-inflammatory substances which can also provide immunity against mild infections. Cardamom is another magical ingredient which can cure intestinal problems and constipation.

 

Kerala pakkavada

kerala cuisine

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Kerala snacks are incomplete without this delicious savory that comes in various shapes and sizes. The best of all is this Kerala pakkavada. It is a crunchy and little bit spicy which can please your taste buds in just one bite. Mostly seen in ribbon shape, this snack can also be consumed alongside spicy biryani or usual fried rice.

It is prepared with a blend of rice flour as well as chickpea flour (besan) kneaded into a semi solid dough. Chilli, turmeric, and some salt are added to bring about a wonderful taste in this Kerala snacks. There are equipments available in market through which it oozes out in ribbon shape. The best part about this snack, is that it gets cooked in less oil and is also very healthy and tasty.

 

Kerala mixture

Kerala snacks for kids

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Did someone say Kerala mixtures? Yes! How can we leave this behind? Mixtures and its unique elements have been favorite snacks to binge upon since forever. The roasted peanuts, the fried curry leaves and flavor of garlic is unforgettable at any cost.

These are prepared and fried separately and then mixed with each other to form a perfect blend of Kerala snacks in one platter. Any get together, party, or festival is dull without Kerala mixture. People from across the Indian subcontinent have expressed their fondness towards this mixture and they have totally loved its taste.

 

After exploring these five favorite Kerala snacks, many of you must have already ordered it online. We are lucky enough, because we can buy Kerala snacks online without much difficulty. So we would love to know which one of these are your favorite Kerala snacks. Share your feedback with us and we will come up with another exciting blog for you.

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Murukku with twist and turns in tradition

A snack has no shape, no occasion, and no reason to eat! It is welcomed and enjoyed at any time of the day or year. And here, we have a beloved and crunchy snack from the rich cuisine of south India. Yes! We are talking about Murukku. The thick batter, when twisted into a spiral shape and allowed to turn golden brown in hot oil, is worth relishing. It will be very interesting to explore fun facts about Murukku and the age-old equipment used to prepare the same. With a number of changes taking place in our tradition, one thing which has remained intact is the love for Murukku and its taste.

 

What is murukku?

murukku

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The name itself says “twisted.” It is a crunchy snack, particularly well-known in the southern part of India. Its popularity has eventually travelled to western side along with people trying out different recipes in north India as “Chakli”. The foundation being rice flour, besan, and urad dal, Murukku has been uniform throughout these years. Even after years, people love the same old crunchy texture of this snack. The only thing which has evolved is its shape. However, some small modifications are made such as the addition of certain spices, flavours, etc.

 

History of murukku

Small Murukku

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Apart from being famous all over India, its magic has spread to Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Singapore too. Did you know that things made out of rice flour, urad dal, and chickpea flour (besan) were always considered as auspicious? This is the reason behind rangoli made from rice flour is still an unbeatably auspicious ritual. Earlier we had the custom of mixing rice flour and urad dal with jaggery to make a lovely sweet. Then we started grinding them into a semi-solid dough to make flat paapdi like snacks. Slowly it was accompanied by crushed pepper, roasted cumin seeds, and what not! And finally, we have murukku with us in the most amazing form.

 

Nutritional value of murukku

As far as the nutritional value is concerned, you will find that all the staple ingredients are used. All the ingredients are easily digestible and healthy from the nutrition point of view. Although rice flour and urad dal have less fibre quotient, murukku made out of chickpea is rich in fibre. Apart from that, it is loaded with carbohydrates and calcium. Talking about vitamins, this snack has vitamin C in small quantity which is very useful for skin and gums. So overall if you analyze, it is a healthy snack to buy.

 

Occasions where murukku is served

murukku recipe

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Be it the festival or any other occasion like house warming ceremony, murukku has become an indelible part. We have seen in marriages that it is a part of return gift too. Deewali, Pongal, and even Christmas are incomplete if you didn’t share few murukkus with your friends and relatives. Even in birthdays and parties, there is a special place for this snack and other south Indian savouries. It is amazing that this one ancient snack can fit into any occasion without making people feel bored about it. Even the 10 minutes of tea break becomes wonderful when it is served along with the hot beverage.

 

Types of murukku

chakli recipe

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We have come across different murukku recipes which include different ingredients in varying proportions. After exploring the history and nutritional value, let us ponder upon the types of murukku we have at present.

  • The first of its kind is kai murukku which is prepared with a stiff dough. It is twisted and made in the form of a large coil with the help of hand only.
  • The famous Mannaparai murukku is named after the town in Tamilnadu. It is dark golden in colour because of the spices added to it. Also, it has roasted cumin seeds which enhance the taste and makes it much better.
  • There is a special kind of murukku for Gokulashtami which is made in the special steel apparatus with a perforated plate at one end and piston on the other. The semi-solid dough is filled up to brim and piston is pushed. The dough oozes out of perforation in small string-like shape. It is coiled and directly allowed into hot oil for deep frying. Apart from the coiled form, it also has a usual stick like shape with spiny texture too.
  • There are different chakli recipes too which are prepared with chickpea flour. It is steamed and made into a dough by adding roasted cumin seeds and some amount of spices. Chakli is also prepared like coiled murukku but with the help of steel apparatus and different plate with a single slit. Chakli is more prominent in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
  • Thenukuzhal murukku, on the other hand, is something which is little spicier and also has white sesame seeds.
  • And then, comes the most special murukku from traditional cuisine of Kerala. It is none other than Achu murukku which resembles the shape of the flower and is sweet to taste. It has a special flower like stencil which gives it the shape.

 

Thus, after looking at all the facts and murukku types, it is evident that it is one of the most favourite snacks. And we are sure that it will continue to amaze our taste buds for next few centuries too. As a kid, we all waited eagerly for our moms to make this delicacy in special occasion. But now, we all have the privilege to buy murukkus online by just sitting in our homes. So make use of this opportunity and share your unique murukku recipe with us. We are all ears when it comes to snacking!

 

External references

Murukku – The famous tea time snack

Murukku Galore

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8 Yummy recreations of plum cake like never before

Who doesn’t like cakes in different forms? It is quite obvious for us to talk about cakes, because why not? Christmas is approaching in few weeks. Most of you might have already planned for Christmas party. And of course, plum cake, by default, has been an indelible part of Christmas parties since forever. Now, with that in mind, we have thought of making it a little more interesting.

We would request you to not stick to the same old traditional sharing of plum cake with your friends and family. Instead, bring in some twist! Confused? Well, we have brought some yummy recreations of this marvel with easy and quick plum cake recipe. Just get your plum cake online and start your trials in the kitchen. Have a look at these recreations.

 

Creamy Plum Cake

plum cake

Adding some icing in your plum cake will do harm. Although it may add few calories Christmas happens only once in a year. You have 364 days to make up for it. So, all you have to do is divide your cake into 2 or 3 layers and do the icing with low-fat cream. The low-fat cream will take some time to develop that thick consistency but it will not add many calories. So, you can easily ice your cake and enjoy a creamier version of it.

 

Plums overloaded

Since plum is the main focus of plum cake, let us create a better one this Christmas. Get some fresh plums from the market and cut them into thin slices. Get your freshly baked plum cake and prepare thick caramel mixture. Now coat the plum slices one by one with caramel and decorate them in between the layers of cake. Make sure you do it while caramel is warm enough to not settle down as solid.

 

Chocolate Plumcake

plum cake online

Who would not love this plum cake recipe? It could be white chocolate or dark chocolate, depends on your taste. Melt chocolate with the help of double boiler technique and prepare enough paste to coat your cake. To make it little easier, you can also add some cocoa powder and chocolate chips to your cake batter while baking it at home. Otherwise, divide it into layers and get started with yummy icing alongside adding cherry water to the layers. This will keep your cake moist and you will enjoy it like never before. Do try it out!

 

Nutty delight plum cake

plum cake recipe

If you are someone who loves dry fruits and nuts, then this is the right plum cake recipe to follow. Chop the nuts of your choice into small pieces and make a mixture of the same. Add some honey to the mixture of nuts. Now, spread it in between the layers or on the topmost layer alone. The unique blend or plum cake, honey, and nuts will create an amazing dish to try.

 

Fruit punch in plum cake

plum cake

Just like we have a surprise for nut lovers, we also have a surprise for fruit enthusiasts. Just imagine a plum cake loaded with a variety of fruits or fruits of your choice. Wouldn’t it be great? Just grab your favourite fruits and cut them into thin slices. Just thin enough to fit perfectly between the layers of your plum cake. You can dip them in honey, chocolate, caramel, and also fruity sauces. In this context, it would be great if you added jams and fruit jellies between the layers. Also, you can create icing of respective flavour using the colour and essence. It is high time to bring out the chef in you and use your culinary skills at your best.

 

Nutri bar cum cake

Ever thought of having a nutria bar which tastes like plum cake? Hold your breath and keep reading because we have made it possible. Dry roast some almonds, corn flakes, and muesli in a pan. Now, mash your plum cake in such a way that it should be moulded into any shape. Keep some dry and powdered form of corn flakes with you for coating.

Now chop the almonds and mix the entire ingredient with honey. Give it a shape of the cubical bar using your hands and coat it with dry corn flakes powder to keep it dry. You can store it in the fridge for 3 to 4 days or make it instantly for immediate consumption. The shelf life of this nutria bar would be as long as the shelf life of your plum cake because that is the main ingredient.

 

Rich dessert with Plumcake

plum cake online

We have got enough idea about using plum cakes in different ways. Now, we shall create a whole new dessert using this and it is definitely going to activate your taste buds. You have to cut your cake into small cubes. Now, you can take a big bowl; add some chocolate sauce or fruit pulp in it. Then add the plum cake cubes and layer it with whipped cream. You can add another layer of chocolate sauce or fruit pulp along with the plum cake. Are you already feeling the heaven? Well, you can add as much ingredient as possible and make it your customized dessert.

 

Plumcake inside pancakes

Last but not the least! This is recipe will be loved by most of you and we can bet on that. The simple trick is to add crushed plum cake into pancake batter. Make pancakes in a usual manner with a twist in it. The little chunks of plum cake will take your experience to extraordinary level. You can have jams and fruity dips beside to relish it like never before.

 

So which one of the above are you going to try? We hope the recreations were worth the time you spent on reading them. It will be our pleasure if you shared your experience with these new plum cake recipes. Do not hesitate to add some more to this list. We would love to publish another set of similar recreations very soon. Enjoy your Christmas party and have a great time with friends and family.