Payasam is a type of rice or vermicelli pudding common throughout South East Asia. Ranjini Menon’s Payasam with Ripe Bananas at The Turmerica in Wayanad is a Royal Malabar cuisine dessert. What makes it different? Ranjini says since bananas are plentiful in Wayanad, they make a great base for the pudding instead of the usual …
Puli-inchi – Tamarind Ginger Chutney is a flavourful chutney served for all auspicious occasions in Kerala. It’s also ALWAYS served as part of any multi-course Banana Leaf Thali meal. Our dear friend Ranjini Menon, the co-owner of The Turmerica Homestay in Wayanad demonstrates the recipe in the video below. The recipe follows.
Urulakizhangu – Keralan Potato Curry is popular throughout Kerala. It was love at first taste for us when our gracious hosts, the Menon family of The Turmerica, shared the recipe. And, we couldn’t help think it’s Kerala’s answer to that old British standard, the potato scallop. The difference is that these potatoes and onions cook …
Rice is an Indian staple and this nicely spiced South Indian recipe for tomato rice is endowed with incredible flavour and aroma. The secret? A bouquet of Keralan spices. Ranjini Menon made this tasty dish for us as part of our welcome dinner to The Turmerica. Writing the recipe now takes us right back to …
Caramelized bananas may use a French cooking technique, but the bananas themselves are a pure South Indian treat. There are about 20 varieties of bananas indigenous to Kerala. As far as we could tell, in our very serious banana connoisseur fact-finding mission, each is tastier than the one before. Our host at The Turmerica, Ranjini …
Puri – Deep-Fried Bread is a thin, round, and flat unleavened bread. It might seem daunting to deep-fry something but we promise, it’s easy and the only ingredients you need are whole wheat flour, water, salt, and oil. It’s fun to make and to eat – immediately from the pan. And, it’s highly entertaining, too, because …
Cherupayar is a green gram curry that uses whole moong beans. Moong beans are high in fiber, protein and antioxidants. They are also very tasty. After soaking the moong dal overnight, the recipe comes together quickly. Ranjini whipped this up for us early one morning as part of our South Indian breakfast at The Turmerica.
This Pumpkin Leaf Dry Curry recipe comes from Akila. Akila is a Paniyas tribal woman from Wayanad. She studied hospitality at school and now works with the Menon family at The Turmerica. Akila made this dish for Ranjini and Ranjini liked the Pumpkin Leaf Dry Curry so much she wanted to share it with us. …
This recipe for Royal Malabar Kalan is a vegetable stew made with key Keralan ingredients. There’s locally grown pepper, of course, and elephant’s foot yam, then raw bananas and chilies plus a little coconut to bring it all together. Our friend Ranjini Menon of The Turmerica in Wayanad loves to research the history of Keralan …
Read more about Royal Malabar Kalan – A Vegetable Stew with Yams and Coconut
Ethaka Appam or Banana Fritters are a favourite tea time treat. We’ve eaten them while floating through the Backwaters of Kerala, and they go beautifully with chai at our favourite roadside stops. They’re a great distraction from the perils and excitement of our road trips. No matter where we eat them, banana fritters are a …