5 Traditional Foods to Try in Cochin

A foodie’s paradise, Kochi, formerly known as Cochin, is a city in the Southwest of India. Cochin is the financial capital of Kerala, with an active commercial port. This city has been a port since 1341, after a flood that opened opportunities for Arab, Chinese and European merchants. Cochin displays its rich past and present through a number of architectural wonders. Understanding the culture, living like the locals, and eating their food is an experience in itself. So, instead of booking your classic flight tickets from Delhi to Bangalore, why not take a trip to Cochin and experience another part of Southern India?

1. Parotta and Beef Fry

What butter chicken is to Punjabis, parotta and beef fry are to Keralites. This dish is loved by the locals and is always in demand. Parotta is what we usually know as Malabar Parantha. It is flaky and layered and can be made with both wheat and maida. Parotta and Beef Fry in Kerala is a match made in heaven.

2. Puttu Kadala

This dish is cooked in almost every household. Street vendors and restaurants serve this humble dish as breakfast. Ground rice, which is layered with coconut or banana shavings, is puttu, which is then paired with Kadala curry, which is black chickpeas cooked in a coconut gravy that has been roasted. Instead of taking a BBSR to Delhi flight, take one to Cochin, as this dish has made a special place not only in the hearts of the locals but also the tourists.

3. Palada Payasam

A local dessert of Cochin, Palada Payasam is made using rice flakes and milk. Payasam is also made with jaggery, which is a great sugar substitute and won’t get spoiled too quickly. This sweet dish is usually cooked in every household during the festival of Onam. Palada Payasam also has many different variants, although milk, sugar, rice ada, and ghee are used in all recipes.

4. Beef Vindaloo

Vindaloo is a dish introduced in India by the Portuguese. This dish is more popularly known as the local food of Goa but the beef variant of vindaloo is extremely popular in Kerala. This Anglo-Indian dish is fiery, pungent and one of the boldest curries. The perfect vindaloo is when the balance is just right with the chili, aromatic spices, and vinegar. These give you the perfect hit of spice, heat, and earthen spices.

5. Appam and Stew

How can we ever forget this master dish? This is also one of the staple foods in almost every house in Kerala. The stew gives you the choice of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian variants. The stew is generally based in coconut milk with your choice of meat or vegetable. This stew is paired with appam, which is a party in your mouth.

Just reading about these amazing dishes is not enough. You need to travel to Cochin and try these dishes for yourself. So, the next time you plan a holiday, check out Mumbai to Cochin flights for a total foodie getaway.