A wide spread of fish and other non-vegetarian fare from the Muslim heartland

She may be 80-years-old, but Ummi Abdulla, an expert in Kerala's Moplah cuisine, is still busy writing recipe books and anchoring food festivals in Chennai and Bangalore.

"I am now working on a cook book listing out 50 types of Puttu. I have already completed two books - one each in Malayalam and English. The Malayalam book will be published soon," said Abdulla.

A sample fare of Kerala's Moplah cuisine (Photos: IANS)

A resident of Kozhikode in Kerala, Abdulla, an author of six books, is anchoring the Moplah food festival at Ente Keralam - a fine dining Kerala cuisine restaurant chain in Chennai (May 28-June 15) and Bangalore (June 11-29).

"This time we are offering a couple of new Moplah dishes apart from the main items that were there during the last year's edition of the festival," Abdulla said, offering a chilled Muthari Sherbat - a cooler made with palm sugar, ragi and fresh coconut milk.

Hundreds of years ago, many trading Arabs to Kerala stayed back, marrying the beautiful Keralite women. The Moplah is derived from the word Tamil word "maappillai" or the new groom/son-in-law.

The Moplah community is made up of Malayalam- speaking Muslims living in Kerala's Malabar region with their roots in Arabic countries.

Meanwhile a taster's portion of starters - Kallummekkaya Ulathiyathu (mussels marinated with traditional spices and stir fried with onions); Malabar Konju Porichathu (prawns marinated with spices and deep fried); Chemeen Unda (seasoned shrimps encased in rice flour dumpling and steamed) and Karimeen Pollichathu (Kerala's backwater fish pearl spot marinated and grilled in banana leaf) started arriving on the table.

The vegans have to forgive Ente Keralam as all the starters are non-vegetarians while seafood lovers can dive into the dishes.

The taste buds that got soothed by Muthari Sherbat suddenly got activated by the spicy mussels dish, which in turn brought all the senses alive.

The dish tastes great when taken with the steamed Chemeen Unda rice flour dumpling.

The crunchy Malabar Konju Porichathu vanished from the plate in no time.

Speaking about the Puttu recipe book, Abdulla said: "The difference will mainly be in the Puttu's filling, which could be fish, prawns or other items."

Ummi Abdulla continues to be busy at 80

The cylindrical-shaped Puttu is a South Indian dish made with ground rice and coconut. The Pineapple Puttu at Ente Keralam is one item that should not be missed.

As usual, the Karimeen Pollichathu - the standard feature in Kerala cuisine restaurants here - tasted good but for the problematic bones that continued to interrupt the plate-to-mouth Moplah mission!

"In Kozhikode, this dish is not very famous as people prefer sea fish," Abdulla said.

By then it was time for the main course and Abdulla suggested Podi Pathiri (thin rice flour bread), Ari Pathiri (thick griddled bread made with par-boiled rice), Nei Pathiri (deep fried rice flour bread), Meen Poricha Kakkam (fried fish with coating of special masala), Njandu Masala (crab meat cooked with Kerala spices and coconut) and Kozhi Mulagitathu (tomato-based spicy chicken gravy).

For those who want rice based dishes there are different kinds of Malabar Biryani's -chicken/mutton/prawn/fish/mussels.

On the vegetarian side, there is Muruingakka Manga Curry (drumsticks and raw mango curry) and Vendakka Mulakittathu (okra cooked in spicy tangy red chilli gravy tempered with mustard and curry leaves) and vegetable Biryani.

According to Abdulla, the Meen Poricha Kakkam is made by first frying the fish and coating it with a thick masala paste.

The three Pathiris go well with all the dishes.

For the sweet lovers, there is Mutta Mala (delicate egg yolk garland with steamed egg white pudding), Unnakal (cotton pod-shaped delicacy made with nendram bananas) and Pazham Mirachathu (Kerala banana stuffed with coconut and sugar), among others.

The average meal for two would cost around Rs.1,000-1,200. The Moplah feast is available for lunch and dinner. - IANS