Kerala Christmas recipes, a collection of easy recipes from Kerala popular especially during the Christmas season.
Christmas in Kerala, or specifically Kottayam where I grew up, is a happy affair. We have stars adorning every household no matter what religion the homeowners follow, homemade wine is generously shared around, there’s an avalanche of Christmas fruit cake in different shapes and sizes from friends, family, well-wishers, business partners, neighbours – oh my, it’s an endless list.
Then there are the different set of carol singers with an unfortunate guy dressed up as Santa Claus in his loose fitting beard that keeps coming askew and the bright red gown covering an awkward, made up potbelly. I remember my brother setting out with his friends for “Carol Singing” since it was a decent way to make enough money for a hearty meal at the nearby thattukada after an evening of singing, dancing, and troubling our neighbourhood for money.
Having grown up in such a Christian-dominated society, I grew up with a lot of influence from the religion. I studied in a Christian School, almost all of my parents’ friends were Catholics and I remember I used to find more peace in Kurisupally, a church that was closer to my home than the nearby Thirunakkara Sivan Temple.
It’s been a few years since I have been home for Christmas so here’s a list of Christmas recipes from Kerala to keep my homesickness at bay. I have also borrowed some recipes from Swapna’s Cuisine. Swapna Chechy is my sister’s childhood friend and a wonderful cook, you’re sure to love her recipes too.
So here’s a list of Kerala Christmas Recipes. No Christmas recipe list is complete without the fruit cake so let’s start with the Kerala plum cake – the must-bake cake recipe from Kerala, with mixed fruits and burnt sugar
Here’s an eggless Kerala fruit cake recipe for those who want to avoid eggs in their fruit cake
Kerala-style spongy appam with kadala curry makes a great Christmas breakfast
Milk liqueur, a homemade liqueur made from milk and vodka. Wine and liqueur are popularly made at home during the Christmas season in Kerala.
Chicken balls, an easy snack for those guests who may drop in during the holiday season
Vellayappam, an appam recipe that’s made on the tawa. It’s thicker and spongier than the palappam we make with lacier edges.
Meat ball curry – use the appams to mop up this delicious curry with
Kerala red fish curry for lunch, or even breakfast. Why not?
Kerala-style vegetable ishtoo to go with idiyappam, appam, or even dosa.
That’s it folks. You can also check out this link for a list of cakes and cookies you can bake easily for Christmas.
hiba says
December 12, 2015 at 12:16 pmNice selection of recipes for this Christmas.:-)
nags says
December 13, 2015 at 7:15 pmthank you! glad you like them
Rani acharyulu says
December 6, 2011 at 2:08 pmOnce i tasted Vegetable stew Appam and Plum cake..yummy…thanks to visit my blog.
cheers
rani
Unknown says
November 29, 2011 at 10:20 amX'mas is big in Kottayam..! I still remember all the shops in Kanjikuzhy having tables out on the pavement filled with X'mas cards and stuff… By New Year's our house used to overrun with more cakes than we knew what to do with… Love X'mas time.. my fave time of the year..
Thanks for the list… 🙂
Poornima Nair says
November 29, 2011 at 2:17 amOur Father is one prayer I will never forget, the number of times we've said it:)…First time at your friends blog…will definitely try the appam.
sasi says
November 28, 2011 at 9:54 amHi Nag,
What ever you say …. Swapna's recipes are good but your kind of explanation with the pic by pic narration is aswome…..Thank you and keep it up.
notyet100 says
November 28, 2011 at 9:39 amEven I luv her space,..recipes are perfect for the Christmas,..
Aarthi says
November 28, 2011 at 4:23 amwow..would love to try that chicken balls..Yum
Echo's Kitchen -- A Taste of Memories says
November 28, 2011 at 2:34 amBrilliantly done… would love to try tha plum cake!
Arch says
November 27, 2011 at 3:02 pmThanks a ton for this link…Am definitely making that Christmas cake, looks so so good !!
Oh yes, can totally relate to the Catholic school bit, the 'Our Father' and the churches !
Shri says
November 27, 2011 at 1:24 pm:-D! Now where have we heard the first part again! Had to laugh. Many of us can relate to the 'convent-educated' part!!!! Was looking at the Vellayappam; we call vellayappam for the white one. This one looks more like a regular 'appam'.
Swapna says
November 27, 2011 at 6:32 amOh God… This is a big surprise on a lazy Sunday morning when I saw your mail Bindya!!! Thank you so much dear for recommending those recipes… I am on cloud 9 now :):)
Maya says
November 27, 2011 at 6:09 amFun post ! Im going to kerala fr a week, any recommendations fr authentic food ? Thnks