Kappa and Meen Curry(Tapioca and Fish Curry)

January 16 2010 | Category : Food | | (2) Comments

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If you are person whose “belly rules the mind” then Kerala is the right place to visit. And if not for its Kappa and Meen curry (tapioca and fish curry) what would Kerala’s cuisine be? Once known as the food of the motley crowd this mouth watering preparation is now part of the any traditional Kerala food menu. Served hot and spice the recipe would just blow your mind away. And that is a guarantee!

A tuber which is rich in fiber content, Kappa is common in all parts of the state. Though at the first glance it might look brown and rough, the tuber is milky white and easy to cook on the inside. Once cooked in a temperature of over 100 degree c, the tuber becomes soft and would just melt in your mouth. A sprinkle of salt and a spread of green chillies would make it ready for consumption.

kappa Meencurry by CelebrateKerala

kappa Meen Curry by Tomstory

kappa Meen Curry Ribish Thomas

But yet, in popular culinary imagination Kappa is incomplete without its counterpart fish curry, which is usually at its spicy best to suit the monsoon hit cool climate of the state. Since the origin of the recipe is from the masses the cheapest variety of fish, Sardines and Mackerels are used in preparation. Cooked into a gravy which is rich in chillies, ginger and garlic the dish is usually served hot with tapioca.

In the most modern variety of the preparation, many add turmeric, coriander and green chillies to give kappa a more homely feel. The fish which is served with this kind of preparation is usually of a higher order (Varaal, Aaikora and Aakoli). These three varieties fish that have big bones are found mostly in central and south Kerala and hence is added to the Kappa Meen curry recipes of these places. For a foodie with a blander sense of taste this preparation would suit more.

While Kappa is usually had with fish, there should be no disappointment among veggies. The fiber dish could be a feast when had with a unique chutney made of green chillies, coconut oil, salt and onions.

Kappa Meen Curry by Anilbps