Traditional flavours from grandma’s kitchen
HERE ARE THE TRADITIONAL RECIPES OF THREE DISHES WHICH WERE ONCE POPULAR AMONG THE SYRIAN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN KERALA
Pidiyum irachiyum’ literally means chicken with rice dumplings. It is one of the traditional dishes of Syrian Christian community in Kerala. Its origin dates back to 4th century, where a group of Christians under the leadership of Thomas of Knanay (Knanayi Thomman) arrived at Muziris Port. They were warmly welcomed by the King of Venad with 72 rights. The local people treated them with the Hindu community delicacies kozhukkatta (rice dumplings). As the guests were non-vegetarians, the chieftain asked the hosts to cook some meat dish for them.
The delicious dish later went on to become a upper caste privilege. The migrated community introduced the dish to Central and Northern Kerala in a variety of tastes. Pidi (dumpling) can be served separately with meat dish or can be cooked together with the curry. A complete meal, it is very popular in Central Travancore and Malabar regions of Kerala.
When I tasted this wonderful dish for the first time at an ancestral Syrian Christian home, the 85-yearold grandma there sporting the traditional attire mundum chattayum (traditional Kerala Christian woman attire of a white dhoti artistically folded in the back and a white long blouse) was more than happy to share with me the story behind the dish. A compete meal by itself, pidiyum irachiyum can be served as any meal of the day. It is also an offering on auspicious days of Christian religious festivals. There are two other dishes —
meen thekathiyathu and charu curry — cooked in the traditional manner and are unfortunately, vanishing as generations progress.