On the Shelf: Ancient Trade-Influenced Cuisines of Kerala

Tucked in your kitchens, this recipe book would be a promising find, revealing ancient traditions and secrets to cooking. the history of Kerala, much like its cuisine, is rich in flavour and draws influences from different countries. The state’s long coast and fragrant spices had deemed it a popular spot early on, and from there, its people took up new, foreign techniques and ingredients, effortlessly marrying it with what they already knew. Eating with History: Ancient Trade-Influenced Cuisines of Kerala pens down, in meticulous detail, over a hundred recipes and their origins. Most recipes listed in the book are from the author’s family’s kitchens, while others she takes from her friends and neighbours. Whether it be nadan kozhi (a Syrian Christian country chicken curry) or duck raichath (an anglo-Indian style duck served with rice), each recipe has been passed down through generations.