Malvani cuisine
Encyclopedia
Malvani cuisine is the standard cuisine of the Konkan
region of Maharashtra
and Goa
, and some northern parts of West Karnataka
. Although Malvani cuisine is predominantly non-vegetarian, there are many vegetarian delicacies. Although it is an independent cuisine, it overlaps Maharashtrian cuisine
and Goan cuisine. Malvan is a town in the Sindhudurg district on the west coast of Maharashtra.
Malvan
being a coastal area in Konkan
, it has its own distinct way of cooking food. Malvani cuisine uses coconut liberally in various forms such as grated, dry grated, fried, coconut paste and coconut milk.
Many masalas have dried red chilies and other spices like coriander seeds, peppercorns, cumin, cardamom, ginger, garlic, etc. Some dishes also use kokum, dried kokam (amsul), tamarind, and raw mango (kairi).
However not all of the cuisine is hot and spicy. The 'Konkanastha Brahmin' style of food is quite bland yet very tasty and vegetarian too.
Fish dishes dominate the Malvani cuisine. The fiery seafood curries may be a bit too spicy for some people, but are quite tasty. The Malvani cuisine is very similar to Goan or coastal South Indian cuisine.
Sol Kadhi is a pink colored appetizer drink made from the kokam fruit and Coconut Milk, often drunk after particularly hot and spicy Konkani / Malvani meal as it is very soothing.
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
region of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
and Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, and some northern parts of West Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
. Although Malvani cuisine is predominantly non-vegetarian, there are many vegetarian delicacies. Although it is an independent cuisine, it overlaps Maharashtrian cuisine
Maharashtrian cuisine
Maharashtrian cuisine is cuisine of the Marathi people, those from the state of Maharashtra in India. Maharashtrian cuisine covers a range from being mild to very spicy dishes. Wheat, rice, jowar, bajri, vegetables, lentils and fruit form important components of Maharashtrian diet...
and Goan cuisine. Malvan is a town in the Sindhudurg district on the west coast of Maharashtra.
Malvan
Malvan
Malvan is a town in Sindhudurg District, the southernmost district of Maharashtra. This culturally and historically important town is a Taluka place in Sindhudurg District...
being a coastal area in Konkan
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
, it has its own distinct way of cooking food. Malvani cuisine uses coconut liberally in various forms such as grated, dry grated, fried, coconut paste and coconut milk.
Many masalas have dried red chilies and other spices like coriander seeds, peppercorns, cumin, cardamom, ginger, garlic, etc. Some dishes also use kokum, dried kokam (amsul), tamarind, and raw mango (kairi).
However not all of the cuisine is hot and spicy. The 'Konkanastha Brahmin' style of food is quite bland yet very tasty and vegetarian too.
Fish dishes dominate the Malvani cuisine. The fiery seafood curries may be a bit too spicy for some people, but are quite tasty. The Malvani cuisine is very similar to Goan or coastal South Indian cuisine.
Sol Kadhi is a pink colored appetizer drink made from the kokam fruit and Coconut Milk, often drunk after particularly hot and spicy Konkani / Malvani meal as it is very soothing.
Main course
- Kombdi VadeKombdi vadeKombdi vade is a non-vegetarian dish native to the Malvan region in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The dish consists of a traditional Malvani chicken curry , vade , onions, lemon juice and sol-kadhi ....
(कोंबडी वडे) or Murgh Malvani is a non-vegetarian dish, which is quite popular in Maharashtra. The dish consists of the traditional Malvani chicken curry (including chicken pieces with bones), vade (like a puri, which is a fluffy, fried bread of wheat and nachni flour), onion, lemon and solkadhi.
- Mori Masala (मोरीचां मटण)or Shark curry is a highly popular dish along the Konkan coast.
- SolkadhiSolkadhiSolkadhi is an energizing drink, popular in the Konkan region of India, made from coconut milk and kokum. The preparation is prepared from liquid extracted from fresh coconut known as coconut milk, nowadays you can also get this extracted milk in TetraPack. The coconut milk so obtained is usually...
(सोलकडी) is an energizing curry drink, highly popular in Konkan. It is made from coconut milk and kokam. It is usually served with Kombdi Vade, various fish delicacies and Mutton Malvani.
- Bangda Fry (तळल्लो बांगडो) is a popular dish, especially in MumbaiMumbaiMumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. The head of the Bangda (mackerel) fish is removed and discarded and the other part is fried as a whole.
- Malvani Mutton Curry is a highly popular dish throughout the Konkan region. It is similar to Murgh Malvani except that the spices are slightly different.
- Kavda Curry (कवड्याचां मटण) is an extremely delicious dish made from a local Konkani bird called "Khavda".
- Bombil Fry or Bombay Duck Fry is an immensely popular dish, especially in north Konkan regions such as MumbaiMumbaiMumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
and RaigadRaigad districtRaigad District , also known as Raigarh District, is a district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Konkan region. The district was renamed after Raigad, the fort which was the former capital of the Maratha leader Shivaji, and is located in the interior regions of the district,...
.
- Paplet Saar is a dish consisting of PomfretPomfretPomfret are perciform fishes belonging to the family Bramidae.They are found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, and the largest species, the Atlantic pomfret, Brama brama, grows up to long....
cooked in traditional Malvani fish curry. This dish is especially popular in MumbaiMumbaiMumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
.
- Phanasachi Bhaji is an exotic vegetarian dish, made from JackfruitJackfruitThe jackfruit is a species of tree in the Artocarpus genus of the mulberry family . It is native to parts of Southern and Southeast Asia. It is the national fruit of Bangladesh, . The jackfruit tree is believed to be indigenous to the southwestern rain forests of India...
, chillies and spices.
- Kaju Chi Aamti is a spicy curry of cajus (cashewCashewThe cashew is a tree in the family Anacardiaceae. Its English name derives from the Portuguese name for the fruit of the cashew tree, caju, which in turn derives from the indigenous Tupi name, acajú. It is now widely grown in tropical climates for its cashew nuts and cashew apples.-Etymology:The...
s). It is a spicy preparation and is savoured by the MalvaniMalvaniMalvani is a dialect of Konkani with significant Marathi influences and loanwords. Some define it as a Creole between Konkani and Marathi. Though Malvani does not have a unique script, scripts of the other languages native to the regions its speakers inhabit are used. Devanagari is used by most of...
populace.
- Fish Koliwada is an appetizer which has its origin in the coastal city of MumbaiMumbaiMumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
Punjabi migrants from Pakistan settled around Sion Koliwada, who started this unique style of simple yet packed with flavours, fried fish which today is known all over as Fish Koliwada.
Breads and cakes
- DhondasDhondasDhonas is a baked preparation made from Jackfruit or cucumber, rava.coconut and jaggery.-External links:*...
or Cucumber Cake is a baked preparation made from cucumber, rava and jaggery.
- Ghavan is a fried pancake and is especially popular in the SindhudurgSindhudurgSindhudurg is a fortress which occupies an islet in the Arabian Sea, just off the coast of Maharashtra in western India. The fortress lies on the shore of Malvan town of Sindhudurg District in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, south of Mumbai.-History:Sindhudurg was built by the great Maratha...
district. Its netted appearance gives it an even more enigmatic feel.
- Khaproli (खापरोळी ) is a sweet dish, highly popular in southern Konkan. The dish consists of a fluffy pancake dipped in yellow sweet juice.
- Tandalachi Bhakri (तांदळाची भाकरी ) is a BhakriBhakriBhakri is a round flat unleavened bread often used in the cuisine of western and central India, especially in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Malwa, Goa and northern Karnataka . It is coarser than a roti and can be compared to a British biscuit with respect to hardness.Bhakri as...
made of rice flour. It is the MalvaniMalvaniMalvani is a dialect of Konkani with significant Marathi influences and loanwords. Some define it as a Creole between Konkani and Marathi. Though Malvani does not have a unique script, scripts of the other languages native to the regions its speakers inhabit are used. Devanagari is used by most of...
equivalent of the MaharashtrianMaharashtrianMaharashtrian may refer to:*Maharashtrians or Marathi people*Relating to Maharashtra, India*A speaker of the Marathi language...
Jowari Bhakri or Bajri Bhakri, which is popular throughout the Deccan.
- Malvani Malpua is a sweet deep-fried delicacy, highly popular in MaharashtraMaharashtraMaharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. The dish is especially in big demand during the Islamic holy month of Ramzaan.