Glossary K

The food glossary +++ Popular Articles: 'Kamias', 'Kalkag', 'Kakang Gata'

- Kozhikodan Halwa / Halva :

Kozhikodan Halwa also spelled Halva are sweets from Kozhikode or Calicut, Kerala, India where the most special and delicious Halwas are made in the state of Kerala.

There is a street in Kozhikode named SM Street , Sweet Meat Street called Mithai Theruvu in Malayalam, the name given by European traders because of the many shops lined up on the streets selling Kozhikodan Halwa which they called as Sweet Meat .

In the past, this historic street was the busiest shopping and commercial center at the heart of Kozhikode and today the street is still busy with many shops that sell anything and everything including the famed Halwa, Banana Chips (Upperi) and other.

Below is a picture of Kozhikodan Halwa/Halva from Kozhikode (Calicut), Kerala, India. I was blessed to have tasted these different flavors of Halwa from this historic street. Very delicious. I will never get tired eating Halwa, my favorite is always the black one, which I have tasted in Allepey, Kerala, India during a festival.


Kozhikodan Halwa/Halva from Kozhikode (Calicut), Kerala, India

Katti Chappati also called Kathi Rolls is a food from South India made of Chappati which are wrapped various fillings then rolled, the most common choices of stuffings are potatoes, chicken and lamb cooked in assorted spices and curry leaves

In these pictures below, Chappati is being prepared to make Katti Chappati. It is one of the street foods being sold in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India during the daily night food market in one of the busy streets of saif city.

The street vendor is operating his Thattukada, which is a roadside or street eatery, fast food outlet or hawker food.

Some mobile or rolling Thattukada are mostly operating only in the night in Allepey Beach in Allepey, Kerala.

Kothu Porotta/Parotta refers to South Indian spiced Porotta (flat bread) which is made by tearing the Porotta into small pieces and then sautee these pieces of bread with slices of onions, scrambled eggs, chicken or mutton gravies and Masala powder.

Coimbatore is the second largest city and district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Below is a close-up view of Kothu Porotta/Parotta which is sold as night street food in one of the busy streets in Coimbatore and the street vendor using a mobile store to sell Kothu Porotta/Parotta that is serve in Banana leaf.

Kachil Puzhungiyathu refers to boiled Greater Yam (Kachil) which is one of the popular traditional food from Kerala, India. Kachil is a bit like Kappa (Cassava) in taste, but while Kappa is always available, Kachil is only available depending on the season. It is serve with a spicy Chammanthi or any kind of Curry and great during winter or cold months.

This Kachil Puzhungiyathu picture below was one of the foods sold during Annual Food Festival in Allepey Beach in Kerala in 2013. Annual Food Festival in Allepey in being held during the Christmas Season when many foreign and local tourist visit Allepey. It is participated by the local Restaurants.

Kaari is the Malayalam word for Cat Fish or Catfish. Catfish or Cat fish is also referred to in various Malayalam names, such as Silurus or Mushi-Silurus, Valia Etta and Thendu Kadu.

Kaari are usually caught by the locals in rivers and lakes surrounding the backwaters of Kerala, India

Here below are pictures of Kaari caught from one of the rivers in Allepey, Kerala, India by the locals.

Cleaned Kaari from an Iceplant in Allepey, Kerala, India
Cleaned Kaari from an Iceplant in Allepey, Kerala, India

In Kerala, they make mostly Meen Curry (Fish Curry) from any variety of fish that landed their kitchen.

In the Philippines, Catfish/ Cat Fish which is called Hito in Tagalog is mostly grilled (Please see another article of Inihaw na Hito)

Kodampuli refers to a fruit from Kerala, India which is used as souring agent as substitute for tamarind, especially for making Meen Curry. This is considered to be a magical fruit that transforms every South Indian dish delicious. It is one of the important ingredient present in South Indian pantry.