After one week in India if there’s one thing I have learned it’s get used to being uncomfortable.
Get used to smelling armpits and waiting in long queues.
Get used to Ola drivers (Indias version of Uber) that don’t show up.
Get used to customer service representatives who will yell at you if you complain about anything (There are so many millions of people in India they don’t need your business) Research the joke of an airline IndiGoairlines if you want more details on that shit show.
Get used to pestering waiters for ice cubes
“I would like a water with six ice cubes please” words I say at almost every meal.
Get used to ninety percent humidity.
Get used to garbage and cows eating garbage like it’s the most tasty snack every where you go. Oh and trash eating eagles too!
Also get used to the most delicious puri’s, spicy coriander or coconut chutneys and tomato curries you can imagine.
Get used to fresh ground sugarcane juice, coconut juice and watermelon juice every day, available on almost every street corner or at every bar. (Also get used to bars that serve beer cocktails. Ew. Why?!)
When in Kerala get used to lobsters and crabs caught in nets off the coast you were just swimming in a few hours before. Get used to eating so much fresh caught seafood at beach side retreats that you feel like one of those goose that gets force feed until their liver explodes.
Get used to ninety percent humidity and feeling like you are dripping sweat while you have to cover your flesh pretty much head to toe if you are a woman.
When in the south Indian State of Kerala get used to some absolutely fantastic food, especially seafood! I had the most amazing meals for three days at our resort at Poovar Island, including my first time eating Uppuma, which I’m pretty sure is Malayalam for “Breakfast cous cous, yum” Our fantastic trip to Thiruvananthapuram was made better by the delicious coconut infused meals we had at our resorts amazing restaurant.
One thing about India, it may be a hot, dirty and filthy place but get used to experiences like nothing you have ever seen before in your life!
After visiting the far southern coast of Kerala I feel in love with the coconut infused food. This, Uppuma is my new favorite breakfast dish. If you can’t find raw coconuts where you live light coconut milk in the can works well.
Cous Cous Uppuma with Fennel and Cashews
2 cups coups cous
1/8 cup cashew nuts
1 teaspoon chopped ginger
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
1 coconut, meat removed and ground very fine
1 shredded carrot
1 teaspoon coconut oil
2 teaspoons fennel seeds
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon saffron powder
1 stalks celery, chopped
6 Curry leaves
1 spicy green chili, chopped
Juice of one lime
Cilantro leaves to garnish
Roast the cous coups a minute or two until brown. Cook as per ingredients on the box.
Heat the oil. Add the curry leaves, fennel seeds, garlic, and ginger. Chop the green chili and add. Add the carrot and celery. Stir in the coconut and the saffron and turmeric. Stir in the cous coups and let simmer on low for 5-10 minutes. Mix in the lime juice and garnish with cashew nuts and curry leaves.
This is a fantastic breakfast dish with eggs!
