December 19, 2008

Perfect Pantry of an Amamma

An amamma is, as I learnt after marriage, the female gender of an Achayan. So I guess I am supposed to be one :) Having gone through the cupboards of senior amammas (like my mom & mom-in law), I am listing the following must-haves in the pantry of a modern day amamma to muster up a spread of Keralite food any day. Here goes...

Non-refrigerated:
Rice (red unpolished parboiled is most authentic & most nutritious)
Cans of coconut milk or Maggi Coconut powder
Dried Lentils- Tuvar Dal, Urad Dal, Green Moong Dal, Yellow Moong Dal,Chana Dal
Ari Poddi (Rice powder, Red , brown or White avl in stores)
Maida or All purpose Flour (unbleached)
Kadala Maav or Chick pea flour
Aval or Poha
Tamarind(paste or whole)
Meen pulli
Onions
Shallots (same as Chommna uuli) - a must for authentic Kerala taste
Potatoes
Cashew Nuts
Kismis or raisins (Golden or Black)
Poppy seeds
jaggery

Masalas:
Turmeric
Red chilli powder(2 kinds-very red but not spicy, like paprika, and other is not so red but very spicy)
Coriander powder
Cumin seeds+powder
Peppercorn seeds + powder
Saunf seeds
fenugreek seeds + powder
Cardomom
Cinnamon
Dry Red Chilli
Mustard Seeds
Cloves
Bay leaves
Hing
Sambar masala mix
Rasam masala mix
Prepared Masala mixes like Eastern Egg Masala, Eastern Meat MasalaGaram Masala

Refrigerated section:
Frozen shredded Coconut
Yoghurt
Curry leaves
Coriander leaves
Green Chillies
Ginger
Garlic
Eggs
Chicken
Beef
Fish/shrimp
Basic Veggies-tomatoes,string/french Beans, carrot, cauliflower, cabbage.
Other optional but useful veggies- Raw Banana, okra, Bottle Gourd, yam, pumpkin, eggplant, frozen drumsticks.

2 comments:

  1. :Hi, This is by far the most interesting, endearing and probably the most 'original' (at the risk of getting clobbered, the next time we meet)section. Congrats. Makes very interesting reading.

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  2. :) Thanks for ur lovely comments, achacha.

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