Mangalorean cuisine facts for kids
Mangalorean cuisine is the name for the delicious food from Mangalore, a city on the coast of India.
Because Mangalore is right by the sea, fish is a very important part of what most people eat. Some famous dishes include Sanna-Dukra Maas (Sanna is like a fluffy idli bread made with a special yeast, and Dukra Maas means Pork). Other popular pork dishes are Pork Bafat and Sorpotel. Muslim communities in Mangalore are known for their tasty Mutton Biryani. You can also find unique snacks like happala (crispy flatbreads) and sandige (fried crisps), and a spicy dish called puli munchi.
Discovering Mangalorean Meat Dishes
Mangalorean curries often use a lot of coconut and fresh curry leaves. They also add ginger, garlic, and chili for flavor. The food of Mangalorean Catholics shows some influence from Portuguese cooking. For example, Laitao is a famous roasted pork dish. It is often the main dish served at wedding dinners.
Mangalorean Catholics use different parts of pork in many of their pork dishes. You can see this in Pork Bafat, Cabidela, and Kalleze un Kiti (which means heart and intestines). Sanna-Dukra Maas (Sanna is a fluffy bread, and Dukra Maas is pork) is a very popular dish. Another favorite is Unde-Dukra Maas (Unde is a type of leavened bread, and Dukra Maas is pork).
Chicken and mutton dishes are also popular. Bokrea Maas (mutton) and Kunkda Maas (chicken) are enjoyed by many. A dish called Chicken Indaz is a good example. The traditional Rosachi kadi (Ros Curry) is a fish curry made with ros (coconut milk). It is often served during the Ros (anointing) ceremony. This special ceremony happens one or two days before a Mangalorean Catholic wedding.
The fish curry from Mangalore is famous all along the coast of India. Their Fish Roe Curry is especially known for its great taste. Fried fish, cooked in their unique style, is also very well-known. Other popular dishes include Sheveo Roce and Pathal Bakri. These are dry rice flakes that are dipped into delicious chicken gravy.
