Brahmin meal

A Group of American Dieticians found, in their study of food habits and cooking practices across the globe, that the South Indian Brahmin meal is, by far the best, to sustain and support good health.  

Here below, you find the Brahmin way of food preparation.

You are what you eat. Isn't it? At least, that seems the way Brahmins view cooking.

Brahmin cuisine is based on the concept that food shapes the personality, mood, and mind, and a healthy vegetarian diet fosters serene qualities. In Brahmin households, food is cooked with a great deal of attention to cleanliness; to the balancing of nutrition, flavour, and variety.

The spices they use play an important role in our everyday life.  Fenugreek as a digestive aid, cumin has multiple usages, dried legumes, and beans are great protein sources, pepper is the best home remedy for colds and coughs, turmeric is the wonder healer of wounds.

Curry leaves and coriander leaves aid cleansing the intestines and kidneys.

Every ingredient used in the Brahmin the cuisine has a purpose, that goes beyond its taste and texture.

Typically, idli, dosa, Rice upma are the common breakfast dishes. Brahmins do not prefer oily dishes in the morning for breakfast because consumption of oil blunts the brain temporarily and don’t we all need sharp minds in the morning hours at our workplace?

Tomato chutney is prepared as tomatoes contain lycopene, which is one of the most powerful antioxidants. A daily or even weekly dose of a spoonful of tomato chutney is good in preventing cancer.

Rice Upma is a ready breakfast in just over 7 minutes. It has all the goodness of rice and won't let you get hungry soon.

Some Brahmins skip breakfast. They straight go to lunch at about 10 AM. You stay fresh and agile, all through the day.

Lunch is not just a romance with food, lunch is an offering to the rejuvenation of the body, and the meal is cooked with the combination of spices in such a way that the soul stays serene.

Plantain stem curry, the white centerpiece of the banana plant is chopped and added with assorted spices. It makes a delicious side dish. It is high in fiber content and aids in digestion. Babies are fed with the juice of plantain stem to be cured of colic.

Yet another favourite amongst all is lady’s finger fry.  It’s an absolute yummy dish. Kids are often told that ladys' fingers make them brainy, smart and intelligent.  

 Greens are a great favourite in this community.  Almost every day there would be some dish prepared with fresh green leaves.  Some common dishes prepared with greens are methi leaves dhaal and Plain green leaves dhaal that is present every alternate day.

Yet another awesome healthy dish is buttermilk or spiced yogurt salty kheer. This tastes great with raw banana curry.

Jaggery water spiced with dry ginger, known as Paanagam/ Paanakam and Kosumalli/ Kosambari is offered to Lord Rama. There are various variations to Kosumalli like Carrot Kosumalli, Cucumber Kosumalli, Radish Kosumalli and so on. One thing in this community’s dishes is amazing that almost any dish can be substituted with any vegetable, fruit or grain and still made equally tasty with the assorted spice and flavor.

Brahmins have to finally eat curd rice with a pickle. They believe that curd rice is absolutely essential to make a meal complete because of its cooling properties. The stomach needs to be cooled after such a very heavy and spicy meal.

A ripe banana is taken at the end, to top it all.