A Cooking Class in Thekkady in Kerala, India …who is a rickshaw driver also

How amazing to do a Special Cooking Class in Thekkady in Kerala, India with a Famous Chef who is a Rickshaw Driver.

by ToTravelToo

The best thing we did in Kerala was to hire our own driver.  If it was not for our driver Ajesh we would not have met Sheril J. Sukuman, famous Chef and Rickshaw Driver who runs private cooking classes in Kumily near Thekaddy.  For 500 rupees (approx. AUD10) we attended a cooking class with 3 other ladies from Europe.  

Sheril and his cooking class have been written about in the New York Times.

Location: Bar B Que, Kumily.

Sheril was a hard taskmaster.  Chatter was kept to a minimum whilst we worked hard chopping all vegetables to the correct size, all the spices had to be measured exactly and each dish cooked to perfection.  The hardest part of it was needing the dough for the parathas for 15 minutes.  We were exhausted after just one and we ended up having to make at least 5 between all of us.  

The Recipes from Cooking Class in Thekkady in Kerala

Beans Thoran

• 500gm beans
• 5 teaspoons of coconut oil
• 10gm mustard seeds
• 50gm chopped onions
• 50ml water
• Salt to taste
• 1 curry leaf

Method

• Cut green beans into 1/2cm pieces.
• Heat coconut oil and add mustard seeds. Add the rest of the spices and fry till the onions are light brown in colour. Add green beans and water. Cover and cook till the water is evaporated and beans are tender.

Dhal Thadukka

• 500gm Dahl
• 10 teaspoons coconut oil
• 10gm mustard seeds
• 200gm onions
• 50gm ginger
• 50gm garlic
• 2 tomatoes
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 4 green chili
• 1 curry leaf

Method to make Dhal Thadukka

Mix and cook in 1 litre of water in pressure cooker for 20 minutes

Roast Okra 

• 500gm okra
• 5 teaspoons coconut oil
• 10gm mustard seeds
• 50 gm. coconut slices
• 50gm onions
• 1 chili
• 1 curry leaf
• Salt to taste

Method

Heat coconut oil and add mustard seeds and onions till golden brown. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook for 10 minutes

Fish Curry

• 500gm fish
• 10 teaspoons coconut oil
• 10gm mustard seeds
• 100gm onions
• 50gm ginger
• 50gm garlic
• 3 tomatoes
• 1 coriander leaf
• 1 curry leaf

Method

Fry chili powder, turmeric, tamarind, and fenugreek, add 500ml water and other ingredients, add the fish and cook for 10 minutes until the fish is soft.

Paratha

• White wheat flour  – 1kg
• Water 300ml
• 1-teaspoon sugar
• 1-teaspoon salt
• Mix well for 15 minutes, the dough should not be sticky.  Set aside for 30 minutes.
• Need the dough well for 15 minutes. Divide the dough into equal parts. Flour a board, start to roll out the Parathas to about 7inches.
• Fry in 2 tablespoons of ghee or oil until bubbles appear and then flip them.

BBQ Masala Chicken Special

 

• 1kg chicken pieces
• 1 serving garam masala mix **
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ginger paste
• 1 teaspoon garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1 star anise
• 1 egg white
• 1 lemon

Mix it all add chicken pieces wait for 7 hours.

Garam Masala mix

• 10gm cardamon
• 10gm pepper
• 10gm clove
• 10gm cinnamon
• 10gm star anise
• 2gm nutmeg

Method:

Mix all ingredients well and keep in a jar.

Preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius and cook for 1 hour.

Alternative is to add the chicken pieces to skewers and cook on a BBQ till done.

Travel is about serendipity, and to do a Special Cooking Class in Thekkady in Kerala, India with a Famous Chef who is a Rickshaw Driver is just amazing.