30 June, 2009

Announcing RCI July'09

Close to two and half years ago Lakshmi of Veggie Cuisine initiated an event that has become very dear to many food bloggers around the world; it is called RCI or Regional Cuisine of India. Each month, a region/state of India is chosen, and food bloggers around the globe are encouraged to explore the cuisine of that region/state and hence showcase some delicious and authentic dishes exclusive to the state/region.

After exploring many states and regions around our beloved motherland, this month I am honoured to take you all to my native land to sample and devour one of the finest cuisines. Yes my dear friends, this month we will be exploring the hidden gems in beautiful temple town of Udupi and gorgeous coastal city of Mangalore. The RCI for the month of July’09 is RCI-Udupi & Mangalorean Cuisine!


RCI-Udupi & Mangalore


Snuggled between the mighty Arabian Sea on the west and the majestic Western Ghats on the east is this beautiful cities of Udupi and Mangalore. Surrounded by beautiful backwaters of Netravati and Gurupura rivers, Udupi & Mangalore are famous for their rich cultural diversity and are also a commercial trade centres. Everywhere you go you can’t help but fall in love with beautiful green rolling hills, swaying coconut palms, roaring sea, sparkling freshwater streams and glorious red tiled-roof buildings.


Mangalorean cuisine is as diverse as the people who have ruled this beautiful temple and coastal cities for centuries. History shows that Mangalore was ruled by Kadambas, Vijayanagar dynasty, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Mysore kingdom, Portuguese and then by the British. Each and every ruler has left behind their rich food culture which has become a part and parcel of Mangalorean cuisine. With four predominant languages being Tulu, Konkani, Kannada and Beary, Mangalore cuisine is also influenced by the neighbouring states of Kerala and Goa.


When it comes to origin of Udupi cuisine it is belived to be linked to the famous Sri Krishna Temple of Udupi. According to Wiki, Lord Krishna is offered food of different varieties every day, and there are certain restrictions on ingredients during Chaturmasa (a four-month period during the monsoon season). These restrictions coupled with the requirement of variety led to innovation, especially in dishes incorporating seasonal and locally available materials. The main ingredients used in the preparation of these delightful cuisines are vegetables, greens, beans & pulses, coconut and seasonal fruits and it strictly follows the tradition of vegetarian cuisine. There are times when you will not find onions and garlic used in cooking. This delicious Udupi cuisine was developed by Shivalli Madhwa Brahmins who cooked food for Lord Krishna, and at Krishna Matha in Udupi, the food is provided free.


The basic ingredients used in Udupi-Mangalorean cuisine are simple and easily available. Many a times you will find the use the ingredients which are grown in the backyard or which can be picked from any farmer’s market. Udupi and Mangalore has tropical climate and thus has abundant palm/coconut trees all around. Every smallest of small back gardens in this region has at least one coconut tree and curry plant and thus its no wonder that these two are the heart and soul of Udupi-Mangalorean cuisine along with ginger, garlic and chillies. When it comes to non-vegetarian cooking, it is next to impossible not to include rich sea food and Mangalorean Fish Curry and Kori Rotti (dry rice flakes served with spicy chicken curry) are the signature non-vegetarian delicacies of this region.


Some of the Tulu, Brahmin and Konkani community’s well-known vegetarian dishes include Neer Dosa (lacy rice crepes), Shavige (Rice noodles), Kadubu (sweet or savoury steam cooked rice dumplings/cakes), Akki Pundi (Rice dumplings, Patrode (colacasia leaves stuffed with spicy batter and steam cooked), Sanna (Fluffy Idli made using Toddy or yeast), Khotte Kadubu (Idli made using jackfruit leaves), Surnali (sweet pancakes), Goli Baje (savoury deep fried fritters), Appa/Appey (sweet or savoury dumplings), Mangalore Bonda (spicy potato fritters), Mangalore Buns (sweet deep fried poori made using banana), Daali Thoy (Lentil soup), Usli, numerous vegetable Upkari/Palya (stir fried vegetables), Saaru (Lentil soups), Sasam (coconut based dish), Kodhel (spicy vegetable and coconut based curry), Kairasa, Gashi (vegetable or lentil based coconut curry), Bolu Huli or Bolu Kodhel (Plain spicy vegetable curry/soup), Kosambari (raw vegetable/fruit salads), Menaskai (Sweet, sour & spicy coconut-sesame curry made using fruits/vegetables), Udupi Sambar (Vegetables, coconut and lentil curry), Majjige Huli (Coconut & buttermilk/yogurt based veg curry), Paramannam (Kheer/Payasam), Rasayana (Milk or coconut milk based fruit dessert), etc.


Some of Tulu, Mangalorean Muslim and Konkani (includes Mangalorean Catholics) community’s signature non-vegetarian dishes include Mangalore Fish Curry, Kori Rotti (dry rice flakes served with spicy chicken curry), Bangude Pulimunchi (Silver-grey mackerels curry), Sanna-Dukra Maas (Sanna means Idli made using Toddy or yeast and Dukra Maas means pork), Pork Bafat, Mutton Biryani, Sorpotel etc. You can find good collection of Udupi-Mangalorean nonvegetarian cuisines here. Shendi (Toddy), a country liquor prepared from palm sap is a popular drink around the region.


If you are not familiar with this regional cooking, then it is worth checking few websites and blogs like Mane Adige, Aayi’s Recipes, Dalithoy, Home Spices, Konkan World, Mangalore Recipes, Konkani Recipes, Red Chillies and your truly’s Monsoon Spice.


So what are you waiting for? It’s up to you to decide whether you want to impress us with traditional recipes or bowl us with the modern twists. And don’t forget to have loads of fun while discovering new regional cuisine! Please don’t forget to share all those little tit-bits, tips, fond memories while you cook up the storm this month!!!



Here are the Guidelines:


1. Write a post on your blog featuring Udupi & Mangalorean Cuisine from 1st of July to 31st July, 2009.


2. Please link back to this announcement page and/or simply use the logo below, and also to Lakshmi’s RCI announcement page.


3. Please feel free to use the logo below or RCI logo created by Lakshmi.


4. Email the following details to sia[at]monsoonspice[dot]com with RCI-Udupi & Mangalorean Cuisine as the subject line by 31st July.
• Your name
• Your blog name
• Name of the Recipe
• Permalink/URL of your post
• A photograph of the final dish (Any size is fine. Don’t worry about resizing the image.)


5. Please remember that the deadline for this event is 31st July, 2009 and no late entries will be entertained. I'll not include your entries in the round-up unless I get them through emails as it's not feasible for me to check individual blogs and pick your entries. I will post the final round-up in first week of August.


6. There is no limit to the number of entries that you might want to contribute. If you don’t have a blog but wish to participate in this event, send your entries with a picture, your name and recipe to sia[at]monsoonspice[dot]com before the deadline. I will post the recipes with your picture in my blog and include it in the round-up.


Simply copy and paste the below code to your post to use these logos.



RCI-Udupi & Mangalore




RCI Logo1



So friends, don’t delay. Cook some delicious Udupi-Mangalorean cuisine and send your entries. Thank you, Lakshmi for this wonderful opportunity!

43 comments :

  1. This is a great event Sia :) Will definitely send in something. Happy hosting!

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  2. Awesome choice, Supriya! Will try to contribute. :)

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  3. I love that yakshagana logo!!

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  4. hey sia that a wonderful choice and i loved the logo, will try and send in few entries

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  5. we have some konkani friends back in kerala and their patrode is so so so yummy! i wont be able to get those leaves here but will surely cook up something else for your event :)

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  6. wow great choice for RCI happy hosting.

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  7. hey lovely event sia, ilove mangalore & udupi dishes, i will definitely participate

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  8. This is exciting... I was thinking of just this myself :) Now I need to call up friends and dig for recipes...

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  9. count me in!!wonderful choice.

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  10. Wow, was waiting for my home town to come on RCI.. Count me in Sia :)!!

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  11. Great event. Hope i can participate :)

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  12. Surprisingly I know nothing much about the Udupi/Manglorean cuisine. I'm eagerly waiting for the round up already to learn more about it and for the wonderful recipes which I can try later.

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  13. Hey Sia!
    I'd love to take part... since i'm a newbie to food blogging, this will be my first RCI...

    Wanted to know if i can send out entries for posts that i've already posted in my blog... I can give a link to this announcement page and RCI logos... or do i repost them this month, with RCI logo, announcement, etc??

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  14. @All, Thank u girls for such a positive response :) I look forward to some delciious entries :)

    Sum, u can either link to announcement page from ur old post or repost them :) But I do hope that u get time to cook something more dishes for RCI and enjoy participating :)

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  15. Thanks Sia!

    Yup... Definitely something more is gonna come too :)

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  16. yay! An event close to my heart. I will definitely send something in. Happy hosting Sia.

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  17. Lovely choice. Will try to send you something, Sia.

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  18. gr8 event..will try to send something

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  19. hooray, I am just in time! Can't wait to see all your goodies for this one, Sia. This will inspire me to keep cooking in the endless summer rain ;)

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  20. are u a mangi?
    do u speak tulu?..2nd mangi to come across in the blogworld..please tell me u know tulu..Stupid Sj doesnt kno!!
    :(

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  21. I will try to do some extensive search and come with konkani recipes :D Love your place.

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  22. Hi Sia

    will definitely try something. Love the banner

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  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  24. @Rush,
    yes, I am a Mangi :)
    and as far as Tulu is concerned, onte onte barpundu ~don't tell me I killed this beautiful lang~ ;)

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  25. count me in Sia.., I have learnt a whole lot of south canara recipes after marrying Shivalli Madhwa Brahmin :)
    Now that my mom-in-law is here, I can vouch for its authenticity.

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  26. I'm in and already sent you one of my favourites :)

    Miri

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  27. Irege baari edde tulu barpundu Sia,
    Eet nadapund ;)

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  28. Nice Event. Will surely try to send some entries.

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  29. Hi Sia.. I have sent you my entries for this event.. I did not get any response, just making sure.

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  30. @Rush,
    u r the only one in this whole planet who complimented for my tulu ;)

    @Pavitra,
    I am sorry girl, I haven't recieved your entry yet!!! I usually either reply or leave comment on your post within 3 days of receiving it. could u plz email me your entry again?

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  31. Can i send my old recipes too?????I wud love to be a part of this event Nd its close to my heart.

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  32. @Aparna,
    Yes you can send the recipes from your archives. either you can link back from your old posts to announcement page or create new post and mail me the details :) I will look forward to many recipes from u :)

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  33. Hi Sai,

    I am sending you my entry for the RCI udapi & mangalore event. Hope you have got it.
    The Yakshagana logo is very nice.

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  34. Hi Sia,

    I'm so glad that after so long u r back with the feast. Last year when I participated in other festivals U hosted,it was great fun..and above all my Hubby enjoyed eating good food, I made for your festivals ;)

    I have been to beautiful Udupi, but am not very sure to make the authentic dishes of the place. Still! I am all charged up, and shall try my level best.Will be consulting some of my friends for the recipe! :)))


    Thanks Dear!
    And yes! The logo is simply awesome :)

    Cheers,
    Rachana Shakyawar
    Blog: Humming Today

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  35. Hi Sia,

    I am a konkani and a blogger since last year. I thoroughly love Konkani food - Colombo, Koddel, Saaru, Upkari, Khotto, Muddo you name it.

    Will be sending my entries to your blog for sure.

    Please chk my blog which is a humble start at Konkani Foodie.I plan to showcase the two aspects of my blog - Konkani and Foodie explorations.

    Cheerz
    Ashwini.

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  36. Got an entry for you coming your way soon. Not ready yet. That logo with the html code rocks! Made my life so much easier :)

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  37. Hi Sia,
    I recently started blogging and came across RCI event.I was doing some research and found this dish as Udupi- Kosambari!I am assuming this is an authentic udupi dish!Can this be made with chickpea/channa?We make similar snack in Andhra:)

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  38. @Tasty, Kosambari s a typical kannadiga dish of raw vegetable/fruits/lentils. I have not come across anything called udupi kosambari but in my native of udupi/mangalore we add a tbsp or two of grated fresh coconut. I have come across similar recipes in Maharashtra where it is called as Koshambir and also other southern Indian states with different regional names. So it is kind of difficult to say which region they belong as every region/state has their ownways of making them where the ingredients or cooking style could be same or vary :) Why don't u share the recipe u have come across? It sound really interesting and i am eager to learn how this Udupi Kosambari is different from others. I need to ask my mom and aunts and see if they know something abt Udupi Kosambari.

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  39. @Sia
    While browsing I got ur blog... Its very nice blog...:)
    Happy to see this contest.... :)
    Nice to meet one more mangalorean blogger!
    U can find some more Mangalore veg recipes in my blog.. :)
    Here is the link: http://www.ruchiruchiadige.blogspot.com/

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  40. Thanks for the reply.As you said, the recipe that I have come across has coconut and that is how we make it to eat as a snack.BTW, I am from Andhra.We call them Shenagalu.But to your point, since lot of regions make a similar dish and there seems to be plenty of choices for me from Udupi,
    let me do justice!I will prbly send something else!!
    I dont think you make it any different-Boil channa,add seasoning, chilli and coconut!!

    You were quick to reply and appreciate that very much!

    Shri@tastytouch.blogspot.com

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  41. Hi Sia,
    I've sent my entry for the RCI udapi & mangalorean event. Hope you have got it.
    The Yakshagana logo is really sweet..
    Appreciate you for hosting this..
    Vanitha.

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Namaste! I am Sia and welcome to Monsoon Spice, my virtual home. Thank you for all your comments, inputs and feedback. I really appreciate the valuable time you spent browsing through my recipe repertoire.

I hope you have found what you are looking for today. Feel free to leave any questions or queries you have on the recipes posted here. If you have any recipe requests, please drop a line at Ask Sia page. I will try to respond to all your queries as soon as possible to best of my knowledge.

I welcome all your valuable inputs and constructive criticism as long as it is meant to help and improve the blog. I reserve the right to delete any comments that are rude, abusive, written with the intent to advertise, contain profanity or considered spam.

I hope that you will stop by again to read my rants, learn new recipes and share your ideas. Have a good look around and enjoy your time here. Thank you once again!