This is a spicy curry from Kerala that can be eaten with idiyappam. Idiyappam, which is made of rice flour, is also called string hopper because of its noodle-like appearance. The string hopper can be found in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, although it is believed that it originated from Sri Lanka. Food historian K. T. Achaya believes that idiyappam was known among the ancient Tamil people around 1st century AD. The dish may also be served with ghee, grated coconut and sugar or with sweetened coconut milk instead of spicy curries. A traditional Idiyappam maker is needed to make the dish, which is prepared by hand pressing rice flour dough through the maker into thin swirls and then steaming them. Rice flour for idiyappam is readily available throughout Kerala.
