Ada

From spices to seafood and coconut to rice, Kerala’s cuisine is varied, complex and delectable. Born out of the state’s rich culinary history is a sweet dish called Ada or Ela Ada. To make this sweet, grated coconut and sugar or jaggery are filled inside a rice flour dough and steamed in banana leaf. Sometimes, bananas are also part of the filling mix. It can be eaten as breakfast or a snack, and is a popular Onam delicacy, also popular during other festivals and special occasions.

The dish is a particularly healthy one, using ingredients that are helpful to the body and a healthy cooking method like steaming instead of frying. The choline in rice flour, which transports cholesterol from the liver, promotes liver health. Rice flour is also gluten-free and rich in fibre, which helps clean out the system and promotes gut health.

The jaggery in the filling comes with a range of health benefits too. Jaggery cleanses the body of dust and other unwanted particles and is especially vital in cleaning out the liver of toxins. This detoxification also helps with constipation. Its potassium balances electrolytes, boosts metabolism, and builds up muscles, all of which aid in weight loss. Jaggery also aids in smoother blood flow and balances blood pressure. It’s a great source of energy since it improves haemoglobin levels, and is rich in iron, which helps prevent anaemia. A great source of calcium, it also aids with joint pains and better bone health. Jaggery also helps the skin get healthier and boosts immunity.