The Minimalist Koli Pantry : August 27, 2015 on IFN

In this article I have enumerated the pantry essential required to set up a Koli Kitchen. On the way to setting it up you will learn the Koli vocabulary of the ingredients. Enjoy the simple Koli food which requires so little to make an absolutely lip-smacking meal.

1. Chavool – rice
2. Chavalacha peet - rice flour
3. Vala mavra – fresh seafood
4. Sukka mavra – dried seafood
5. Narol – coconut
6. Kokum – Garcinia indica
7. Halaad – turmeric
8. Jeera – cumin
9. Kothmir – cilantro
10. Meeth – sea salt and…
11. Koli masala - See more at: http://www.indiafoodnetwork.in/the-minimalist-koli-pantry/#sthash.wK1nhn9w.dpuf

1. Chavool – rice
2. Chavalacha peet - rice flour
3. Vala mavra – fresh seafood
4. Sukka mavra – dried seafood
5. Narol – coconut
6. Kokum – Garcinia indica
7. Halaad – turmeric
8. Jeera – cumin
9. Kothmir – cilantro
10. Meeth – sea salt and…
11. Koli masala

1. Chavool – rice
2. Chavalacha peet - rice flour
3. Vala mavra – fresh seafood
4. Sukka mavra – dried seafood
5. Narol – coconut
6. Kokum – Garcinia indica
7. Halaad – turmeric
8. Jeera – cumin
9. Kothmir – cilantro
10. Meeth – sea salt and…
11. Koli masala - See more at: http://www.indiafoodnetwork.in/the-minimalist-koli-pantry/#sthash.wK1nhn9w.dpuf

1. Chavool – rice
2. Chavalacha peet - rice flour
3. Vala mavra – fresh seafood
4. Sukka mavra – dried seafood
5. Narol – coconut
6. Kokum – Garcinia indica
7. Halaad – turmeric
8. Jeera – cumin
9. Kothmir – cilantro
10. Meeth – sea salt and…
11. Koli masala - See more at: http://www.indiafoodnetwork.in/the-minimalist-koli-pantry/#sthash.wK1nhn9w.dpuf

Read about each of this ingredient and its role in the Koli pantry and kitchen here.
http://www.indiafoodnetwork.in/the-minimalist-koli-pantry

1. Chavool – rice
2. Chavalacha peet - rice flour
3. Vala mavra – fresh seafood
4. Sukka mavra – dried seafood
5. Narol – coconut
6. Kokum – Garcinia indica
7. Halaad – turmeric
8. Jeera – cumin
9. Kothmir – cilantro
10. Meeth – sea salt and…
11. Koli masala - See more at: http://www.indiafoodnetwork.in/the-minimalist-koli-pantry/#sthash.wK1nhn9w.dpuf

THE ESSENCE OF ESAVAN : August 14, 2015 on IFN

This article talks about the love hate relationship of Koli with vegetables. How the Kolis convert the much hated vegetables to loved ones by cooking them in classic combinations with fish. The recipe featured in the article is a delicious combination of tiny shrimps with brinjals. Which is a popular combo in continental cooking too. 

“Kolis eat vegetarian food?” asked a surprised Mumbai friend. It is strange that many believe that we don’t eat vegetables at all. Truth be told, we love our veggies, but only with Esavan. 

When a Koli man is told that there’s some vegetable on the day’s menu, he will cringe and jowl without fail, half-pleading and half-authoratively ordering the woman of the house to add some esavan to the vegetarian dish. Esavan means essence in Koli, and it simply implies that the ‘essence’ of some fish (wet or dry) has to be added into the vegetable dish. - Read more at: http://www.indiafoodnetwork.in/the-essence-of-esavan

HOW TO EAT LIKE A KOLI : July 28, 2015 on IFN

This article talks about how Kolis eat fish as per season and there is a recipe for a crab curry at the end.

Aaji roti zayli? Bhook lagli mana. Jevaan de.

For as long as I can remember, hunger has always been for a specific food, and some times influenced by seasons. It was hunger for fresh kolim vanga in the months of summer, sode batatyacha kanji in the monsoons, and thin Sargyacha kanji over a heap of rice in the cooler months. Kanji here is Koli for curry and not the rice gruel. Go to IFN to read more...

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I have been writing for India Food Network on the Koli cuisine and food culture, exploring the staple ingredients, nuances and parallels in other cuisines. Sharing here so you can go read and follow the series. 

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