Saraswat Cuisine - Pesco-vegetarian Cuisine

Pesco-vegetarian Cuisine

Many Saraswat Brahmins are pesco-vegetarians. The inclusion of fish in the diet is not looked upon as Non vegetarian. Legend has it that when the Saraswati River dried up, the Saraswats who could not farm, were permitted to eat sea food/fish. The fish were euphemistically called Sea Vegetable or झळकें from ( जल काय -Jal Kaay). Oysters for example are sometimes called 'samudra phalam' – sea fruit! L A typical Breakfast in a saraswat home may have included Pez (congee) of Ukdem Tandhul (Par-boiled rice) and Lonche (Pickles) and papad. Wealthier homes would partake of Dosa, Idli (in South Canara, Karnataka and other parts of South India) or Sannas (in Goa), along with chutney and or Sambhar. Shevaiyn phann or Phow (Gooda Phow or Meet Mirsange Phow) would be other breakfast specialities. Roties and bhakries also are types of bread eaten along with Tondak or seasoned batatabhaji (potato stir fry preparation). Lunch and dinner would have Daat DaliToi and rice (Xit pronounced sheeth) in a Dorke's home whereas Bhanaps would prefer Ambat with their rice for Kalvani. A typical Saraswat lunch would have Sheeth, Roass or Varann, in case it is non veg then it would be Hoomann, Bhaji, Tondak, Lonche, Papodd, and Toi or Kadhi. Kadhi is made to serve the duel purpose of Mukhashuddhhi (mouth purification, perhaps after all the relatively spicy stuff) and jeervonn (digestive Kadhis include asafoetida, Vomvom, Jeera, fennel seed). Sometimes the Kadhis are seasoned simply with Karivel and Sanswam (mustard seeds). Typically, this is a watery preparation which the luncher cups in his hand as it is poured onto his plate and drinks it before mixing a small portion of his rice with it to eat at the end of the meal. The most savoured as well as preferred Kadhis amongst the Konkani Saraswat Brahmins is the Kokumachi Kadhi or Konkam Kadhi. Kokum is a fruit found and grown within the western Konkan coast of India and is a speciality to every Saraswat cuisine. Formally it is often said that no meal is complete without Kokum Khadhi.