We might have misconstrued him for being someone who just can’t live without meat on his plate, considering the fact that he was from Pala, but No, that's not the case. Veteran politician KM Mani's answer to what he likes on his plate was surprising; he preferred lunch on a banana leaf. Mani sir, as he was affectionately called by everyone, was more than delighted to have delicious vegetarian food, according to his loving better half, Kuttiyamma. But this doesn’t mean that he was a complete vegetarian, although the meat consumption was rare and meagre.
This was Mani sir’s daily food routine. Milk tea without sugar when he woke up in the morning, which was around 5.30 am with the accompaniment of almost all the available major newspapers; the number of newspapers went up to five even. Newspaper reading was followed by a short prayer and exercise, a regular routine.
For breakfast, he preferred either idli or dosa with sambar. If not sambar, white chutney was the next option. To make white chutney, take coconut, green chillies and salt and grind well. Add a simple seasoning of mustard seeds popped in coconut oil to this finely blended paste, and chutney for the finance minister of Kerala was ready to be relished!
For lunch, a stir fry (thoran), curry and bitter gourd theeyal were regular items. Morukari (Buttermilk curry) was another one of Mani sir's favourites. The red fish curry, usually prepared with seer fish and Malabar tamarind in distinctive Pala-style was the cherry on the cake! The red fish curry is well-known for its irresistible flavour across Kerala. In fact, it is said that once you taste it, the savour lasts on your taste buds for a life time.
Another dish that Mani sir loved was tapioca puzhukku. Kuttiyamma shared the recipe: Grind onions and green chillies with a pinch of turmeric powder and keep the paste aside. When Tapioca is cooked well, add the ground paste, salt and grated coconut to it. The puzhukku is ready to serve. Like any other native of Pala, tapioca puzhukku with red fish curry is all that is needed to make his day, said Kuttiyamma four years back during a candid chat with Onmanorama. Out of curioosity, what is that special item Kuttiyamma likes to make for her significant other? Pat came the reply, “vegetable stew”. In Kuttiyamma’s words “the food intake of Mani sir was insufficient and it has always been that way. He likes vegetables, especially vegetable stew, so I make it quite frequently with thick coconut gravy”.
(This is a story published in 2015)
