The Cochin Jewish Book of Meat and Fish

by Dr Essie Sassoon, Bala Menon, Kenny Salem

Overview

The Cochinim (as the Jews from Cochin are called in Israel), like Jews across the world, love their food. However, their diet does not have the bland cholent, kishke and gefilte that are considered traditional Jewish fare. Throughout the 2000 years of their joyful history in the erstwhile Kingdom of Cochin, on the lush, rain-swept Malabar coast of India, the observance of kosher laws has been absolute and a mark of their identity. They acculturated without being assimilated into the dominant culture of the Hindus. The Cochini cuisine is a flavourful combination of rich spices like cumin, cardamom, cinnamon and pepper combined with coconut and coriander to make a wonderful array of dishes, all adhering to the strict dietary laws of the Hebrew Bible. Every Cochin Jewish kitchen became a place for gourmet cooking, with dishes that burst with flavour and health, tantalizing and satiating generations. The Jewish housewife picked up ideas from friends, neighbors and acquaintances, tweaked them to conform to Jewish law and passed it down from generation to generation.They infused their dishes with the magic of tamarind and curry leaves, and created others using ginger, turmeric, asafoetida, red and green chillies and fenugreek. Aromas, colours, mystery flavours, the heat of chillies and spices cooled with coconut milk combine to make Keralan and Cochini cuisine a kaleidoscopic adventure that keeps rolling through the day - everyday. The Cochinis in Israel still prepare the same traditional fare. As they say in Hebrew, "Be Te’avon" - Enjoy!

Product Details

BN ID:	2940152608380
Publisher:	Tamarind Tree Books Inc.
Publication date:	03/28/2016
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Retired Gynaecologist. Born in the erstwhile Kingdom of Cochin in Kerala; was Specialist Associate Professor at Calicut Medical College, when she volunteered for duty in Israel during the Yom Kippur War, serving at Telashomer Hospital in Ramat Gan; Later became Deputy Head of Department at Barzilai Medical Centre in Ashkelon, where she now lives. Twice honoured for meritorious service, Dr. Sassoon now devotes her time to her hobbies - cooking, sports and folk dancing.

Journalist_artist_historian_researcher_blogger_storyteller. Bala began his career with Times of India, Mumbai and later took up assignments in national newspapers in the Sultanate of Oman and United Arab Emirates. Widely travelled. Now works at a publishing house in Toronto, Canada. Lives in the city of Brampton, west of Toronto. Co-author of "Spice & Kosher: Exotic Cuisine of the Cochin Jews" *2013), the parent book of the Spice & Kosher Ebook Series. Was Joint Editor of 'Rhapsody Lane: A Selection of Works by Flower City Writers", published in 2015.

Well-versed in Sephardic customs and lore, Kenny was born in Mattancherry (Synagogue Lane) and is scion of the illustrious Salem Family of Cochin. Graduated from Government Engineering College in Thrissur (central Kerala), made aliyah in 1987 and settled in Canada in 1990. Was active in motorsports, including the gruelling Himalayan Rally and other races. Runs an engineering and transport business and lives in King City, north of Toronto.