Kerala Christian weddings are a grand blend of tradition, faith, and celebration. While the church ceremony is simple and elegant, the Kerala Christian wedding food menu is where the festivity truly comes alive. A highlight for every guest, the wedding meal reflects Kerala’s rich culinary heritage with a mix of Syrian Christian, Portuguese, and local influences.
In this article, we’ll explore everything about the Kerala Christian wedding menu, including food lists, lunch traditions, and the grand reception feast.
Importance of Food in Kerala Christian Weddings
Food plays a central role in Kerala weddings, especially in Christian ceremonies. Unlike vegetarian Hindu feasts, Kerala Christian weddings are known for their lavish non-vegetarian spread, where fish, chicken, mutton, and beef often take center stage.
Some highlights of a Kerala Christian wedding menu include:
- Rich curries cooked with coconut milk, spices, and roasted masalas.
- Appams, rice, and bread varieties as main accompaniments.
- Seafood dishes like fish molly, prawn curry, or karimeen pollichathu.
- Traditional sweets and desserts such as palada payasam and plum cake.
Kerala Christian Wedding Food Menu
A typical Kerala Christian wedding food menu includes:
Starters & Drinks
- Grape Wine (a traditional welcome drink)
- Banana Chips & Sarkara Upperi (jaggery-coated banana fritters)
- Cutlets (chicken, mutton, or fish cutlets)
Main Course
- Rice & Breads
- Appam (soft rice pancakes)
- Idiyappam (string hoppers)
- White Rice / Ghee Rice
- Neychoru (Ghee Rice with spices and nuts)
- Appam (soft rice pancakes)
- Curries & Gravies
- Fish Molly (Kerala-style fish curry with coconut milk)
- Chicken Roast / Chicken Curry
- Beef Ularthiyathu (beef roast with spices)
- Mutton Stew
- Duck Roast (in some traditional Syrian Christian weddings)
- Vegetable Kurma (for vegetarian guests)
- Fish Molly (Kerala-style fish curry with coconut milk)
- Side Dishes
- Mezhukkupuratti (stir-fried vegetables)
- Thoran (vegetable stir fry with coconut)
- Pickles (fish, mango, lime)
- Pappadam (crispy wafers)
- Mezhukkupuratti (stir-fried vegetables)
Desserts
- Palada Payasam (traditional sweet milk pudding)
- Ada Pradhaman (jaggery and rice ada dessert)
- Carrot Halwa / Fruit Salad with Ice Cream
- Plum Cake with Wine (symbolic in Kerala Christian weddings)
Kerala Christian Wedding Food Menu List
Here’s a sample Kerala Christian wedding food menu list for easy reference:
- Welcome Drink – Grape Wine, Fresh Juice
- Starters – Banana Chips, Sarkara Upperi, Chicken Cutlet
- Main Course – Appam, Idiyappam, Ghee Rice, Neychoru
- Curries – Fish Molly, Chicken Roast, Beef Ularthiyathu, Mutton Stew, Vegetable Kurma
- Accompaniments – Pappadam, Pickles, Thoran, Mezhukkupuratti
- Desserts – Palada Payasam, Ada Pradhaman, Plum Cake
This menu varies depending on whether it’s a traditional Syrian Christian wedding or a modern Christian wedding reception.
Kerala Christian Wedding Menu
The Kerala Christian wedding menu is usually served buffet-style at receptions. In contrast to the banana leaf meals common in Hindu weddings, Christian weddings often feature an elaborate buffet spread.
A typical buffet menu may include:
- Rice & Bread Varieties – Appam, Idiyappam, Ghee Rice, Biryani, Chapati
- Non-Vegetarian Dishes – Fish Curry, Chicken Roast, Beef Fry, Mutton Curry, Prawns Masala
- Vegetarian Dishes – Avial, Thoran, Vegetable Kurma, Dal Curry
- Snacks – Cutlets, Banana Chips, Pickles
- Desserts – Payasam, Ice Cream, Gulab Jamun, Plum Cake
Kerala Christian Wedding Reception Menu
The Kerala Christian wedding reception menu is where tradition meets modern celebration. Unlike the formal wedding lunch, receptions tend to be more elaborate and often include multi-cuisine options.
Sample Reception Menu:
Starters:
- Chicken Cutlets / Fish Cutlets
- Paneer Tikka / Veg Spring Rolls
- Fresh Juice or Mocktails
Main Course:
- Kerala Style Appam, Idiyappam
- Ghee Rice / Fried Rice / Biryani
- Chicken Roast / Butter Chicken
- Beef Ularthiyathu / Mutton Rogan Josh
- Fish Molly / Karimeen Pollichathu
- Vegetable Kurma / Paneer Butter Masala
- Chapati, Naan, Poori
Accompaniments:
- Pickles, Salad, Raitha, Pappadam
Desserts:
- Palada Payasam
- Ice Cream with Fruit Salad
- Gulab Jamun
- Plum Cake with Wine
Tips for Planning a Kerala Christian Wedding Menu
- Balance Tradition & Modernity – Keep traditional Kerala dishes like appam and fish curry while also including modern items like biryani or pasta.
- Include Seafood Specialties – Kerala weddings are incomplete without fish or prawns.
- Don’t Forget the Payasam – At least one traditional payasam is a must-have dessert.
- Plan for All Guests – Include both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
- Reception Can Be Multi-Cuisine – While lunch is traditional, receptions can feature North Indian, Chinese, or Continental items.
Conclusion
A Kerala Christian wedding food menu is a grand feast that reflects the cultural richness of Kerala’s Christian community. From the traditional Kerala Christian wedding lunch menu with appam, fish curry, and payasam, to the elaborate wedding reception buffet menu, every dish is cooked with love, flavor, and tradition.
Whether you’re looking for a Kerala Christian wedding food menu list for planning or ideas for a modern wedding reception menu, this guide gives you everything you need to design a memorable wedding feast.