Think Southern India, and the image of lush green Plantain and Coconut Trees comes to mind.
Both trees are so versatile that every part, from the root to the leaf, is edible or useful.
As much as I love coconut and plantains, and the various ways they can be used in the kitchen, ranging from sweet to savoury dishes, what I always applaud is the genius of using a Plantain Leaf to serve a meal. Eco-friendly, conscience-friendly and aesthetically pleasing too!
A meal served on a Plantain Leaf is known as Elai (Plantain Leaf) Sapad (Meal) in Tamil Nadu. Elai Sapad is a ‘full meal’ and almost always served as lunch. Share on XElai Sapad is best relished sitting cross-legged on the floor, but equally delicious when served on a table.
A fresh Plantain leaf is placed before you, with the leaf tip pointing to the left. Sprinkle a little water on it and rub it gently to wash it. When done, tilt the leaf away from you, letting the water droplets slide away, and you have a clean plate.
As soon as you’re done washing, a queue of servers lines up next to you, each waiting to serve a dish in precise order. Rice is served on the bottom half of the leaf, and the accompaniments that go with it are served on the top half. Salt, pickle, chutney, salad, and a variety of vegetables, both dry and in gravy, are reserved for the top half.
Vadai, Fried Chips, and Appalam (Papad) are placed in the middle of the leaf.
Rice on the lower half is topped with Ghee, Dal, Sambhar, a Mor Kuzhambu (Mor Ko-lum-bu, a curd-based dish, similar to Kadhi) and Rasam, of course not together but one after the other, with the rice being topped up as you eat your way through. Keep sipping at a glass of Buttermilk as you relish your Elai Sapad. A sweet (like Gulab Jamun) and/or Payasam (Kheer) finishes off the meal.
A Beeda (betel leaf/Paan) served at the end is as important as the full stop to end a sentence.
If, by now, you’re wondering, ‘How can one possibly eat all THAT?’, let me assure you that this simply cooked, delicately flavoured Sapad does not leave you feeling overstuffed and is digested within 2-3 hours.
After you’re done, don’t forget to fold the Plantain Leaf in half, toward you. This denotes gratitude and respect for the meal.
What is the thing to do after you’ve enjoyed your Elai Sapad? Enjoy a siesta! Bon Appétit!
Disclaimer: I am a Punjabi, born and raised in Bombay. I am married to a Telugu settled in Chennai. Any mistakes here are my own. Please feel free to correct me if you spot any.
This is fun Mayuri! Looks like You have finally settled down in Chennai. Elai Sapadu is part of a rich culture of tamil Nadu, andit can come with variants to suit the occassion. The one at the time of Vishu, in a tradidnal home is a totally different fare. But enjoyable in its own way.!!
Glad you enjoyed the post, Ramya. Thanks for reading!
What you’re saying is completely true. I know that everybody must say the same thing, but I just think that you put it in a way that everyone can understand. I’m sure you’ll reach so many people with what you’ve got to say.