Kizhi Parota

Kizhi Parotta or Banana Leaf Parotta

If you're someone who enjoys the taste and aroma of rich, flavorful gravy, this is something you absolutely shouldn't miss.  

Kizhi Parotta is a stack of parottas and meat (chicken or mutton) tightly wrapped in a banana leaf with the help of a thread. It is then steamed until the parotta and gravy infuse together, creating a delicious harmony of flavors.  

It tastes amazing with raita (onion mixed with curd). Try taking a large bite with a combination of kizhi parotta, chicken, and raita—let the cold, creamy curd contrast with the spicy gravy, making every bite a delight.  

The best kizhi parotta I’ve ever had comes from three places. The first was from **Copper Kitchen** in Chennai, the second was from **Banana Leaf**, and the third—by far the most memorable—was from an unexpected place during a road trip.  

---

The Unforgettable Road Trip

My friends and I were traveling from Kochi back to my hometown. It was getting late, and we were at risk of missing our bus back to college. One of my brilliant friends, who was in charge of navigation, suggested a route that would get us home in an hour and a half. I was relieved, so we took that route and drove for 30 minutes.  

But here’s the twist—this idiot had a "Point A to Point B" mindset but failed to factor in **how** we should be driving. Instead of a straightforward route, we ended up driving vertically across Kerala, covering most of the small state.  

Frustrated, we took a turn and decided to navigate based on the road signs. At some point, I hit a dent in my car’s alloy wheel, which cost us another hour to fix. At that point, we just said, “Screw it.”

With a fresh new vibe, we continued driving until we found a restaurant suggested by our Malayali friend in Alappuzha. That’s where we discovered the best kizhi parotta we’ve ever had.

As we waited for our food, my parents called, asking why we hadn’t reached home yet. I handed the car over to one of my vegetarian friends to drive. Unluckily for me, I was wearing my favorite white shirt—and you can guess what happened next.  So, I took it off and, for the rest of the journey, I traveled **half-naked across Kerala to Tamil Nadu**, enjoying kizhi parotta at midnight.  

A trip to remember.