Coorg: The Cookbook is a journey across the stunning landscape of Kodagu into its villages, rice fields, sacred groves, festivals, ancestral homes, and coffee plantations. It presents a vibrant and enduring culture through the lens of food. Kaveri Ponnapa has been immersed in exploring the culture and cuisine of Kodagu for almost three decades, and after her highly regarded work, The Vanishing Kodavas (Eminence 2013), she invites home cooks and readers to discover Kodava culinary traditions—many of which are shared by other groups of people who over time made Coorg their home—through more than one hundred recipes with easy-to-follow instructions. The foods and ingredients reflect the heart of a cuisine built around rice cultivation, foraging, and hunting, which has shaped the way people continue to cook and eat. Recipes are interspersed with vivid portraits of home cooks, producers, beekeepers and farmers, and descriptions of ways of cooking that have been passed down generations which, along with the gorgeous images, capture the essence of the people and the place.
The treasure trove of recipes includes the deep flavours of Rich, Dark Pork Curry, a range of steamed rice dumplings and rice cakes, Spicy Crab Curry, Pepper-Fried Mutton Chops, smoked and dried meats, foraged foods such as Wild Mushroom Curry, and Pan-Fried Tender Bamboo Shoots, a wide variety of vegetables including Pumpkin Curry with Coconut, appetising pickles, and sweets such as Miniature Jackfruit Pancakes and Deep-Fried Banana Fritters. The food reflects the appealing flavours and seasonal way of eating typical of the cuisine. Through pages of rich text and narrative, an extensive glossary, and insightful essays on heritage crops and foods, this is a book that brings alive the nuances of the Kodava culinary legacy.
This is more than a cookbook. It is a treasure that preserves and transfers the culinary knowledge of the Kodava community from one generation to the next. Through recipes and memories, it safeguards traditions that are deeply rooted in our land, culture, and ancestral kitchens.
It also reminds us how closely our cuisine is tied to nature. Many ingredients once came directly from the fields and forests around us. I only pray that nature continues to provide these gifts and that we protect them. The aquatic life of the paddy fields has already diminished due to fertilisers, and greens like therme and thathe are becoming rare with the loss of bane, the traditional grazing lands.
May Kaveri akka inspire and motivate us, and the younger generation, to restore and nurture these ecosystems so that the ingredients, traditions, and wisdom of our land continue to thrive for generations to come.
Hello Kishoo, I deeply appreciate your thoughtful reading and understanding of the many connected subjects written about in this book. Part of the urgency to write about all these topics stems from the tremendous pressure being placed on the land, even as we speak. Coorg is a very small place, and the current demands on the landscape are unsustainable. Like you, I hope for a reprieve.
Kind regards.
Kaveri
I finally got my hands on my copy of Coorg – The Cookbook! What a stunning book. The painstaking detail clearly shows the effort that went into compiling it. And the photographs are the icing on the cake. This is a keepsake. Something to be treasured and handed down to children and grandchildren. Congratulations!
On another note, I hope another print run of The Vanishing Kodavas is on the cards soon. I purchased an early copy for my mother, but didn’t manage to get one for myself. It would be wonderful to have one more chance! All the best.
Hello Vidya, much went into this book, thank you for appreciating the many layers and details. I hope you enjoy reading and cooking.
About The Vanishing Kodavas—I am not sure. It would be another enormous project that would require a lot of commitment and investment of every kind of resource imaginable. It would be wonderful if things fall in place, and it happens.
Best wishes.
Kaveri
I was fortunate enough to get an early copy of the Coorg, the cookbook.
To call this just as a cookbook does not do justice to the depth and breadth of the topics covered by Kaveri. It is a beautiful exploration of the culture, heritage, people and the beautiful land where this food is grown. The photographs interspersed throughout the book are a visual treat!
As a lifelong vegetarian, I opened the book wondering if it will have any vegetarian recipes as the Kodava cuisine (in my limited understanding) was primarily meat based. However, to my pleasant surprise, the book has a wonderful collection of delicious vegetarian recipes.
Over the past weekend, we had another family over at our home for dinner. I of course had the book on our coffee table and had also made the Paringae chekkae kari as one of the dishes for dinner. My guests flipped through the book and were fascinated by the content. It spurred conversations about the various cuisines, the underlying cultural and geographical context of cuisines and how it evolved over generations. So it was a fantastic conversation starter. In addition, the guests also loved the dish I made with the recipe from the book. It was bursting with flavor and the contrast between the sweet and tanginess of the pineapple with the spices left a lingering taste in our mouths!
Congratulations and Best Wishes Kaveri. This book is truly one of a kind and every word, photograph and recipe shows the passion that went behind creating this masterpiece! Thank you for sharing it with us! We deeply appreciate it!
Thank you for your thoughtful and vivid description of Coorg:The Cookbook. I could not have hoped for a better appreciation of all that went into the writing and making of this book. So glad to hear that you enjoyed cooking from it— I hope you get to try more dishes, and enjoy them as much as you did this one. Coorg’s vegetable dishes are a real treat, and most of them are easily made. I would recommend some of the chutneys, as well as the mor pajjis, which are just right for the coming summer months.
Best wishes,
Kaveri
Kaveri , through your books you highlight just how much our tribe means to all of us and how truly blessed we are. Your writings give us immense pride in our ancestors who have preserved and passed down this precious heritage to us.
Your dedication to staying deeply connected with our culture and cuisine ensures this legacy is documented , celebrated and shared with future generations.
Thank you.
Ashwini Nachappa
So glad to hear from you, Ashwini. Thank you for having taken the time to write, and express so beautifully what these books mean to you, and to others around you. I hope you enjoy reading this one, and cooking from it.
Best wishes,
Kaveri
Congratulations to Kaveri Ponnapa on launching “Coorg- the Cookbook”. I attended the recent Kodagu launch event and witnessed a fascinating weave of culture, heritage and history interlocking the main thread of recipes. Owing to Kaveri’s scholarly background of anthropology, juxtaposing her passion for cooking, textiles and culture, the event itself was a stand out, with carefully curated conversation and an exquisite culinary fare replete with traditional Kodava cuisine and neighbouring lip smackers. Upon returning home, my curiosity bested me as I began devouring the pages of this cookbook. Barely halfway through I realised, this is not just a cookbook. Or rather, if this book must be termed a cookbook, the benchmark is incredulously high for others trying their hand at writing one.
What Kaveri has done is beyond just a mere collection of well preserved recipes (a herculean task in itself). She has interwoven stories of the land, the heartbeat of our ancestors, the rhythm of the Kodava tribe, the fragrance of the hills, the richness of its simplicity, all in a style exquisitely hers. Every page feels like a hug, every recipe ignites a core memory and the book feels like one grand thing – ‘a legacy’.
Kodava people often begin collecting and gathering sentimental and meaningful objecting for their daughter’s ‘Potti’ (bridal trousseau) many years in advance. This book is a perfect fit into every family’s trousseau preparation, to carry forth from one generation to the next.
Thank you Kaveri Akka and Naresh Anna for years of your hard work, dedication and passion that is clearly visible in this labour of love. May you be blessed with strength and good health by Kaveramme and Igguthappa to continue adding indelible gems to the tapestry of documenting Kodava culture and heritage.
Hello Shilpa,
Wonderful words of appreciation about my book, and the book launch. It was a special day, filled with warmth and goodwill that I will hold for years to come. Thank you for seeing the many layers and nuances to this book. I hope you enjoy cooking from it, and reading the stories. It was a delight to see your young son wandering around with the book, poring over its pages!
Best wishes,
Kaveri
Glancing through the book, shows the effort to minute details on Coorg cuisine and its ancestry,
Coorg the cookbook is a must have book for every kodava and those in the culinary domain .
Congratulations Kaveri Ponnapa for the meticulously curated research and the presentation!
Thank you very much for appreciating the work that went into this book, it holds a precious part of our heritage.
I hope you enjoy both reading the book, and cooking from it.
Kaveri
I tried making the Budi kumbala more Kari from your stunning book and it turned out really well and tasted delicious.
Thank you so much for this beautiful book, one to be preserved and passed on to the generation next.
Many Congratulations on your new book acca, it’s a treasure for all good food lovers.
So glad you enjoyed it, it’s one of my childhood favourites, when no one liked it much! It’s such a soothing curry, and used to turn up on my grandmom’s table. Thank you for your kind words for my book, enjoy reading and cooking.
Kaveri
Through this book, you’ve done far more than document cuisine-you’ve safeguarded memory, ritual, landscape, and lineage. Your scholarship gives Kodava food its rightful place as history on a plate, layered with lived experience, oral tradition, and rigorous research. The literary world is richer for it, and so is our understanding of how deeply culture is carried through kitchens and hearths. This is not just a book to be read, but one to be preserved.
Truly grateful for your work.
I could not have asked for a deeper and more nuanced reading of my book, you have captured the essence of what I had hoped to communicate.
I hope others will read it in the same spirit, and go well beyond the recipes themselves.
Thank you very much.
Best wishes,
Kaveri
Congratulations , Kaveri, on the release of “Coorg – The Cookbook.”
The culmination of more than a decade of hard work, brought together so beautifully through words, design, and visuals — all stitched delicately and gracefully into one timeless creation. This will truly be a gold standard for generations to come.
The first beautiful moment of the evening was the sunset in Madikeri. The hues in the sky were beyond words — and the Kodagu ranges quietly soaking in those colours felt almost mystical. That very essence has been so enigmatically captured on the book cover. Each time we look at it now, it will carry our souls back to Kodagu.
I am delighted that I got to be a part of the book launch at CWR — such an intimate and warm gathering of everyone who has been part of this journey. There was a deep sense of pride in the room, seeing stories of “their land” come back to life, now set in stone through this book — something that belongs to every Kodava.
What was especially heartwarming was watching people buy copies not just for themselves, but to gift to their families — particularly the next generation. It felt like an elder passing down a cherished legacy to their grandchildren.
The conversation between Kaveri and Farzana Contractor allowed us to glimpse the journey behind the book. It was wonderful for all of us to hear about the path that led to THE BOOK.
All in all, it was a beautiful afternoon — one I am truly grateful to have been part of.
It was such a pleasure to have everyone gather in Coorg for this launch, a most memorable day, one that I myself enjoyed very much.
Thank you for your lovely words about my book, it makes the many years of work seem light!
Kaveri
The event was truly one of its kind – the location was magnificent, attendee’s were mostly from those who had contributed to the book and everyone was fully focussed on the event. It was conducted with utmost grace and dignity.
The book itself is marvellous, like the previous two – The Vanishing Kodavas and A Place Apart. As it so happens, I am proudly associated with all three and the affection and respect shown by the Author and her family is commendable – humility personified. She always gives credit to all involved with meticulous care.
The afternoon lunch was truly a veritable feast of authentic Kodava fare and complementary neighbouring food. The non-alcoholic drinks were extremely good too and nectarial in content.
In summary, I would like to state the following:
“Na Bhuto Na Bhavishyati” (न भूतो न भविष्यति), which means “never happened before and will never happen in the future” or “unprecedented”. It was something truly unique, exceptional and extraordinary.
Our best wishes and blessings to Kaveri, always for more books!
A most memorable afternoon,indeed, made special so many of you who travelled great distances to be there. Thank you very much for your presence, your thoughtful words of appreciation, and most of all, for your blessings.
Best wishes,
Kaveri
Congratulations on the publishing of Coorg The Cookbook. My Father is very appreciative of what has been written about him and Rice cultivation, which he holds very dear to his heart.
The launch event for the book was amazing. Everyone was deeply moved and enjoyed the interactions.
Thank you very much for your good wishes. It is most gratifying to know that your father is happy with the way his story has been written about, it is a remarkable one indeed. I am so glad you were able to attend the launch, your appreciation means much.
Best wishes,
Kaveri
I was fortunate to attend the book event in Bengaluru and to receive a signed copy from Kaveri Ponnappa herself. Coorg: The Cookbook is a beautifully researched, vibrant and deeply informative work that goes far beyond recipes. Through food, it gently unfolds the social and cultural fabric of Kodagu, shaped by rice fields, forests, festivals and ancestral homes. This book is truly a journey into the soul of Coorg and will remain one of the most treasured possessions in my collection. I would wholeheartedly recommend that this book find a place in every household.
Hello Neer, what a thoughtful reading and appreciation of my book, thank you very much. I hope you will enjoy cooking from it, and reading the stories that say so much about our heritage and land.
Best wishes,
Kaveri
Great summation of a equally great launch event of KAVERI PONNAPA’s, COORG THE COOKBOOK at CWR on 7th Feb. 2026. What stood out that day was the fantastic opening remarks by Kaveri Akka in chaste Kodav Thakk.
Also the lunch spread was very thoughtfully planned with some very exclusive and exotic Kodav Cuisine which I haven’t tasted over long many years. Many dishes brought back some nostalgic memories of my Avvayas kitchen. I am sure lot of midnight oil has burned to bring out this great event, which was perfection in every which way one looked at it. .
KAVERI PONNAPA is a Brand by herself in KODAGU known for her erudite, scholarly, well researched writings.
Her first Book THE VANISHING KODAVAS, is a treatise and an ENCYCLOPEDIA on KODAVA CULTURE, TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS and all things KODAVA. The most unique aspect is that the book was the front runner in capturing Indian history and culture in the voice of the people from the community. Hitherto Coorg culture/history was a repetition of what Herman Moegling – An Account Of Coorg And Of The Coorg Mission, then Rev Georg Richter largely copied Moegling with The Gazetteer of Coorg (whom everyone further copies. Original material emerged from I M Muthanna who was allegedly copied by the likes of B D Ganapathy. And so scribes wrote about Coorg – but KNOWLEDGE IS NOT REPETITION. Kaveri’s book is an authentic voice of the people at the grass roots level. Shashi Tharoor was amongst the cognoscenti who acknowledged and recommended this scholarly work as an example of original thinking and interpretation of Indian culture and history – be it may focussed on Coorgs.
THE VANISHING KODAVAS set a new benchmark in Kodagu and many writers and authors tried plagiarizing the book in all ways, but the credit of bringing out a 15 year solidly researched book and in-turn triggering many writers to write about KODAGU AND KODAVAS should solely go to KAVERI PONNAPA, who is the, TORCH BEARER, CHRONICLER, GUARDIAN, CUSTODIAN, CONSCIENCE KEEPER, of all things KODAVA.
Today if there is any question or doubt regarding the Kodava Community there are only 2 books Kodavas refer to, ie., PATTOLA PALAME and THE VANISHING KODAVAS. Pattola Palame is a brilliant compilation for its time. That’s the level of trust KAVERI PONNAPA has built among Kodavas, which mainly stems from her solid research strength and qualifications as an anthropologist.
Her 3rd Book, COORG THE COOK BOOK which was released in January 2026 is another magnum opus production carrying more than 130 recipes alongwith stories of people and the evolution of the cuisine. It is heartening to be reminded that Kodava Cuisine is far more varied than Pork…Pork and more Pork. Don’t mistake me, I love my Pandi curry and Kadambuttu – but our food is so much more varied and interesting- something that her book dwells upon with desired impact.
What makes this book stand apart and extremely unique from other Cook Books is that unlike others carrying just recipes, this book tells the story on how and why a particular dish evolved given the extraordinary landscape that our sacred land is for us Kodavas. KAVERI’S eye for detail along with care to chose wonderful pictures, designs and of course state of the art printing makes this book a must have for all FOOD CONNOISSEURS – not just Kodavas. This book produced on Coffee Table book format is a masterpiece in every which way one looks at it.
It was a pleasure to host some of the wonderful people who are a such a big part of Coorg the Cookbook. The food was indeed carefully curated, and like you, many felt it “brought back nostalgic memories of my Avvaya’s kitchen” exactly as you have said—so glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you very much for taking the time to write down your thoughts about the conversations and the entire afternoon, where people mingled, and exchanged opinions and ideas. It was a joyful occasion, filled with the spirit of Kodavaamæ.
I would call the elders, and other people who have supported me through all my projects, the guardians and custodians of all things Kodava—I was blessed by my ancestors to be in the company of people who shared their lived experience and wisdom, and trusted me to put it all down, which I have placed in context, given perspective, and put into books that I hope will be a source of knowledge and a reference point, for young people in particular.
Cuisine is as much a part of our identity as any other part of a cultural heritage, and there are some remarkable stories in this book that paint a vivid picture of how the cuisine we love evolved. Producing this book not easy, there were some unimaginable challenges, even more than TVK, so I am grateful for your generous praise. Thank you!
Best wishes,
Kaveri
Kaveri, Thanks for taking time to reply to my comment. But honestly, in the years to come when we all leave this beautiful planet and our homeland, it’s people like you who live forever through your writings and books. Our community and GEN NEXT shall forever be indebted to KAVERI PONNAPA for bringing our masterpiece books like TVK & CTC. May your tribe increase and produce more such repertoire of knowledge banks to PROTECT & PRESERVE KODAVAAME.
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your thoughts, and for your generous words about my work. I have loved writing these books, and I hope they hold much of what we all cherish and love about the immensely valuable heritage of our very small community, much of which is more relevant than ever in this rapidly changing world.
Kind regards.
Kaveri
Congratulations for the book on coorg cuisine, let this it be the powerful book for kodavas who is staying in other parts of the World
Thank you for your good wishes— I have no doubt the book will travel.
Best,
Kaveri
Awesome work on releasing the Coorg recipes cook book
Thank you very much.
Kaveri
Congratulations on your Book Launch. This a much needed book for Kodava youngsters who are keen to make kodava dishes.
Thank you for your good wishes. It is indeed, the book was in part inspired by many young Kodavas, including those living overseas, who used to write to me on my blog, asking for recipes and instructions for favourite dishes.
Best,
Kaveri
Congratulations on the publication of Coorg: The Cookbook. At a time when ancient and indigenous cuisines are slowly fading away, this book is a powerful and timely tribute to the Kodava culinary legacy. By documenting not just recipes, but the land, people, and traditions behind them, you have preserved a way of life for future generations. This work will inspire pride, awareness, and continuity of Kodava’s rich food heritage. Truly commendable.”
Hello Bipin, thank you very much for your kind words, and for having captured the essence of the book beyond the recipes. It was a project that took much longer than I had anticipated, and I appreciate the many people who waited patiently for me to complete it.
Enjoy reading!
Best wishes,
Kaveri
Your dedication, commitment, and love for preserving the culture of Coorg are truly admirable. Your superb book The Vanishing Kodavas bears testimony to the work that will stand as a record for the coming generations.
Many people speak about hundreds or even thousands of years of history without written documentation, but meaningful and reliable records are rare and precious. Your singleminded effort in documenting our heritage, with your anthropology background and interpretation, helps ensure that future generations will have an authentic source to learn from and be proud of.
Thank you for all the hard work.
We also extend our appreciation to the entire team behind the scenes for bringing out such a beautiful edition.
It was a great pleasure being part of the unveiling of the much awaited Coorg The Cookbook authored by Kaveri Ponnapa at CWR on Feb 7. This book is a feast to the eyes and a treat to the palete. The book does full justice in restoring our ancient but sadly fading culture and cuisine in the name of modernization.
Kaveri Ponnapa has left no stone unturned in preserving and documenting our rich, unique culture for the younger generation with her three masterpieces The Vanishing Kodavas, A Place Apart, and now Coorg, the Cookbook. My heartfelt gratitude to Kaveri for shouldering this huge task. It has definitely made things easier for mothers like me to pass on our rich culture to my children with facts and authenticity.
Thank you very much for your appreciation—it was a lot of work, but there were so many people who were generous with their knowledge and time, and eager to share their experiences, aware that an oral heritage is a fragile one. I enjoyed working on every part of both the books, and it’s heartening to see how much they mean to people.
Best wishes,
Kaveri
Hello Sagar,
Great to hear from you, thank you very much for your good wishes and appreciation. I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as you did TVK. I’m happy that you are a part of it.
Best wishes.
Kaveri