Thiruvananthapuram-based couple launches Badi Rasam, a ready-to-eat meal pack for ₹49

A ready-to-eat meal pack for ₹49. That is Badi Rasam for you. The branded product comes from Thiruvananthapuram-based couple, Faizal Subair and Ashifa Firdous.

Currently available within the city limits, the pack has Kerala matta rice, sauteed green gram, a pickle, tomato rasam and badi. “Badi is a sun-dried dumpling made of lentils. The badi we use has black gram (uzhunnu). The dumplings are dry roasted and powdered. It is mixed with sautéed shallots, green chilli and garlic. This is a traditional dish prepared in many North Indian states and I knew of it from my wife who is from Odisha.”

Badi Rasam has found its clientele within a few days of arriving in the market and the duo is happy. “We retail from around 25 shops within the city. Going by the response, the number is bound to go up,” says Faizal. While he is a former employee with IBS in Technopark, Ashifa currently works in the same company.

Faizal says the idea was borne out of his desire to start a business that is beneficial to society. That was when he zeroed in on food, specifically lunch. “When I used to eat from outside I preferred a light meal. But the lunch I usually bought would be more than what I needed. I have seen people trying hard to finish the serving because they did not want to waste the money or the food. That was when I thought about a light meal that is affordable. The first thing I did was fix the price. Next step was to introduce something that is healthy, wholesome and hygienic,” he says.

Being “a health freak”, Faizal says he has ensured that the weight of the contents adds up to enough calories — 250gm cooked rice, 50gm green gram, 100 ml rasam and 10gm each of pickle and badi. “But this might not be enough for those who do hard physical labour. My target is those who prefer light but healthy meal that they can by from a nearby store.” The target crowd includes travellers, hostelers, office-goers, and daily workers.

Faizal says he chose green gram instead of a vegetable because he was worried about the quality of the latter. “Green gram is rich in protein. But now customers are asking for other options, especially those who are buying the pack daily. We never expected that someone would have it every day!”

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The food comes in a paper container. While badi and green gram are packed in butter paper, the rasam pack is made with corn starch. There is a wooden spoon as well. “The only plastic element is the outer covering that keeps the container tight so that the contents do not spill out or get wet.”

Faizal does the cooking at their home at Ambalathara. “I’ve got the guidance, especially regarding the utensils, from my father-in-law who is an executive chef in a leading hotel in Kochi,” he adds.

The meal remains fresh for six to eight hours. “But you can refrigerate it and can have it for dinner as kanji (porridge) or as fermented meal the next day,” he says.

While currently it is being sold only within city limits, it will be expanded depending on the demand. For details, log on to www.badirasam.com or contact 9895499479