Syrian Christians escaping persecution at home settled in the southwestern state of Kerala during the 4th century. Not being bound by Hindu prohibitions on beef, Kerala's Christians have developed a number of beef dishes where the meat is tenderized by various means (usually with vinegar or by parboiling before transforming it into a rich coconut milk curry). They are also renowned for their wild duck dishes, where the duck is either cooked to make a curry or stuffed and roasted, the latter being a traditional Christmas dish. Wild boar, cooked with a tangy masala or pickled with oil, is another famous Syrian Christian dish.