Its hot and humid climate has had the greatest influence on south Indian cuisine, which is fiery and spicy but equally lip smacking! Recipes here are also influenced by the colonial era, when the British, French, and Portuguese style of food entered the south Indian kitchen. While the Andhra food is the fieriest of the south Indian cuisine, the Chettinad culinary style of Tamil Nadu uses a spicy and tangy twist to its recipes. The Malabar food of Kerala is the most delectable, with profuse use of coconut and the regal Nizam or Hyderabadi food is rich and flavorful. Rice is staple to south Indians, forming the most common ingredient in the cuisine here. All in all, these south Indian cuisines have a lot in common and vary primarily in spiciness. The south Indian food is a tasty blend of unique aroma, seasoning, flavors, taste, nutritional balance, and visual appeal. Here are top 5 best south Indian dishes we recommend!
1. Idli, dosa, sambar
A typical south Indian breakfast comprises idli, dosa, sambar, and chutney. In fact, when you think of south Indian food, idli, dosa, and sambar will reflect in your mind. A savory steamed cake of fermented rice and urad dal, idli makes a complete package with sambar (lentil soup tempered with curry leaves, chillies, and spices) and coconut chutney and used as a breakfast meal in India’s south. Dosa is another breakfast option that is inseparable from south Indian cuisine. You can’t think of a south Indian menu without dosa, sambar, and idli! Since rice is a staple food here, south Indians use rice in almost all its meals throughout the day. The widespread prevalence of coconut in south India has made this tropical fruit an indispensable ingredient in south Indian dishes.
2. Medu Vada
A fried, savory donut, vada is made from black gram and gram flour and eaten as a side dish, starter, or for breakfast with coconut chutney or sambar. The fritter-type snack with a hole in the middle, vada has been an indispensable part of the south Indian cuisine since ancient times. In fact, it’s a tradition to offer garlands of vada to Lord Hanuman on auspicious days in south India.
3. Uttapam
Another popular rice variety that uses rice and urad dal and is a widely prepared south Indian dish, uttapam is a thick pancake topped with onion, capsicum, tomato, cabbage, and other ingredients. It is also referred to as Indian pizza, which is eaten with chutney and sambar. Different variants of uttapam can be prepared using other ingredients.
4. Avial (vegetarian recipe)
A coconut lover’s delight, avail is a delectable combination of curd, coconut, and Indian stew vegetables, including carrot, beans, and pumpkin, plantain, potato, among others. Relish the vegetarian recipe with rice and instantly fall in love with this south Indian gourmet recipe. An Onam special recipe, especially prepared for the festival in Kerala, this is a must-eat vegetarian delight to get a real taste of south India! It is a fantastic side dish eaten with rice or adai. Avial is widely prepared in Tamil Brahmin homes as well prepared with curd/yogurt and rice flour and flavored with coconut oil and curry leaves and tempered with mustard seeds.
5. Tamarind rice
Another popular item on the south Indian platter is tamarind rice. It won’t be wrong to call this tongue-licking imli rice a signature dish of southern cuisine. A traditional recipe in South Indian Brahmin families, tamarind rice is a tangy form of rice prepared with tamarind. The unique, appetizing rice is also served as Prasad in Lord Vishnu temples every day in south India. Another similar form of tempered rice widely prepared in south Indian homes is tomato rice, sambar rice. A great travel food and a side dish, lemon rice is usually eaten with roasted potatoes, pappad, or yogurt/curd, making a lip-smacking meal.
