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 Last Updated : Mar 02,2024

Tamil Nadu Food Recipes, Tamil Dishes

We have a collection of  different types of Tamil Nadu Food recipes. Yes, it's clearly evident that Tamil Dishes and the different types of Tamil Nadu Food recipes are super popular not only in South India but all across our lovely country.

तमिलनाडु प्रदेश की विविध व्यंजन : - हिन्दी में पढ़ें (Tamil Nadu Food recipes in Hindi)
તમિળનાડુ પ્રદેશના વિવિધ વ્યંજન - ગુજરાતી માં વાંચો (Tamil Nadu Food recipes in Gujarati)

DosaDosa

There are some dishes like Idli, Dosa, Vada and Sambhar, which have become synonymous with Tamil Nadu’s cuisine, and every Tamilian is proud of these, but there is much more to the State’s food than just these.

Tamil Nadu’s cuisine is very vast – every region has its specialties. A seasoned palate can distinctly tell the difference between foods cooked in different zones of Tamil Nadu, like Tanjore, Chettinad or Tirunelveli! However, the general taste, the courses of a meal and the foods consumed all over the State are quite similar, but for the mild but characteristic variations.

What ingredients are used in Tamil Nadu Food Recipes?

Tamarind PulpTamarind Pulp

Tamil dishes, in general, is marked by the balanced but generous use of spices and dals. Coriander seeds, red chillies and chana dal are commonly used in most masalas, with some also including pepper, cumin, cinnamon and/or cloves. Other ingredients like coconut, ginger, green chillies, garlic and curry leaves are used in different combinations for different masalas.

Sambhar Masala
Sambhar Masala

Raw or boiled white rice is commonly used, as are urad and toor dals. Groundnut oil, coconut oil and sesame oil are the popular cooking oils in Tamil Nadu. Tamarind pulp is used to add a tongue-tickling but pleasant tang to most curries. Likewise, most recipes also use a tempering of mustard seeds, asafoetida and curry leaves in coconut or sesame oil to give a fresh burst of flavour and aroma to the dish. Sambhar Powder and Rasam Powder are the most common spice mixes, and most kitchens have a plentiful stock of these. Each family has its favourite recipe, with their preferred level of spiciness. Most people also keep a batch of Milagai Podi handy. This is a dry chutney powder that is mixed with sesame oil and served as an accompaniment to Idlis and Dosas. It is really useful on a busy day.

Tamil Nadu Food Recipes, Breakfast

Idli
Idli

At breakfast time, the popular dishes are Idli, Dosa, Uttapam, Upma, Medhu Vada and Ven Pongal, served with Sambhar and Coconut Chutney. A ‘single vada’ is usually a fixed addition to the breakfast menu at most eateries and households. That is, at least one Medhu Vada is served along with breakfast whatever be the main dish!

Medu VadaMedu Vada

Medhu means soft, and that’s how the urad dal vada is supposed to be. A reddish golden brown, crisp outer layer gives way to a spongy, super-soft interior. The medu vada might be served plain or dunked in curd, Sambhar or Rasam. Of all the different options, the Idli, Vada, Sambhar and Chutney combo is inarguably the most popular all over Tamil Nadu.

Lunch, Tamil Nadu Food Recipes

Cabbage PoriyalCabbage Poriyal

Lunch on a regular day is a simple affair. Plain hot rice is served with one or two vegetable preparations like Cabbage Poriyal, Drumstick Leaves Dry Subzi, Avial or Pongal Kootu, along with a gravy-like dish such as Mor Kuzhambu or Sambhar with some vegetable in it (like Mullangi Sambhar), plus Rasam and Curd. Every household in Tamil Nadu has a ready stock of pickles, to enjoy with the curd rice.

South Indian Peanut RiceSouth Indian Peanut Rice

If lunch is had out of a dabba, people often opt for what is colloquially known as ‘mixed rice’ or ‘variety rice’. Tomato Rice, Tamarind Rice, Sambhar Rice, Curd Rice and Peanut Rice are some of the common options. On special days, vada, kheer and pachadi (raita) are also served with lunch. Paal Payasam is one of the most popular and tastiest of South Indian kheers, and is a must-try!

Tea Time, Tamil Nadu Dishes

Masala VadasMasala Vadas

Evening tea-time is perhaps the most exciting! Even the small tea shops offer a range of snacks at that time. The snacks had with the evening tea or coffee is known as ‘tiffin’ in the South. Pakoras, Masala Vadas, Bhajiyas, Masala Dosa, etc. are enjoyed with a cup of hot South Indian Filter Coffee.

With the crowd becoming more cosmopolitan in most cities, North Indian snacks like Samosas are also easily available. Bakeries are also teeming with youngsters and elders alike in the evening – coconut-stuffed buns, vegetable puffs, masaledar bread sandwiches, and soft white buns smeared with white butter and jam are hot sellers in the evening.

Dinner, Tamil Nadu Food Recipes

AvialAvial

At night, people usually have some tiffin with curd rice. Idli, Dosa, Rava Upma, Masala Dosa, Uttapam like Tomato Uttapam, Adai with Avial, Puri with Potato Masala and Chapathi with South Indian Korma are popular dinner items. Usually people go for simple accompaniments like Coriander Chutney or Tomato Chutney at night, but if they are having guests then Sambhar or Gojju is a must.

Quick Idiyappam
Quick Idiyappam

If you are a food-lover, it will take you weeks to explore the food scene of Tamil Nadu, because there is immense variety. Moreover, every region has its specialty, such as the paniyaram of Chettinad, the filter coffee of Kumbakonam, the Kanchipuram Idli of Kanchipuram, the super spongy idlis of Madurai, the idiyappam or sevai of Coimbatore, and more and more…

To begin with, you can start experimenting with Tamil Nadu cuisine in your own kitchen with these mouth-watering and reliable recipes. Combine them aptly to make awesome meals. Each Sunday, you can pick a different Indian state and plan your meals using the delicacies from that region – your family and you will have lots of fun travelling down the foodie highway!

Enjoy our Tamil Nadu Food recipes and South Indian recipes articles below.

995+South Indian Recipes
30+Karnataka Cuisine
15+Kerala Cuisine
10+South Indian Appe
125+South Indian Breakfast
45+South Indian Chutney
175+South Indian Curries / Subzis
125+South Indian Dosa
125+South Indian Idlis
10+South Indian Pachadi, Raita
5 South Indian Pickle
10+South Indian Podis
55+South Indian Rasam
50+South Indian Sambar
45+South Indian Snacks
90+South Indian Sweets
15 South Indian Uttapam
35+South Indian Vada



Milagai Podi, Malgapodi Powder, South Indian Gun Powder Recipe recipe
milagai podi recipe | malgapodi powder | South Indian gun powder | with 20 amazing images. milagai podi recipe | malgapodi powder | South Indi ....
Cabbage Poriyal recipe
cabbage poriyal recipe | South Indian style patta gobi poriyal | cabbage thoran | with 18 amazing images. cabbage poriyal is a lightly spiced, sauteed and steamed
Appam ( How To Make Appam ) recipe
appam recipe | instant appam | Kerala appam | palappam | with 7 amazing images. Appam is a tasty white Indian pancake crisp on the sides with a soft centre.
Tamarind Rice recipe
Called Puliyodare in Tamil, this is an Iyengar cuisine classic. A heart-warming dish that uses tamarind to create a magical flavor. The South Indian style tadka adds both flavor as well as appeal, making this a great lunch/dinner recipe. Enjaaai!
Tomato Rice( South Indian Recipes ) recipe
This spicy and tangy rice preparation is ideal for packing in a lunch box, and sure to be enjoyed by young and old alike. Enjoy it hot and fresh with papads or pack it with a katori of coconut pachadi; either way it will taste just as appealing, as it combines an assortment of ingredients that compl ....
Avial, South Indian Curry recipe
This mouth-watering South Indian curry is nothing short of a delicacy with its unusual combination of veggies, flavoured aesthetically with a mildly-spiced coconut paste. Do not chop the veggies too finely when making Avial, because the veggies should re ....
Masala Vadas, South Indian Masala Vadas, Vadai Recipe recipe
masala vada recipe | masala vadai | South Indian snack | South Indian masala vada | with images below. masala vada is an all-time favourite evening snack across T ....
Mullangi Sambar, South Indian Radish Sambhar recipe
The Mullangi Sambhar is an all-time favourite of the South Indians, especially those in Tamil Nadu where it is made very often. Being simple and easy, it is an everyday fare. The strong flavour and aroma of radish together with the spiciness of the sambhar masala make this a mouth-watering treat ....
Wheat Dosa, Godhuma Dosa Recipe recipe
wheat dosa recipe | godhuma dosa recipe | instant wheat flour dosa | healthy atta dosa | with 24 amazing images. wheat dosa recipe | godhuma d ....
South Indian Filter Coffee, Filter Coffee Recipe recipe
filter coffee recipe | South Indian filter coffee recipe | kaapi | Kumbakonam degree coffee | Mylapore filter coffee | Madras kaapi | with ....
Curd Rice, South Indian Curd Rice Recipe recipe
curd rice recipe | South Indian curd rice | dahi chawal | thayir sadam | with 20 amazing images. Just like khichdi is to Gujarati, rajma chawal is to Punjabi, the curd rice is to South-Indi ....
Avial Recipe, Kerala Aviyal Recipe recipe
avial recipe | aviyal recipe | South Indian avial | Kerala avial | with 35 amazing images. avial recipe is also called aviyal in South ....
Instant Medu Vada recipe
instant medu vada recipe | leftover rice medu vada | instant rava medu vada | with 25 amazing images. The best way to use leftover rice to make crispy medu vadas for breakfast or snacks. Le ....
Tomato Upma, South Indian Tomato Upma recipe
tomato upma recipe | tomato rava upma | South Indian tomato upma | with 18 amazing images. tomato upma recipe is a quick tangy upma recipe made from simple everyday ingredients like tomatoe ....
Onion Tomato Uttapam, Tomato Onion Uttapa recipe
onion tomato uttapam recipe | uttapa Mumbai style | how to make onion tomato uthappam | South Indian tomato onion uttapa | with 51 amazing images. onion tomato uttapam ....
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Top Recipes

Reviews

Tamil Nadu Food
 on 09 Nov 20 04:55 AM
5

I would like to cook Sambar like the restaurant, whare can I get the recipe.
Tarla Dalal
09 Nov 20 10:05 AM
   You can try this recipe of Sambar. https://www.tarladalal.com/Sambar-Recipe-South-Indian-Homemade-Sambar-Recipe-1557r For an authentic sambar masala recipe, you can try this. https://www.tarladalal.com/Sambhar-Masala-Sambhar-Masala-Powder-30828r
Tamil Nadu Food
 on 21 Aug 19 03:08 PM
5

Cooking food