South Indian Cuisine – Awesome, Awe-Inspiring Variety
South Indian Recipes, 950 South Indian Dishes, Food Recipes. An acquaintance had this irksome habit of referring to all South Indians as “Madrasis”. And one fine day she stopped saying so. In an attempt to quell my curiosity I asked – and got to know that after a tour of South India she realised there is so much diversity down South that it is just not fair to generalise – the best example being South Indian cuisine. South Indian cuisine and food habits are so varied that it is common for a person to feel lost in the menu of a neighbouring state. Say, when a person from Tamil Nadu attends a wedding in Andhra Pradesh, it is a common trick to keep an eye on the next person’s plate or banana leaf, to figure out what order and in what combinations the food is to be consumed!
Tiffin - Much more than idlis and dosas
When one mentions South Indian food, idli, dosa and vada are the first dishes that come to one’s mind – and it’s fair enough because these dishes are popular in all the South Indian states. It is a daring risk to venture into the question of which state they originated in – so we will not touch upon that, but the fact remains that these are much-loved foods all over South India. Served with the quintessential Sambhar and Chutney, this “tiffin” platter is enjoyed any time of the day – for breakfast, evening snacks or dinner.
A word that the British introduced us to, tiffin refers to snacks that are neither too light nor too heavy, and can be relished at any time of the day! When it comes to tiffin, there is a lot of similarity amongst the South Indian states, and we find many common favourites like idli, dosa, vada, uttapam, upma and pongal. Apart from these, each state has its unique offerings too – like the paniyaram and adai of Tamil Nadu, the aapam, puttu, avial and kadala curry of Kerala, neer dosa, kadubu, benne dosa and rava idli of Karnataka and pesarattu of Andhra. Apart from Sambhar, tiffin is usually served with chutneys like coconut chutney, coriander chutney, tomato chutney, etc., or dry chutney powders like the idli milagai podi or curry leaves powder.
Lunch – rice is special for South Indians
Rice holds a special position in the South Indian kitchen. More than a mere ingredient, rice or annam is given a divine connotation and treated with respect. In all South Indian states, rice is the staple grain served during lunch time. Some prefer to use raw rice, while others opt for parboiled or boiled varieties. Rice lovers that they are, South Indians can often tell the difference between rice grown in various regions and different river beds! At lunch time, the rice is freshly steamed and served hot with a spread of dal-based curries and vegetables. There is a lot of difference in the items served during lunch time, and the order in which they are served.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Recipes
Lunch is dominated by rice, which is served with dollops of ghee and a range of curries and dals. Depending on whether it’s a normal day or a special occasion, the number of items served may vary. When you see the word ‘pappu’ in a dish’s name, you can understand that it comprises dal. It may be plain or combined with veggies. Usually, a meal begins with rice mixed with pappu and enjoyed with a spicy oorgaya (pickle). Other main course dishes are koora (dry or semi-dry subzi), pulusu (sour and tangy gravy made of tamarind, tomatoes, sour curd or raw mangoes), pachadi (a spicy and saucy accompaniment), charu or rasam (a thin, soupy dish that is mixed with rice), curds, and so on. Pulihore, a peppy rice preparation with tamarind and spices, is much-loved by the Telugu folks and everyone who tastes it!
Karnataka
A regular meal consists of vegetable preparations, a dal based preparation like sambhar, and saaru or rasam, ending with majjige (buttermilk). Kannadigas also love gojju, a featuring a unique blend of sweet, spicy and tangy notes. There are also one-dish meals like the Bisi Bele Bath, a hot and spicy rice preparation, made of rice, dal and veggies flavoured with a special masala and tamarind pulp. Karnataka within itself has several sub-cuisines like Udupi, Mangalore and Mysore, and a discerning diner can easily tell the difference between these.
Kerala
Don’t be fooled by the simple food that the Keralites have on a normal day – visit them on a festive occasion to experience the mind-boggling variety of the state’s cuisine. Kerala food is rich in all things coconuty! From coconut milk to grated coconut and coconut-based spice pastes, it is used in every possible form to make vegetable and curd-based curries. Yellow banana and jackfruit are also used abundantly in the region to make crispies, curries and desserts.
Tamil Nadu
Different regions of Tamil Nadu have different styles of cooking, the popular strains being Tanjore, Tirunelveli, North Arcot and Chettinad. However, a three-course lunch broadly consists of rice served with sambhar and/ or mor kuzhambu, then rasam and finally curd, accompanied by a range of vegetable dishes. 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.
Sweets and savouries for South Indians
Like the rest of the country, South India also loves sweets and snacks! From the Ela Ada and Unni Appam of Kerala to the Kajjikaylu of Andhra Pradesh, the Jangiri and Chakkarai Pongal of Tamil Nadu, and the Obbuttu and Mysore Pak of Karnataka, each sweet delight has a culinary anecdote to tell with distinct flavours, native ingredients and exclusive cooking techniques.
Snacks are also an integral part of the South Indian food scene – they are enjoyed at practically any time of the day but mostly in the evening with a cup of hot coffee or tea. It is amazing how they never tire of having a steaming hot cuppa however sweltering the weather might be! But then, nothing can complement a Masala Vada, Mysore Bonda or Plantain Bajji as well as a cup of South Indian filter coffee or Chukku Kaapi (a tea of dried ginger and spices). Keralites enjoy snacking on steamed yellow bananas and Kattan Chaai (black tea).
Every kitchen in South India is also well-stocked with pickles, dry chutney powders, vadams and papads (that can be roasted or deep-fried), which are served in perfect combos to make a simple meal seem like a special treat!
The magic of the South Indian tempering
If you are going to experiment with South Indian cooking, your kitchen needs to be stocked with rice, tamarind (or kokum), sambhar powder and rasam powder, ghee and cooking oils like groundnut, coconut or sesame oils. More importantly, you need to get your masala box or ‘anjarai petti’ (literally five-compartment box, although the modern ones have seven) equipped with mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, sesame seeds, red chillies, broken urad dal and chana dal, as these are frequently used in South Indian cooking. These ingredients in different combinations are used to make masalas for South Indian curries. Sometimes, they are ground raw, while sometimes they are roasted and ground. The method and proportions give each dish a distinctly different flavour even when the same ingredients are used. That said, the final master stroke in most South Indian dishes is the zesty tempering of mustard seeds, asafoetida and curry leaves, which gives the food a trademark South Indian seal!
More food stories to tell from each nook and corner
Each nook and corner of Tamil Nadu has a different food story to tell, and we realise now that it’s a mistake to try and cover it all in one article, so we urge you to read more about each of these cuisines (Andhra and Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka) and recreate the magic in your own kitchen using our authentic recipes. In India there is so much variety in each cuisine that it is difficult for an individual to entirely master their own cuisine. Just when you think you know all your native foods, someone busts the misconception and widens your horizon by sharing yet another treasure! While we focus on our own cuisines, we should also try and set aside at least a day every week to try the culinary gems from other Indian regions, so that we grow to appreciate the unity in diversity.
Try Our Other South Indian Recipes
119 South Indian Breakfast Recipes
45 South Indian Chutney Recipes
168 South Indian Curries, Subzis Recipes
117 South Indian Dosa Recipes
172 South Indian Idlis Recipes
53 South Indian Rasam Recipes
78 South Indian Rice Recipes
49 South Indian Sambar Recipes
90 South Indian Sweets Recipes
34 South Indian Vada Recipes
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We have a large collection of 185 different types of Idlis. Yes, it's clearly evident that Idli and the different types of Idli recipes are super popular not only in South India but all across our lovely country.
Lets start with our most popular Idli recipes on our website. Rice and Moong Dal Idli, Oats Rava Idli, Quick Rava Idli, Sooji Idli.
There is the super soft Poha Idli, then yes Paneer Vegetable Idli , Barley idli and Stuffed Potato Idli and finally Double Decker Idlis.
Idli is a steamed dish made with a batter of rice and urad. Wholesome and satiating, idlis can be had for breakfast, dinner, or as an evening snack. Served with sambhar and chutneys, it is one of the most favourite snacks in South India . The basic idli batter can be enhanced by adding millets, vegetables, coconut milk, and so on, to make innumerable variants of this popular dish, such as the Vegetable Idlis .
Recipes with Idli Batter
Yes, when we think of different types of idli or recipes with idli, what comes to our mind is recipes with Idli batter. You can make the popular Gujarati Farsan Khatta Dhokla and Mini Spinach Idlis.
There are also other varieties of idli such as the Quick Rava Idli , Dahi Idli, Kanchipuram Idli. This section introduces you to the world of idlis, which is so fascinating and satisfying that you will want to stay there forever!
Enjoy our Different Types of Idlis and South Indian Recipe articles given below.
119 South Indian Breakfast Recipes
45 South Indian Chutney Recipes
168 South Indian Curries, Subzis Recipes
117 South Indian Dosa Recipes
53 South Indian Rasam Recipes
78 South Indian Rice Recipes
49 South Indian Sambar Recipes
90 South Indian Sweets Recipes
34 South Indian Vada Recipes
980 South Indian Recipes
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We have a large collection of 80 different types of South Indian Rice recipes. Yes, it's clearly evident that South Indian Rice and the different types of South Indian Rice recipes are super popular not only in South India but all across our lovely country.
Rice is the staple grain in South India. Enjoy our collection of South Indian Rice recipes.
One of the best Indian comfort foods is Curd Rice. Yes, when you are a bit down then this is the recipe to make. I grew up as a kid having this recipe countless times. Did you know that curd rice is served at the end of a meal in South India! Another super popular South Indian rice recipe is Lemon Rice. Popular in Karnataka is Bisi Bele Bhaat served with lots of ghee.
An evergreen favourite, the Raw Mango Rice is prepared in South Indian homes at least once a week when the mango season is on. A traditional tempering and partially cooked raw mangoes give this rice a tangy flavour and exciting crunch.
This particular Gongura Pulihora is made of rice mixed with a spicy paste of gongura leaves, which are very famous in Andhra Pradesh.
One Dish South Indian Rice Recipe
A traditional one-dish meal from the kitchens of Tamil Nadu, the Sambhar Rice is enjoyed so much by them that it is made on special occasions as well as lazy weekends!
Did you know South Indian's have rice for Breakfast?
Ven Pongal is South India’s equivalent of the North Indian khichdi. Cooked rice and moong dal are flavoured with ginger, crushed peppercorns and cumin seeds, and garnished with ghee-roasted cashew nuts and curry leaves.
South Indian Rice Recipes for festivals.
Chitranna Rice is a very popular South Indian recipe, which is considered very auspicious and made on festival days as an offering to God. People don’t mind standing in long queues to get their share of Chitranna prasad at temples.
Healthy South Indian Rice Recipes
We have removed white rice from the popular curd rice to make a healthy Curd Brown Rice recipe.
What Souht Indian Rice Recipes are good for the tiffin?
Traditional South Indian fare, and a favourite especially with tamil brahmins, the carrot, cucumber and curd rice is a frequent choice for the ‘tiffin box’! Tomato Rice, spicy and tangy rice preparation is ideal for packing in a lunch box, and sure to be enjoyed by young and old alike.
Other popular South Indian Rice recipes are Peanut Rice and Tamarind Rice.
Happy Cooking!
Enjouy our collection of South Indian rice varieties and South Indian Recipes articles below.
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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
South Indian Subzi Recipes, South Indian Curry Recipes, Vegetables
We have a large collection of 170 different types of South Indian Curries and South Indian Vegetables. Yes, it's clrealy evident that different types of South Indian Subzi recipes are super popular not only in South India but all across our lovely country.
Most South Indian curries are dry or semi-dry. Dry curries are made by sautéing veggies with a tadka and a garnish of coconut, while semi-dry ones are cooked with veggies, dal and a masala paste that is usually coconut-based. Take your pick from South Indian curries like Cabbage Poriyal, Avial, Kala Chana Sundal and Chettinad Curry , and enjoy them with a bowl of hot rice.
South Indian Curries
Tomato Gojju is a spicy tomato curry with shades of tanginess and sweetness too. The Mangalorean Drumstick Curry is traditional fare along the Kerala and Konkan coast, which use coconut generously in the masalas and garnishes. An all-time favourite South Indian curd curry, the Morkuzhambu is marked by its mild tang, creamy mouth feel and rich taste.
Look for a spicy curry from Tamil Nadu, try the Chetaniad Curry.
Vegetables in Coconut Curry or Valval is a classic mixed vegetable preparation from the Western coastal region, where coconuts grow in plenty and are used abundantly in the cuisine.
Idiyappam and Appam would be incomplete without a bowl of this mouth-watering Vegetable Stew.
South Indian Subzi Recipes, Dry
Cabbage Poriyal : Poriyal is any dry vegetable preparation flavoured with generous amounts of fresh grated coconut. Cabbage tempered with mustard seeds and dry red chillies makes a delightful accompaniment to any South Indian main course.
Cabbage with coocnut make a nice Cabbage Thoren stir fry.
South Indian Curry for Festivals and Ocassions
Pongal Kootu is a tongue-tickling mixed vegetable curry made during Makar Sankaranthi or Pongal in South India. It is made with local vegetables that are in season at the cusp of winter and spring.
Rare is the wedding or festive menu that does not include Avial! the key to making excellent avial is to pay equal attention to the visual appeal – vegetables with contrasting colours such as carrot, beans, pumpkin etc are chosen, sliced evenly into thin 1 inch long pieces, and cooked to a crunchy consistency.
Enjoy our South Indian Curry Recipes, South Indian Vegetable Recipes and Suth Indian Recipe articles given below.
119 South Indian Breakfast Recipes
45 South Indian Chutney Recipes
117 South Indian Dosa Recipes
172 South Indian Idlis Recipes
53 South Indian Rasam Recipes
78 South Indian Rice Recipes
49 South Indian Sambar Recipes
90 South Indian Sweets Recipes
34 South Indian Vada Recipes
4260+South Indian Recipes
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Any South Indian meal, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner, would be considered incomplete without Sambhar or one of its variants, because these are had with rice as well as with snacks like Idli, Sada Dosa, Upma,Ven Pongal, etc.
The most important ingredient to make Sambhar is the sambar powder. You can either buy readymade from outside or grind one at home. Sambar Masala is prepared in bulk in most South Indian household and stored in an airtight containers for a few months. You can use this powder to make aromatic, flavorful ,authentic Sambar at home.
Various Sambar Recipes
Toovar dal and an assortment of vegetables surely makes the sambar nutritious but, if you wish to bumper the iron content, then add fenugreek leaves to make Methi Leaves Sambhar.
Tamilians love Mullangi Sambhar which is nothing but, a sambar made with radish. While the base flavor from toovar dal remains the same, the zingy tempering given at the end is noteworthy!
Apart from this some variants of sambar are also made with freshly-prepared masalas. Have a look at these delightful recipe of Kerala sambar flavoured with a spicy masala of coconut, onion, coriander seeds and other spices like pepper, fenugreek and cumin. Also, loaded with vegetables like drumstick, brinjal, ladies finger and red pumpkin which are referred to as ‘thaan’
An innovative and quick variant of the traditional sambhar, corn sambar adds to your meal the nutritional benefits of corn and the cooling effect of madras onions. Enjoy tasty and wholesome breakfast of idli sambhar, medu vada sambhar and start your day on a good note.
Happy Cooking!
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126 South Indian Breakfast Recipes
48 South Indian Chutney Recipes
174 South Indian Curries, Subzis Recipes
170 South Indian Idlis Recipes
We have a large collection of different types of South Indian Chutney Recipes. Yes, it's clearly evident that South Indian Chutneys and the different types of South Indian Chutney recipes are super popular not only in South India but all across our lovely country.
South Indian cooking offers a wide range of chutneys and pickles ranging from rich to simple, preserved and fresh. Flavours too vary from spicy to tangy and sweet-and-sour, so you can pick what you want depending on the other items being served in the meal.
South Indian Chutney Recipes, Coconut Chutney Options
The Coconut Chutney has a well-rounded flavour that goes well with most variants of Idli and Sada Dosa. If you have grated coconut ready on hand, then it takes just minutes to prepare the coconut chutney, which makes it a popular accompaniment for breakfast.
Tomato Coonut Chutney is a popular dosai chutney served in Tamil Nadu. This cooked chutney stays well for upto 2 days in an air-tight container in the fridge, but it is best when freshly prepared.
A classic South Indian accompaniment, the Coconut Thuvayal is a slightly spicier coconut chutney made by blending coconut with roasted dals and spices. A dash of asafoetida boosts the aroma of this chutney while tamarind gives it an appetizing tang.
South Indian Chutney Recipes, Healthy Chutneys
The Roasted Chana Dal chutney gets its pleasant tang from curds, which also contributes to the nice consistency and mouth-feel of this chutney. Chana dal and curds are both super foods.
Capsicum Chutney combines the pungent, mildly spicy flavour of capsicum with the comforting taste of roasted dal, the tanginess of tamarind, the appetizing taste of sesame seeds and the spicy flavour of red chillies. A good dose of coconut helps to hold the chutney together and also balances all the flavours.
South Indian Chutneys, strong chutney options
Ginger Chutney. The pungent notes of ginger combined with garlic, red chillies, tamarind, jaggery and spices, topped with a traditional tempering in coconut oil, make this tangy, sweet and sour chutney a lip-smacking treat.
Red Garlic Chutney might end up stealing the thunder out of the main course! serve with relatively bland main course dishes such as idlis, dosas and lemon rice.
Another strong sweet, sour and spicy chutney is Ginger Pachdi, which combines the pungency of ginger with the tanginess of tamarind and the rustic sweetness of jaggery.
South Indian Chutney Recipes used as spreads
Mysore Chutney chutney can be spread on the inner side of dosa and topped with Potato Bhaji, to make Mysore Masala Dosa.
South Indian Dry Chutney Recipes
Looking for a dry chutney, then we have the super Curry Leaves Chutney powder which can be made real fast. Malgapodi is a lip-smacking chutney powder made of roasted urad and red chillies combined with a little sesame for aroma and jaggery to highlight the flavours.
South Indian Sweet Chutney Recipes
Churna, coconut and jaggery, perked up with cardamom, is an all-time favourite in Konkan cuisine, especially as an accompaniment for Neer Dosa.
Likewise, Mango Pickle, Drumstick Pickle and other tongue-tickling delights can add more josh to any meal.
Enjoy our South Indian Chutney recipes and South Indian Recipes articles below.
995+South Indian Recipes
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125+South Indian Breakfast
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
We have a large collection of 90 different types of South Indian Sweets. Yes, it's clearly evident that South Indian Dessers and the different types of South Indan Sweet recipes are super popular not only in South India but all across our lovely country.
Sweets, which are considered as desserts in most cultures, are served at the beginning of a South Indian meal! Be it Chakra Pongal or Almond Paysaam, Mysore Pak or Rava Laddoo, South Indian cuisine has a wide range of unique sweets, which can broadly be classified as those made with jaggery and those made with sugar.
Every household has its favourites, and its unique style of preparing these sweets. Apart from being made to celebrate special occasions and to serve at weddings, many households also have the practice of regularly making sweets and kheers (payasam) to offer to God on Fridays and other auspicious days. No doubt, this section has a lot of exciting treats in store for your sweet tooth.
South Indian festival menus are just not complete without Moong Dal Payasam. Considered as one of the most auspicious offerings to God, it is made during most pujas, and is served as the first item on the plantain leaf during a traditional meal.
South Indian Sweets at weddings and festivals
Paal Payasam is a must-serve item during south Indian festivals, weddings and other auspicious occasions. Made of rice cooked in full-fat milk and sweetened with sugar, this kheer has a very rich flavour and creamy texture, which are boosted further by spices like cardamom and saffron. This South Indian Rice Kheer is something that kids and adults look forward to enjoying on special occasions.
Sweet Pongal is compulsorily made for the Pongal festival. Freshly-harvested rice, if available, is used to make the Sweet Pongal, in new earthen pots!
The Sweet Banana Pongal features a jaggery-flavoured mixture of cooked rice and lentils, served with a garnish of chopped bananas.
South Indian Dessert of Kerala
The Ela Ada is a very famous sweet rice pancake dish in Kerala, and is made by Keralites wherever in the world they are. Serve it as an evening snack.
Looking for a sweet appam with banana and molten jaggery, then try Unni Appam. Don't forget to try the Sweet Idli which has a mixture of moong dal, coocnut and jaggery.
South Indian Sweet for son in law!
Maapillai Payasam” (meaning son-in-law kheer)! With its milky flavour and rich garnishes, the Vermicelli Kheer was considered a perfect dish to serve to a visiting son-in-law, who used to traditionally be treated like a King!
Enjoy our South Indian Sweet Recipes and South Indian Recipes article below.
995+South Indian Recipes
30+Karnataka Cuisine
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10+South Indian Appe
125+South Indian Breakfast
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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
15 South Indian Uttapam
35+South Indian Vada
We have a large collection of 47 different types of South Indian Snacks. Yes, it's clearly evident that South Indian snacks and the different types of South Indian Evening snacks recipes are super popular not only in South India but all across our lovely country.
“Tiffin” is a word commonly heard in South India. Tiffin refers to snacks had at breakfast time or in between meals (usually in the evening), with a cup of hot coffee or Masala Chai .
Who cannot resist South Indian Evening snacks like Urad Dal Bonda which can be served with some sambar. Another delicious bonda variation to make is the Rava Bonda.
Ribbon Sev, also known as Ribbon Pakoda, Ola Pakoda or Ottu Pakoda in South India is a broad, ribbon-shaped sev that is super crisp because of the perfect proportioning of rice flour, besan and butter.
Evening Snacks South Indian, Jar Snacks
Kai Murukku is one of the most famous South Indian jar snacks. Made with a dough of rice and urad, this chakli like snack is shaped entirely by hand, which requires a bit of practice to master.
Baked Ribbon Sev is so healthy and equally tasty! Made of besan and whole wheat flour, its baked instead of fired to make a perfect jar snack.
Omapodi is an super popular jar snack in Tamil Nadu. It has withstood the test of time and continues to delight South Indians over decades!
Butter Murruku is a savoury deep fried snack made of rice flour, urad dal and besan. Looks exactly like Chakli.
Popular Evening Snacks South Indian Recipes
Keerai Vadai is one of the most popular South Indian evening snacks, enjoyed with a hot cup of filter coffee. It is a crispy dal vada, perked up with chopped amaranth leaves.
Thattai is a flat, round-shaped, deep-fried snack made with a perfect mix of rice flour, urad flour and spices. So wonderful does it taste with tea that you will find even small tea shops stocking this scrumptious deep-fried snack in their glass jars!
Healthy South Indian Evening Snacks
Instead of deep frying vadas, we have made this healthy Tava Chana Dal Vada which is made of healthy chana dal and cooked crisp on a tava.
The famous South Indian snack becomes unrecognisable in its new tava-cooked avatar! We have modified the traditional, deep-fried Masala Vadai recipe by adding iron and folic acid rich dill leaves, and tava-cooking the vadais.
Enjoy our South Indian Evening Snacks and South Indian Recipes article below.
995+South Indian Recipes
30+Karnataka Cuisine
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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
90+South Indian Sweets
15 South Indian Uttapam
35+South Indian Vada
We have a large collection of different types of Podis. Yes, it's clearly evident that Podis and the different types of Podi recipes are super popular not only in South India but all across our lovely country.
Podis are dry powders made with spices, dals and other ingredients like coconut, curry leaves, or dried herbs like coriander and mint. While some podis like Milagai Podi are served as dry chutneys with Idli, Sada Dosa and Sada Uttapas, others like Curry Leaves Chutney Powder can also be served mixed with hot rice and til oil. This section introduces you to a range of such pods.
The Milagai Podi, fondly called “Gun Powder” by South Indian food fans, is an all-time favourite accompaniment to idlis and dosas. When a spoonful of the powder is served, spice lovers fondly make a small hole in its centre, add a spoonful of til oil or ghee into it, and mix gently with their index finger, to make a chutney like paste with a fresh and irresistible aroma.
Podi Recipes to be served with rice
Peep into any south indian larder, and you are likely to find a good stock of Ellu Podi or dry spice-dal blends that can be served as side dishes or even mixed with rice.
Podi Recipes with flaxseeds.
The podi recipe just got healthier with the additon of flaxseeds to dry kashniri red chillies giving Flaxseed Podi. Add flaxseed podi with til oil and sprinkle over Uttapas.
This flavourful Chutney Podi is sure to make you gobble up an extra Idli or two! Mixed with til oil, this Chutney Podi makes an exciting accompaniment to hot idlis and dosas.
Happy Cooking!
Enjoy our Podi Recipes and other South Indian Recipes articles below.
119 South Indian Breakfast Recipes
45 South Indian Chutney Recipes
168 South Indian Curries, Subzis Recipes
117 South Indian Dosa Recipes
172 South Indian Idlis Recipes
53 South Indian Rasam Recipes
78 South Indian Rice Recipes
49 South Indian Sambar Recipes
90 South Indian Sweets Recipes
34 South Indian Vada Recipes
980 South Indian Recipes
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15+Kerala Cuisine
20+Tamil Nadu Cuisine
Andhra Recipes
We have a large collection of 120 different types of Dosas. Yes, it's clearly evident that Dosas and the different types of Dosa recipes are super popular not only in South India but all across our lovely country.
Lets start with our most popular Dosa recipes on our website given below.
Dosas are thin, crisp pancakes cooked in a tava with little oil. While dosas are typically made with a batter of rice and urad, there are several regional variants that use other pulses and grains. From Sada Dosa to Wheat Dosa , from Mysore Masala Dosa to Rava Dosa , this section takes you through a tour of several possibilities, so you can take your pick for breakfast, evening tiffin or dinner.
Sada Dosa make a more indulgent breakfast compared to easy, steamed Idli! Combined with chutney and Sambhar, Dosas are sumptuous and tasty, fit to be had not just for breakfast but for evening tiffin or even dinner.
Our collection of 120 Variety Dosas Recipes ranges from Corn Dosa to Moong Dal Dosa to even Dosa Lasagne. We have Mumbai Roadside Dosa recipes like Spring Dosa, Cheese Dosa, Mysore Masala Dosa, Sada Dosa to our special Onion Rava Dosa. Popular on street corners is the Mumbai Masala Dosa and the Chinese style dosa, Schezwan Chopsuey Dosa.
Healthy Dosa recipes
From our large Dosa Recipe collection, its hard to find out which Dosa is healthy. Check our article on which dosa is healthy for health lovers. One of the healthy Dosas is Healthy Oats Dosa which is a great South Indian snack or breakfast recipe. The key in this reicpe that there is no rice and its replaced with Oats which is fibre rich and good for Diabetics.
Looking for quick dosa variety recipes. Quick Soya dosa is made with ready made flours and does not require any require any soaking or even grinding. Another tasty recipe is Quick Rice Dosa which requires no soaking and fermentation. An easy to make counterpart of the traditional dosa! these crisp Rava Dosa are made with a batter of semolina and buttermilk. Since the batter does not have to be fermented for long, this is an ideal dish to serve the sudden guest! Last but not least, the Insant Oats Dosa requires no grinding and fermenting.
Recipes using Dosa batter
When we look at dosa recipes or different types of dosa recipes, then we cannot forget recipes using dosa batter. A few which come to mind quickly are Onion Tomato Uttapam and Cheese Dosa from Mumbai street food.
Enjoy our collection of different types of dosas recipes and South Indian articles given below.
980 South Indian Recipes
119 South Indian Breakfast Recipes
45 South Indian Chutney Recipes
168 South Indian Curries, Subzis Recipes
172 South Indian Idlis Recipes
53 South Indian Rasam Recipes
78 South Indian Rice Recipes
49 South Indian Sambar Recipes
90 South Indian Sweets Recipes
34 South Indian Vada Recipes
4260+South Indian Recipes
30+Karnataka Cuisine
15+Kerala Cuisine
20+Tamil Nadu Cuisine
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Small, deep-fried, ball-shaped snacks made of a batter of rice and pulses, Appe are perfect to have along with Masala Chai or South Indian Filter Coffee. In South India, Appes are even had as part of breakfast or dinner. Appe recipes are usually served with an assortment of chutneys, which make the platter appear all the more appetising!
Appe are usually cooked in oil, in a special mould that has many small pockets into which the batter is poured. This gives the appe a unique shape and texture too. There are several types of appe made with different combinations of grains and pulses, often enhanced with ingredients like coconut, green chillies and grated vegetables.
Have a look at the different choices available in this section like Urad Dal and Vegetable Appe, Rice Appe and others, so take your pick.
Rice Appe is a simply awesome snack and most popular Appe. Rice Appe can be had as a tea-time treat or served along with idli, pongal, dosa or khichdi to add more josh to your breakfast. Made by cooking a fermented batter of rice and urad dal in an appe mould, the appe are crisp outside but soft and spongy inside.
Appe Recipes, Healthy Appes
The all-time favourite South Indian snack, Jowar and Pear Appam features here with a healthy twist. We have combined two wholesome flours with grated pear to make a naturally-sweet batter.
The Oats and Spring Onion Appe is a smart diabetic-friendly variant made with fibre-rich oats instead of high glycemic index rice.
Appe Recipes with Idli batter
Quick and easy snack made with idli batter, the Masala Appe is worth calling as Magic Appe, because it’s superb texture and amazing flavour make it a great hit with everybody.
Enjoy our Appe Recipes and South Indian Recipes articles given below.
4260+South Indian Recipes
30+Karnataka Cuisine
15+Kerala Cuisine
20+Tamil Nadu Cuisine
119 South Indian Breakfast Recipes
45 South Indian Chutney Recipes
168 South Indian Curries, Subzis Recipes
117 South Indian Dosa Recipes
172 South Indian Idlis Recipes
53 South Indian Rasam Recipes
78 South Indian Rice Recipes
49 South Indian Sambar Recipes
90 South Indian Sweets Recipes
34 South Indian Vada Recipes
Happy Cooking!
Pachadis are tongue-tickling accompaniments that are served with lunch or dinner. South Indian Pachadi resipes are just like raitas. There are broadly two types of pachadi recipes. The common preparation involves combining curds with veggies and/or spices and tempering it with mustard seeds, urad dal and curry leaves.
More exotic varieties of Pachadi Recipes involve a mix of veggies and tamarind pulp, perked up with spice powders, ginger, green chillies, and so on.
Red Pumpkin Pachadi stands out from others in its combined use of curds and coconut milk, which are very healthy. You can serve the red pumpkin pachadi with Bisi Bele Bhaat, South Indian Tava Rice.
Coconut Pachadi made of coconut and curds, perked up with ginger and green chillies. You will love the mellow yet tangy flavour of this pachadi with the pleasant crunch of coconut. Even better, its healthy.
Its the coconut oil which again make Cucumber Pachadi not only tasty but also healthy. They taste so much nicer than our regular raitas.
Pachadi Recipes, Doodhi
Doodhi Pachadi, made with cooling bottle gourd and curds, perked up with myriad chat-pata ingredients like ginger, green chillies and onions too. This goes great with Parathas.
Pachadi Recipes, Tomato
Tomato Pachadi is a really tasty pachadi recipe which used coconut oil in tempering which parts a whole new flavour to it. Even better, Coconut oil is one of the healthiest oils you can use in cooking.
The varied Pachadi recipes in this section will enhance the appeal of any meal. I strongly recommend these raita recipes to all Indians as they go well with any meal.
Happy Cooking!
Enjouy our Pachadi recipes and other South Indian Recipes articles given below.
119 South Indian Breakfast Recipes
45 South Indian Chutney Recipes
168 South Indian Curries, Subzis Recipes
117 South Indian Dosa Recipes
172 South Indian Idlis Recipes
53 South Indian Rasam Recipes
78 South Indian Rice Recipes
49 South Indian Sambar Recipes
90 South Indian Sweets Recipes
34 South Indian Vada Recipes
980 South Indian Recipes
30+Karnataka Cuisine
15+Kerala Cuisine
20+Tamil Nadu Cuisine
We have a large collection of 45 different types of Rasam recipes. Yes, it's clearly evident that Rasam and the different types of Rasam recipes are super popular not only in South India but all across our lovely country.
To any South Indian , Rasam is synonymous to homely cooking. It is a soup-like dish that is tangy and spicy. The base could be tamarind water or tomato puree, combined with ingredients like dal, spices, ginger, green chillies, and so on. The method of preparation, especially the timely addition of ingredients, is crucial to get the perfect texture and flavour of rasam.
The homeliest of South Indian recipes, Rasam is a thin lentil soup perked up with tamarind pulp and chopped tomatoes, a traditional spice powder, and a simple seasoning of mustard seeds and curry leaves. Don't forget the Tomato Rasam which is another staple in kitchens.
Healthy Rasam Recipes
Garlic has many health benefits such as lowers cholesterol and what better way to have it with a nice Garlic Rasam. Buttermilk rasam is a ‘light’, moderately spicy rasam that can be safely consumed even by those with cold or fever.
Winter Rasam Recipe
On a cold winter day, Jeera Rasam is the perfect solution to prevent the onset of a cold.
What rasam recipe is consumed daily in Tamil Nadu?
Dal Rasam or Paruppu Rasam is everyday fare in Tamil Nadu ! It made with cooked toovar dal and tomatoes, flavoured with a special rasam powder.
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Enjoy our Rasam Recipe collection and South Indian Recipes article below.
119 South Indian Breakfast Recipes
45 South Indian Chutney Recipes
168 South Indian Curries, Subzis Recipes
117 South Indian Dosa Recipes
172 South Indian Idlis Recipes
78 South Indian Rice Recipes
49 South Indian Sambar Recipes
90 South Indian Sweets Recipes
34 South Indian Vada Recipes
980 South Indian Recipes
30+Karnataka Cuisine
15+Kerala Cuisine
20+Tamil Nadu Cuisine
Andhra Recipes
South Indian cooking offers a wide range of South Indian pickles ranging from rich to simple, preserved and fresh. Mango Pickle , Drumstick Pickle and other tongue-tickling delights can add more josh to any meal. When in a hurry, even a simple meal of Curd Rice , if served with a few pickles, is like a grand feast to South Indians!
Interestingly, most restaurants down South serve Lemon Pickle along with the 'meals', as the lemon is easy to procure and pickle, as well as liked by almost everybody.
South Indian Pickles, Mango Pickle
The raw mango is so closely associated with the Indian cuisine,that almost every community has an array of recipes-especially pickles-that employ this seasonal treasure. Here is a typical South Indian recipe of Mango Pickle.
South Indian Pickles use Drumstick
Drumstick Pickle : Now, this is as exotic as it gets. The pungent flavour of drumstick blends very well with the hot spices, resulting in an aromatic and flavourfull pickle that will leave you licking your fingers.
South Indian Pickles, Madras Onions
A version of the South Indian Madras Onion pickle is served in lots of restuarants in Mumbai. They just taste great and blend with any food.
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Enjouy our South Indian Pickle recipes and other South Indian Recipes articles below.
119 South Indian Breakfast Recipes
45 South Indian Chutney Recipes
168 South Indian Curries, Subzis Recipes
117 South Indian Dosa Recipes
172 South Indian Idlis Recipes
53 South Indian Rasam Recipes
78 South Indian Rice Recipes
49 South Indian Sambar Recipes
90 South Indian Sweets Recipes
34 South Indian Vada Recipes
980 South Indian Recipes
30+Karnataka Cuisine
15+Kerala Cuisine
20+Tamil Nadu Cuisine
Andhra Recipes
We have a large collection of different types of Uttpam. Yes, it's clearly evident that Uttapam and the different types of Uttpam recipes are super popular not only in South India but all across our lovely country.
If Punjabi love their parathas, South Indians love their uttapam recipes! Thicker than dosas, these pancakes are a delight to bite into because they are crispy and spongy too. They can be made large and thick, or in a mini format that is delightful to behold and handy to devour. In fact, these days, special non-stick tavas are available to make mini uttapas, so you can make a batch of 7-12 uttapas at one go like the Mini Rava Uttapa , Mini green Pea Uttapa.
Uttpam Recipes using Dosa Batter
Uttapas can be made with simple dosa batter, with a combination of dosa batter and vegetables or other ingredients, or a completely different batter of millets, sprouts, and so on. While the traditional way is to soak rice and urad, grind them separately, and ferment the batter, it is also possible to make quick versions with readymade flours and without fermenting also.
You can use your dosa batter to make Onion Uttapam. The Mumbai street food of Uttapam also uses dosa batter and tastes great with coconut chutney.
Using Jowar in Uttapam is a great option replacing the semolina which is not healthy as it will raise your blood sugar levels. Use soya milk cleverly to make Quick Soya Uttapa. Yes, you can add sprouts in your Mini Sprouts Uttapa.
Oats and whole wheat flour combine to make a healthy Oats and Whole Wheat Uttapam.
Uttpam Recipes for Breakfast
Onion Tomato Uttpam makes a great breakfast snack which my girls love in the morning. The Bread Uttapam requires no fermenting resulting in a quick breakfast.
This section takes you through a variety of options ranging from the all-time favourite Bajra Carrot Onion Uttapam , to healthy Sandwich Uttpam , and innovative Banana Uttpam.
Enjoy our Uttpam Recipes and other exciting South Indian Recipes articles below.
995+South Indian Recipes
30+Karnataka Cuisine
15+Kerala Cuisine
20+Tamil Nadu 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
35+South Indian Vada
We have a large collection of different types of Vadas. Yes, it's clearly evident that Vada and the different types of Vada recipes are super popular not only in South India but all across our lovely country.
Vada is to South India what Samosa is to the North! Vada is a crispy deep-fried snack made with a dal-based batter. For hardcore vada lovers, not a day passes without having it with breakfast or lunch, or as an evening snack. A sumptuous breakfast platter generally combines Idli, Dosa or Ven Pongal with a ‘single vada’, which is how a single piece of hot and crisp Urad Vada ( Medu Vada ) is fondly called.
Breakfast, Vada Recipes
When you have breakfast in a South Indian restaurant, even in the remote villages, you will be fascinated to see the waiter reel out the list of breakfast combos, almost all of them featuring medu vada !
Evening Snack, South Indian Vada Recipes
In the evening, South Indians love to have just about any type of vada with their coffee or tea, but all-time favourites are the Masala Vada and piping hot Rava Vada or Rasam Dal Vada.
On a hot day, who can resist Curd Vadas – urad vadas soaked in curd and topped it with crispy boondi! Indeed, there is no end to the many delightful moments that you can share with the versatile vada!
Famous in the Mysore region, the Maddur Vada is a classic evening snack.
Keerai Vadai is a crispy dal vada, perked up with chopped amaranth leaves and best had with coconut chutney. Then there is Lehsuni Vada which can be served as a starter and can be served between ladi pav.
A festive lunch on the other hand would be incomplete without an appetizing Chana Dal Vada served along with the sweets.
Healthy Vada Recipes
Oats and Moong Dal Dahi Vada is a healthy snack – a non-fried version of dahi vadas, which can be enjoyed. Fibre from the oats and calcium from curds makes this a nourishing yet low-fat treat.
Also try our Low Cal Medu Vada cooked in an appe mould with minimal oil.
Explore many delightful vada recipes in this section.
Enjoy our Vada Recipes and exciting South Indian Recipes articles below.
995+South Indian Recipes
30+Karnataka Cuisine
15+Kerala Cuisine
20+Tamil Nadu 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