The Tantalizing Palette of Southern India and its Unrivalled Cuisine
The southern Indian cuisine is a vibrant assortment of myriad colours and flavours just like the region itself. Starting from Mysore to Udupi cuisine, from North Karnataka cuisine to Kodagu or Coorg Cuisine, from Karavali coastal cuisine to Telangana or Andhra cuisine, from Konkan to Chettinad cuisine; the palette is simply exhilarating!
South India’s cuisines are as diverse as its exotic spices and complex culture, and we wouldn’t be able to do justice to them all. Nonetheless, we make every effort to bring you some of the most distinct and spectacular delicacies from this amazing region, which will leave a lasting impression on your senses and make you crave more.
While you may be familiar with traditional uttapams, dosas, and even delectable biryanis, you’re about to embark on a quest that goes well beyond the norms and ordinary, something that challenges your current knowledge. It’s also a delight for all those non-vegetarians who enjoy a nice gastronomic excursion. Of course, vegetarian South Indian delicacies abound; this region has something to offer everyone who is prepared to venture out.
So relax and sit back while we dig in for more!
Kannad Jolad Rotti with Ennegayi
Even though it’s a vegetarian delicacy, this north Karnataka dish is a staple and a must-try. The aubergines in a thick curry sauce with Jowar (millets) Rottis are the stars of this meal. The spicy aubergine curry’s balanced undertones with the soft rice or Millet Rottis will transport you to another dimension!
Kerala’s authentic Malabar Styled-Meat with Flaky Parotta
Anyone who’s a fan of spicy meat curries would love the idea of Kerala’s flaky, panfried flatbread or parotta with the authentic Malabar meat curry, is in for a treat! This one-of-a-kind dish is made with meat chunks cooked in a spice base of coconut, chillies, black pepper, and other ground aromatics.
Konkan Kurle Ambat
This culinary bigwig is probably the most engrossing of all the Konkan delicacies that this region offers. It is also known as Konkan crab curry. This dish takes about 15 minutes to prepare and follows the same traditional recipe. The crabs are cleaned, boiled with spices, and then cooked before being put to a separate curry base. It is served with steamed rice or rotis.
Karimeen Pollichathu
The fragrant fish is now one of the top delicacies to sample on your visit down south. It is prepared by marinating a whole pearl spot fish in a specific spice blend before being steamed in a banana leaf and served with rice. You’ll thank us later once you’ve tasted this delicious fish infused with natural spices, flavours, and aromas.
Urlai or Roasted baby potatoes
This is another vegetarian delight that is truly amazing and so simple to make. Its preparation involves tossing baby potatoes in an aromatic spice mix with a dash of freshly chopped cilantro. You can enjoy this yummy treat either with lemon rice, curd rice, or simple steamed rice.
Steamed Rice with Aatukkari Kuzhambu
Aatukkari Kuzhambu is a flavour-packed, curry-based mutton with its traditional and robust spices that taste incredible! The mutton is infused with tamarind paste and other exotic aromatics in a base of black split and yellow split legumes. There’s a version of this dish that is cooked with chicken as well and is as scrumptious as the former one.
Hyderabadi Shikampuri Kebab
This is another must-try meal that comes straight from the Royal Nizam kitchen and is a succulent, melt-in-the-mouth kebab. These stuffed kebabs are a work of art, and we promise you won’t be able to eat just one. So, the next time you set your foot in the Nizam’s lands, make sure to taste these with Hyderabadi Biryani to round up your meal.
So here are the seven scrummiest dishes on our southern menu that will knock your socks off! Make sure to sample them throughout your trip to the south, as they are just a glimpse of what this magnificent region has to offer. India is certainly endowed with its distinctive regional cuisine, which offers a peek into the country’s dynamically rich cultural past and resource efficiency. This land is not only beautiful, but it also possesses the most lively and vivacious gourmet delights that are both seamless and limitless.