South India primarily consists of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana and Puducherry. Now that we know the Indian states that form South India, let us learn about the amazing cuisines available here. From crispy dosas to spicy biryanis, these cuisines will certainly make your taste buds wanting for more.
If you decide to visit the southern states of India, you are in for a treat. The food here is delicious, be it vegetarian or non-vegetarian dishes, the variety is extensive. The staple food in this region is rice; you have rice in almost everything. Some are steamed; some are grinded to make a fine paste or batter to make idlis or dosas. The food is mainly spicy here, because lots of spices are cultivated in this region and also exported to other places from centuries. All the states in this region have coasts, so fresh sea food is abundant. Fruits, vegetables, pulses, cereals and many varieties of crops are grown in this region. So the cuisine is not limited to a few ingredients.
Let me now see the most popular dishes available here.
Dosa: There are almost a hundred varieties of dosas made. It is a traditional breakfast food made of fermented rice and lentil batter. The most popular type of dosa is Masala dosa, which is an extra crispy dosa, with a spicy paste applied inside. It is stuffed with mashed potato called as palya and served with chutney and sambar. Other varieties include onion dosa (dosa with lots of onion served with vegetable curry and chutney), set dosa (just like pan cakes), rava dosa and plain dosa. Other varieties are inspired.
Idly and Vada: Idly and vadas are also breakfast items. Just like dosas, idly is also batter made of fermented rice and lentils, but unlike dosas this one is steamed. The result is a soft, fluffy, round delicious idlies. Vada is shaped just like donut, but it is savory and fried. They are a fantastic combo, often served with chutney and sambar.
Biryani: Be it chicken, mutton, egg or fish; biryani is by far the most popular and most consumed food among non-vegetarians. It has a lot of varieties, just like any other food item. Done Biryani in Karnataka, Chettinad Biryani in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, Malabar Biryani in Kerala and Hyderabadi biryani in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, which is the most popular one. Biryani is a mixture of spices, rice, vegetable, dry fruits and tender meat, all steamed together to produce a mouthwatering dish. It is often served with raita (spicy curd with onions), eggplant curry or any type of spicy gravy.
South Indian Meals: A wide variety of food items. It is a pure vegetarian dish. Let me name a few, white rice, poori, chapathy, vegetable pulao, spicy vegetable mixture (called palya), sambar, rasam, curd, pickles, papad, payasam (any type of sweet) to name a few. It is eaten as lunch or dinner.
There are many different types of food, specific to that region also. Here we have seen the most popular food items that are also common in these areas.
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