India is a diverse land with a diverse range of cultures, religions, languages and foods. Nothing united India likes its love for tasty food. Every corner of the country has a unique taste with traditional herbs and spices adding to the taste and fragrance of the food. Despite being associated with a particular region, Indian food travels across the country and you can often spot a person from the northern part of the country craving for a bowl of Idli or a person from the southern part of the country devouring a plate of Chole Bhature. Such is the love of Indian people for tasty food.
You can’t restrict the popularity of any Indian dish to a specific region of people from different corners of the country residing in other parts of the country, taking their favourite dish with them wherever they go. If we talk about South Indian dishes, in particular, Idli and Dosa are two such dishes that are famous across the country. Idli is in fact, one of the most consumed breakfast dishes in the country. But there’s more to the South Indian cuisine than traditional Idli and the famous coconut chutney. I’m going to tell you about 8 mouth-watering South Indian dishes below.
Appam
Appam is India’s response to the English pancake. It is a bowl-shaped dish prepared from a batter of rice flour and coconut milk. The dish is mainly served in breakfast and is popular in states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. It is also famous in Sri Lanka. While the history behind the dish is not fully known, it is believed that it was first cooked among the Jewish communities in India. It is mainly served with coconut milk curry. The bowl-shaped dish has also emerged as popular street food and is stuffed with steamed eggs, chutneys, fish, meat, and vegetables. The sweet version of the dish is mainly prepared during the festivals.
Upma
Upma is a very popular Indian dish originating from the Southern part of the country. Dry semolina or rice flour is cooked into a thick porridge for preparing the dish. It is a breakfast dish that can also be eaten as an evening snack. Various nuts, beans and spices are added to the dish to enhance its taste. Turmeric, chillies and peanuts are common ingredients in the dish. When you go and order Upma at a stall or restaurant, expect a difference in taste as every cook has their own way of making the dish.
Pulihora
Pulihora is a dish made with rice as the primary ingredient. It is popular in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. Pulihora is made with rice, turmeric, tamarind, curry leaves, coriander, ginger, and green chiles. Several cooks also prefer adding yellow lentils, roasted sesame seed powder, and mustard seeds to give the dish a rich flavour. It is commonly prepared during the festival season, especially in the southern part of the country.
Also Read, 8 Punjabi Dishes That You Must Try In Your Lifetime
Sambhar
Sambhar is one of the most important dishes and chances are that you have already heard about the dish if you are a resident of India or know about the country’s food and culture. It is a curry dish prepared with lentils and different vegetables. The dish originated from Tamil Nadu and is popular across the country. It is served with rice, Idli, Dosa and several other South Indian dishes. It is a really versatile dish that can be cooked with minimum ingredients. The rich Indian spices give the dish an exotic taste.
Dosa
Dosa is one of the Indian dishes that has gained popularity not only in India but also outside India. The reason is the presence of Indian diaspora in different parts of the world. Dosa is a thin pancake made from a batter that is prepared after left to ferment for a day. It is served plain or with a stuffing of cooked potato. It has a golden brown colour and a crisp texture once cooked nicely. The delicate dish is served with coconut chutney, sambhar or any other traditional chutney. Nowadays, there are several varieties of dosa available such as Paneer dosa, Corn dosa and Chilli Dosa. The origin of the dish can be traced back to the first century AD.
Idli
Idli is the first thing that comes to someone’s mind when you think of a South Indian dish. It is a traditional South Indian dish that is mainly served as breakfast. A batter comprising fermented lentils and rice is used to prepare the dish. It is served hot with sambhar and chutneys made from different traditional spices. Rava Idli, Malli Idli and Fried Idli are the most famous types of Idli available across the country. However, there remains a constant debate about the origin of the dish with some claiming it to originate in Gujarat and others voting in favour of Karnataka.
Vadas
When you are bored of Idli, grab some Vadas. That’s what most of the South Indian population does, and they are seldom wrong in choices related to food. Vadas are doughnut-shaped breakfast dishes only that they aren’t sweet in taste and much healthier than doughnuts. A batter of black lentils, gently spiced with peppercorns, curry leaves, cumin, chilli and onion is used to prepare the dish. The dish is crisp and crunchy in texture and is served with coconut chutney. Some people also served it with traditional red chutney made from tomato and other spices.
Uttapams
India seems to be giving the West a tough competition when it comes to taste. Uttapam is somewhat India’s response to Pizza. It might look like a Pizza or a pancake in appearance but it is unlike either of the two dishes. First, a batter of fermented rice and lentils is spread over a griddle and the thin round sheet is then topped with chopped tomato, onion, chillies, carrot, coconut and other vegetables. Olives and corn can also be used for the topping but they are uncommon here. Some traditional spices are further topped over the sheet and it is cooked until it gets a little fluffy and golden brown in appearance. Uttapam is a really tasty and healthy dish that is served with coconut chutneys, sambhar or sauce.
