South Indian cuisine is a paradise for food lovers and offers a wide array of flavors, textures, and aromas that reflect the region’s rich culture. It’s known for its bold spices, fresh ingredients, and distinctive cooking techniques. From Tamil Nadu’s iconic dosas and idlis to Karnataka’s flavorful bisibelebath, each of the 5 southern states brings its specialties. We’ve curated a list of some of the must-try dishes in South India, so read along to find your new favorite dish!
Best Dishes In South India
- Pesarattu
- Dosakaya
- Rasam
- Puttu and Kadala Curry
- Kori Gassi
- Chakra Pongal
- Sunnundalu
- Payasam
1. Pesarattu
Hailing from the state of Andhra Pradesh, Pesarattu is not your usual dosa, instead, it’s healthier and is trending on social media as ‘green pancakes’. Unlike the regular one which is made from rice and lentils, this unique green dosa is made entirely from sprouts and lentils, which means it’s packed with protein. The ingredients are left overnight in a bowl of water to allow fermentation. Next day, this mix is ground to a fine batter, and a pinch of baking soda is added to get the perfect fluffy pesarattu. It’s then prepared like a regular dosa.
This is best had with tomato, coconut, or ginger chutneys. However, if you don’t have any of these, you can simply have Pesarattu with ketchup or even podi (mix of powdered spices). It’s a super light but extremely fulfilling and healthy breakfast option in South India.
Best Places To Have Pesarattu:
- Ilapuram Restaurant, Vijayawada
- Tetagunta Pesarattu, Annavaram
2. Dosakaya Pachadi
We bet you haven’t heard of this dish on any Instagram page. This dish is commonly eaten in Telangana and translates to cucumber chutney. That’s right, yellow cucumbers are chopped in pieces and sauteed lightly with onion, garlic, tomatoes, and green chilis. It’s then blended into a smooth paste and a tempering of oil, curry leaves, mustard seeds, and round red chilis is added to it.
Dosakaya is also had as a curry in itself or mixed with lentils but trust us, the chutney is the tastiest version of this vegetable. You can have it with dosas, idlis, or pesarattu, or even mix it with rice and add a dollop of ghee to balance the spice!
Best Places To Have Dosakaya Pachadi:
- Ram ki Bandi, Hyderabad
- Taaza Kitchen, Hyderabad
3. Rasam
South Indian cuisine is highly famous for its taste and quick preparation but underrated for its medicinal value. One such dish that’ll cure your sore throat and cough in a jiffy is rasam. For a better understanding, you can consider this to be an Indian equivalent of the English vegetable stock, except it is more watery and peppery. There are several variants of this dish suited to different tastes but the OG recipe includes crushed tomatoes, garlic, peppercorns, chili, ginger, and a specially made rasam powder.
All of this is added in lots of water and is boiled until the substance reduces to half after which more masalas are added and given one final boil. Rice and rasam are the best combination but in most luxury restaurants you’ll find rasam to be an appetizer. A plate of rice, steaming hot rasam, some fryums, and tangy mango pickle in winter will leave you in ultimate warm bliss.
Best Places To Have Rasam:
- Sri Saravana Bhavan’s Aasai Dosai, Salem
- Krishna’s Dosa Kadai, Chennai
4. Puttu and Kadala Curry
Another must-try dish in South India is this Puttu (steamed rice cake) and Kadala (black chickpea curry). Popular in Kerala, this is a combination you can have at any time of the day. You add raw rice in cylindrical containers and steam it for a few minutes. However, if you ask the Malayalis, they will talk of storing rice in large leaves and shaping them into cylinders to allow it to cook as naturally as possible.
The black chickpea curry is a combination of coconut milk, spices, and tomato for that perfect mix of tanginess and creaminess. Not only is this a wholesome meal, but it’s entirely healthy and full of protein.
Best Places To Have Puttu and Kadala Curry:
- Dhe Puttu, Ernakulum
- Kattanum Puttum, Kaloor
5. Kori Gassi
Let’s talk about some meat, shall we? This spicy chicken curry is a staple dish in Karnataka and is not for the faint heart. But don’t let that stop you from relishing this succulent, juicy dish. The thick gravy of this curry is prepared from a paste of caramelized onions and coconut. It’s then blended with a spicy paste of garlic, ginger, coriander, and a bunch of dry spices.
Into this thick gravy go the juicy, tender chicken pieces that are marinated in a paste of byadagi red chilis. It’s because of these chilis that you see the fiery red color of the curry. This is best paired with neer dosa or parotta.
Best Places To Have Kori Gassi:
- Mangalore Pearl, Mangalore
- Maravanthe Coastal Cuisine, Bengaluru
6. Chakra Pongal
Enough with spicy savory dishes, it’s time for some desserts. Chakra Pongal is a traditional delicacy from Tamil Nadu. The word ‘Chakra’ translates to ‘sugar,’ while ‘Pongal’ refers to ‘porridge.’ It’s traditional dish of the Pongal festival and is a symbol of gratitude for a bountiful harvest.
This creamy, aromatic dish consists of rice and moong dal(yellow lentils) cooked together with jaggery, which imparts a rich, caramel-like sweetness. For a nutty flavor, you can add Ghee, cardamom, and a generous amount of cashews and raisins. The ingredients are simmered until they blend into a smooth, pudding-like consistency. People of all ages enjoy Chakra pongal’s warm, comforting taste and the festive feel.
Best Places To Have Chakra Pongal:
- Eating Circles, Chennai
- Gowri Parvathi Bhavan, Chennai
7. Sunnundalu
Coming from Andhra Pradesh, Sunnundalu is a traditional sweet famous for its rich, nutty flavor and numerous health benefits. Made with urad dal (black gram), ghee, and jaggery, this protein-packed delicacy is especially popular during festivals and special occasions.
The preparation starts by roasting black gram until it becomes aromatic, followed by grinding it into a fine powder. Jaggery adds sweetness following which you pour warm ghee to form a smooth, moldable mixture and roll small portions into round, bite-sized laddus. Sunnundalus are not only delicious but also packed with iron and protein, making them an excellent source of energy.
Best Places To Have Sunnundalu:
- Mahendra Mithaiwala, Kakinada
- Madugula Halwa, Waddadi
8. Payasam
Payasam is a South Indian dessert that’s creamy and is usually popular during weddings and in temples. It’s made by simmering rice or vermicelli in coconut milk and sweetening it with jaggery or sugar. Flavored with cardamom and often garnished with fried cashews and raisins, payasam has a rich, aromatic taste.
Some variations of this dessert include adding lentils instead of rice, sago, or even fruits for additional texture and flavor. You cook it slowly until it reaches a thick, luscious consistency. With each state offering its unique twist on this classic dessert, Payasam is a must-try dish in South India.
Best Places To Have Payasam:
- South Ruchis Square, Bengaluru
- Chellammal Manpaanai Samayal, Tiruchirapalli
Summing Up
South Indian cuisine is a rich treasure trove of flavors and traditions that you must explore. While dishes like dosas and idlis have gained widespread popularity thanks to various food chains, there’s a world of culinary delights beyond these staples that deserve attention. The bustling streets and bylanes of the five southern states are home to countless timeless recipes, some of which we’ve highlighted above. Choose your favorite and indulge in a truly scrumptious meal!
FAQs
Which Is The Best Dish In South India?
Some of the best dishes in South India apart from the ones mentioned above are
- Gongura mutton
- Malabar parotta
- Palkatti chettinad
- Poornam boorelu
- Meen pollichathu and more.
Why South Indian Food Is Best?
South Indian food is the best because fried cooking is minimal, instead, the preferred methods of cooking are steaming, boiling, or fermentation. This not only promotes healthy gut microbiomes but also keeps your overall health in check. Not to forget the great taste of the dishes!
What Is The Food Culture In South India?
South Indian food usually features a larger use of curry leaves, tamarind, and peppercorns. So the food culture here is mostly spicy and tangy, and sweets aren’t as popular here.
What Food Is Grown In Southern India?
The main or staple foods grown in Southern India are rice, lentils, and coconuts.
What Are The Special Dishes Of Karnataka?
Some of the special dishes in Karnataka are as follows:
- Neer dosa
- Akki roti
- Mysore pak
- Ragi mudde
- Thatte idli
