Just like its breathtaking beaches, lush mountain rain forests, colorful Hindu temples, and hi-tech cities, South Indian food is an eclectic tropical mix. Making steady use of rice, coconuts, lentils, chutneys, fresh seafood, tangy meats, and of course, the region’s many famous spices.
In religiously diverse South India you’ll find many beautiful Hindu temples across the city of Chennai. For centuries, worshipers would offer up tasty foods (called prasadam) to their form of god. And we earthly souls can savor versions of them today. Like colorful biryani, idli and sambar, or crispy dosas dipped in coconut chutney.
In Tamil Nadu, foods are often associated with particular festivals. One of the oldest and most important Tamil festivals is Pongal, which is celebrated by cooking the traditional dish of sweet Pongal together as a family. While this delicacy has great ritualistic significance, it is also one of Tamil Nadu’s most popular sweets. Traditionally made with jaggery, rice, lentils, and ghee, Pongal is a festival of sweetness!
When it comes to flavor, Bisi Bele Bhaat is as unique as it gets. Its preparation is quite similar to Khichidi, in which rice and dal are cooked together with various vegetables. However, the real magic of Bisi Bele Bhaat is in its masala and the generous helpings of ghee. If you are in Karnataka, don’t miss Bisi Bele Bhaat.
No-one does either tradition or food quite like Hyderabad does. While biryani is popular around India and the world, Hyderabadi Biryani is another thing altogether. Hyderabadi biryani recipes have been passed down since the Nawabs ruled these lands. This biryani is traditionally prepared with basmati rice, meat chunks, and spices, but is identified by the unique and discreet sweetness. The dish is Hyderabad’s most popular cultural export.
In the southern state of Kerala, natural ocean beauty will take your breath away. And so will the flavors found in this coastal gem’s cuisine. Green and red chilies pervade their cooking. But so do coconuts which grow nearly everywhere. Providing a sweet, creamy balance to that spicy kick.