Southern India has long been renowned for its spices because of which it was a part of the ancient trade routes. Today these spices have blended in various forms, owing to the ingenuity of many minds, to give us some of the most fantastic and scrumptious dishes. These well-known South Indian foods hit your palate in unique yet similar ways, whether it is the ubiquitous masala dosa or Hyderabad’s biryani or Tamil Nadu’s Chettinad or Karnataka’s Mysore Pak or Kerala’s prawn curry. Listed below are the 5 most famous foods of South India, which will have you coming back for more.
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Chicken Chettinad
This mouth-watering recipe originated in Tamil Nadu’s Chettinad region and has been passed down to generations, culminating in the delicious recipe we know today. The recipe is made by cooking marinated chicken with a special paste which gives the dish its unique flavour. Usually, this paste is made up of coriander seeds, red chillies, coconut, poppy seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, and black pepper.
Eateries: Anjappar Chettinad Restaurant, Coimabatore
Pricing: INR 300 – INR 400 per person
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Thalassery Biriyani
The biryani originates from a place called Thalassery, in Kerala, a place whose cuisine combines influences from India, Europe and Persia. To make this delicacy, a special type of rice is used instead of traditional basmati rice, giving it a unique flavour. This cuisine is of Mughal origin, but it represents the fusion of Malabari and Mughal cuisines and is one of the most famous South Indian dishes.
Eateries: Paris Restaurant, Thottathil hotel, Thalassery
Pricing:INR 200 – INR 400 per person
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Konju Varutharaccha Curry
This dish literally means “Kerala Prawn curry,” which is a luxurious dish served usually at dinner parties and originates from the state of Kerala. This dish is prepared by blending the prawns with coconut milk and aromatic spices. As soon as you take the first bite of this dish, you are engulfed by the unique flavour of tamarind and other herbs.
Eateries: Trilogi Restaurant, Ernakulam, Paragon Restaurant, Kozhikode
Pricing: INR 400 – INR 600 per person
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Hyderabadi Biryani
Hyderabadi dum Biryani is the most famous biryani cuisine of India, a dish made with aromatic basmati rice, dahi marinated chicken, and a lot of spices and masalas. This mixture is put on a slow flame, letting the ‘dum’ process bring out the recipe’s fullest flavours. Tradition traces the origin of Hyderabadi biryani to the first Nizam of Hyderabad- Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah.
Eateries: Paradise, Jewel of the Nizam, Hyderabad
Pricing: INR 200 – INR 400 per person
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Masala Dosa
It is one of the most iconic and famous dishes of south India, originating from the state of Karnataka. Masala dosa is made from cooking soaked rice and lentil batter, which has been fermented overnight, which is almost everyone has tasted once. This dish is traditionally served with coconut chutney and sambar. Due to its popularity, there are a variety of dosas such as paper masala dosa, Mysore masala dosa, Madras special masala dosa, and so on.
Eateries: Central Tiffin Room, Vidyarthi Bhavan, Bangalore
Pricing: INR 100 – INR 300 per person
Wrap up
Visiting South India and tasting famous foods is an unforgettable experience for any epicurean. We recommend you plan a culinary trip to south India and share your culinary experiences with your loved ones.