Peninsular India is home to a variety of cultures and traditions and the cuisine of this region also reflects the rich and vibrant history of this part of the country. Most media represent north Indian food as being representative of Indian cuisine. But the southern part of the country also has an equally complex and rich flavour palate that is usually ignored. So, if you are planning to travel to any state of southern India in the coming months make sure to venture out of your familiar bubble of comfort foods and explore the tasty food of South India.

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Here is a list of some of the top South Indian food/ dishes:

#1. Hyderabadi Biriyani – Perhaps one of the only South Indian food items that has found some recognition outside peninsular India, the special biryani from Hyderabadi is chock full of spices and aromas. The dish is prepared with rice and meat and is one of the most popular dishes on the South Indian food list.

#2. Dosa – This is a South Indian food that is served at almost every street stall as well as in various restaurants of South India. These are crispy crepes made from rice and ground black gram. Dosa with sambar or dosa chutney (coconut chutney) is a classic combo. Dosas stuffed with potatoes and spicy onions are known as masala dosas and are also fairly popular.

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#3. Uttapam – Uttapam is a savoury pancake dish that features in the list of very popular South Indian food items. The dish is prepared from a similar rice and black gram batter, but is made a little thicker with lots of onions and tomatoes.

#4. Vada – Vada sambar is a fried South Indian dish that can be served as breakfast or as a snack. A batter is prepared from a paste of different lentils and the batter is deep fried to give it a crispy outside and a soft inside. The batter is flavoured with spices like cumin, chillies and curry leaves to add a special taste to the vada. The perfect accompaniment for the vada is sambar.

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#5. Idli Sambar – Another South Indian food that is served at both lunch and breakfast is the humble idli. Idlis are simply steamed rice cakes that are served with sambar or with spicy and creamy coconut chutney. The idli is known for being light on the stomach yet very filling.

#6. Appam – Rice is a staple ingredient in every South Indian food list and the appam is another rice dish that is popular in the region. Appams are thin pancakes prepared from a batter of fermented rice. The appam is usually served with some fresh coconut milk or with a spicy vegetable curry.

#7. Rasam – Many local South Indians call this dish the best South Indian food. But the rasam is a very simple and light dish. It is a lightly spicy vegetable soup that has lots of tomatoes and black pepper. A bit of tamarind paste adds a hit of tanginess to this healthy dish which is usually served with rice.

#8. Curd Rice – Another healthy dish that is very popular during the hot summers of South India is curd rice. This is a very simple preparation of yogurt mixed with boiled rice and then slightly tempered with some spices and curry leaves.

#9. Upma – This is one of those South India dishes that can be modified to fit into the personal tastes and preferences of each person. Upma is basically boiled semolina that has been cooked with some onions, tomatoes, peanuts and other spices.

#10. Chicken Chettinad – But South Indian cuisine is not only about light healthy dishes, there are some popular meat dishes as well. The chicken chettinad has been named after the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu. The dish is known for being extremely spicy but very flavourful. It pairs well with both rice as well as roti.

#11. Malabar Prawn Curry – South India has a long coastline and fishing is an important activity for large sections of the population. So, fish is an important part of South Indian cuisine. The Malabar prawn curry comes from the state of Kerala and is known for its spicy and creamy thick gravy cooked with lots of coconut milk.

#12. Fish Molee – Another fish dish that is hugely popular in South India is the Fish Molee. This dish actually had its origin in Portuguese cuisine, but has now been adapted to the Indian tradition. The dish uses dried fish cooked with coconut milk and lots of spices.

#13. South Indian Thali – The South Indian thali is a perfect representation of the cuisine of the region. The thali is like a buffet for a single person, with a large variety of dishes and side dishes (sambar, coconut chutney, rasam and more) all served on tiny bowls on a single huge plate. A thali usually has some rice dishes paired with veggies and meat options, along with local deserts.

#14. Filter Coffee – No discussion about South Indian cuisine can ever be complete without making mention of the region’s most important produce, coffee. South India grows some of the world’s best coffee and then prepares it in a unique way which has now become popular as the filter coffee. This is simply filtered coffee grounds boiled and prepared with sugar and milk. Traditional South Indian filter coffee is served in small metal cups with a layer of froth on top.

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#15. Payasam – Last but not the least we cannot miss out on deserts. The payasam is a rice based dessert that is almost like a sweet porridge. The dish is prepared by slowly boiling rice in milk till the milk thickens and then the dish is sweetened with lots of sugar. Payasam is topped off with a generous sprinkling of cashews and raisins.

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These dishes are just a little peek into the vast variety of delicious dishes which make up South Indian cuisine. The cuisine is more than its signature dishes like idli and vada and has a lot diversity in its flavours and textures. There are meat and fish preparations, breakfast specials and even fired snacks. So, it is high time for travellers to give South India its due in the culinary landscape of India and try out these special favourites from peninsular India.

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