A coastal state where all you see is the blend of coconut trees and aromatic spices calls you for a palatable time. Of course, we are talking about the famous food of Kerala! Deeply rooted in traditions and culture, the state celebrates multiple flavours, textures and techniques in everyday cooking.
From the usage of coconut milk and ghee to naturally produced foods and comforting curries, each famous dish of Kerala is worth discovering. So, let’s get down the lane of indigenous spices and foods to melt your heart.
Famous Food of Kerala: 20 Top-Rated Dishes to Try
1. Puttu and Kadala Curry
Every state has a staple dish, talking highly about the culture and diversity of flavours. Puttu and Kadala Curry is that famous food of Kerala, all credits to its comforting flavour. While this dish is generally served at breakfast, it can also be consumed for dinners. Did you know Puttu is made in a special Puttu maker; cherished most in Kochi and Kozhikode?
Rice flour is mixed with grated coconut, which is then transferred to the puttu maker. It is then steamed to perfection. The curry is specifically made with black chickpeas, giving it a smooth texture. You can find onions, tomatoes and a blend of pungent spices in the curry. It is served alongside puttu, thereby completing the wholesome meal. So, book affordable hotels in Kochi or hotels in Kozhikode to try this delicacy.
2. Palada Payasam
Festivals in Kerala invite you to try the most delicious dessert of the state. Palada Payasam is the famous food of Kerala, owing to its versatile flavours and a creamy texture. The dessert is prepared by cooking flat rice flakes in milk and sugar.
Even ghee is added in the cooking process to add a bit of festive essence. This famous dish of Kerala is famously prepared on Onam as well as Vishu. You can even find many Keralites enjoying the Payasam on happy occasions. Topped with cardamom, get ready for a caramelised flavour.
3. Idiyappam
Idiyappam is also known as Noolputtu in the state. It is a common delicacy found in different parts of South India. It is the interesting texture and preparation style that attracts many travellers to try it. Being the famous food of Kerala, it is prepared essentially with rice flour.
A soft dough is made, which is then transferred to the idiyappam press. You can see long strings of noodles in a circular layering steamed to perfection. That’s exactly how it is made! The delicacy can be enjoyed with vegetable curries or coconut milk.
4. Thalassery Biryani
If you are looking for a spicy and famous dish of Kerala, Thalassery Biryani is the one! Unlike the common basmati rice, this one is cooked with jeerakasala rice. It is generally prepared with chicken and marinated with multiple spices.
What makes the dish stand out is the inclusion of ghee used to cook onions, tomatoes, ginger and garlic. You can see rice layered with chicken. The garnishing is done with cashews, fried onions and cardamom, giving you a little crunch in every bite.
5. Kerala Prawn Curry
As the name suggests, this famous food of Kerala is specifically found in this state. Kerala Prawn Curry is prepared with a melodious rhythm of pungent spices and coconut milk. Did you know it is the tenderness of prawns that highly contributes to their smooth texture?
After cleaning the prawns, they are well marinated with spices and onions cooked in coconut oil. The usage of coconut milk gives it a perfectly creamy flavour. What’s next? Prawns, along with tamarind, are added to the prepared curry. This famous dish of Kerala is then tempered with curry leaves and dried chillies.
6. Nadan Kozhi Varuthathu (Spicy Chicken)
Nadan Kozhi Varuthathu is just that scrumptious dish you crave after a good day. It is basically a chicken dish prepared with dried spices. What truly makes it mouth-watering is the aroma of various condiments used for preparation.
The chicken is marinated with these spices and fried to perfection! Guess what? It is fried in coconut oil, giving it the touch of Kerala. You can easily pair this with appam or rice depending on your taste buds. Ready to try the authentic flavours already? Make sure to check the best time to visit Kerala for a wonderful journey.
7. Eriserry
The state is a lot about curries with distinctive recipes for each. Eriserry sure is a traditionally famous food of Kerala, specially prepared during Onam Sadya. The dish gets its unique flavour due to the combination of vegetables. Pumpkin, yam or raw bananas are cooked with a harmony of spices.
What makes it stand out is the usage of coconut, giving the dish a bit of sweetness. Roasted coconut, curry leaves and green chillies are then used for garnishing. If you are someone who genuinely enjoys the flavour of coconuts, this one is for you!
8. Uzhunnu Vada
You must have seen doughnuts everywhere. Uzhunnu Vada more or less looks similar to the doughnuts except for its taste. Being the ultimate famous food of Kerala, the vada is made by soaking urad dal (black lentils). It is then shaped like a doughnut and deep-fried until golden brown.
You can see how the frying process adds all the crisp to the vada. While it has a crunch on the outside, it is super fluffy and soft on the inside. To get the best of its flavour, enjoy the dish with sambar or rasam alongside coconut chutney. It is available in many versions across the state.
9. Appam with Stew
Nothing is better than tasting appam with stew when in this beautiful state! It is surely the famous food of Kerala, thanks to its fusion of textures. Appam looks like a dosa; however, it is slightly different. It is made with rice flour and coconut milk, which is soft at the centre and crispy at the edges.
The delicious appam is paired with a soothing stew. Stew is basically a mixture of many vegetables, spices and coconut milk. It is the inclusion of coconut flavour that makes the appam a bit sweet. However, you can rightly balance the dish with mildly spiced stew.
10. Chatti Pathiri
If you are craving something sweet, Chatti Pathiri is an ideal delicacy. It is indeed a sweet and famous food of Kerala. The delight is like a layer of pancakes, especially consumed during festivals. Interestingly, the dish can be prepared in two ways.
If you prefer sweet, this famous dish of Kerala can be filled with eggs, flour, nuts and cardamom. Similarly, for the savoury version, the filling changes to traditional meat. Few herbs and onions give it the scrumptious taste your heart would love!
11. Idli Sambar
Not just in South India, Idli Sambar is known to the entire country because of its subtly delicious flavour. It definitely tops when you think of the famous food of Kerala. Idlis are prepared with rice flour and salt and left for the fermentation process. They are steamed until super soft!
These idlis are topped with sambar and chutneys. Sambar is generally prepared with pumpkin, tomatoes, onions and traditional spices. What makes it different is the versatility of the dish. It is cooked in multiple ways and paired with coconut and orange-garlic chutney. So, get ready for this comforting food.
12. Ghee Roast Dosa
You cannot really complete your tour without trying this loved delicacy. Ghee roast dosa is indeed the famous food of Kerala, all thanks to its crunchy texture. The fermented batter of rice and urad dal (lentil) is used to prepare the dosa.
The star ingredient of the dish is ghee (clarified butter). With every bite, you get the soothing flavour of ghee. It is generally super thin and crispy, giving it a unique texture. Most places serve this famous dish of Kerala on a banana leaf to add an earthy layer.
13. Karimeen Pollichathu (Fish)
The backwaters of the state clearly have their unique dishes. Karimeen Pollichathu is just another famous food of Kerala found mostly in Alleppey and Kumarakom. Karimeen is a freshwater fish, particularly dominated by its tender texture. It is indeed a favourite dish for seafood lovers.
A fusion of spices, including turmeric, chilli powder, ginger and garlic, is used for marinating the fish. What makes it extra special is the usage of coconut oil, defining the touch of Kerala. Unlike other cooking styles, this one is wrapped with banana leaves. You can either enjoy a grilled or pan-cooked version of the dish. It is indeed a great ideal to book hotels in Alleppey for authentic tasting.
14. Nadan Beef
You cannot be leaving the state without trying the bold flavours of the Nadan Beef. Get ready to try this famous food of Kerala known for its traditional significance. The dish is prepared with small chunks of beef coated with a mouth-watering marination.
This famous dish of Kerala is infused with garam masala, turmeric, onions, garlic and ginger. The aromatic gravy is then fused with grated coconut for the authentic Kerala-style flavour. This melody of flavours is paired with appam or parota. Book budget-friendly hotels in Kottayam or hotels in Thrissur as the dish is most loved in both cities.
15. Malabar Parota
As the name suggests, Malabar Parota is particularly renowned in the Malabar region of the state. The quintessential dish is prepared by rolling and folding the dough multiple times. This process gives you a layered parota with a flaky texture.
What’s next? This famous dish of Kerala is then cooked with a drizzle of oil. After it is cooked, it is clapped or beaten to separate the layers. You can pair this parota with different curries and meat dishes.
16. Banana Fritters
You must have heard of the usage of bananas in many dishes of the state. Locally known as Pazham Pori, this famous food of Kerala is consumed with tea or coffee. It is basically prepared with ripe bananas and all-purpose flour.
Bananas are cut into long slices and then coated with the flour, which also has salt, sugar, a pinch of turmeric and cardamom powder. Each slice of banana is dipped into the flour batter and deep-fried. At times, you can get a sweet taste due to the addition of coconut milk with the flour.
17. Mutton Biryani in Malabar Style
Cooked especially in the Malabar region, this famous food of Kerala is best known for its fusion of pungent spices. Mutton Biryani in Malabar style is a harmonious combination of marinated mutton with yoghurt, spices, ginger, garlic and fried onions.
What makes it interesting is the inclusion of cloves, cardamom, star anise and cinnamon. Unlike any other famous dish of Kerala, this one is cooked with fragrant Kaima rice. Enjoy the tender mutton cooked in layers of rice. Lastly, the Biryani is prepared in a pot covered with dough. It is the slow cooking leading to the infusion of a flavourful aroma.
18. Kerala Meen Curry
Thanks to the coastal touch, this famous food of Kerala is for the seafood lovers. Kerala Meen Curry is made with seer fish, kingfish or even sardines. What makes it a signature dish is the usage of kudampuli (Malabar tamarind).
An incredible marination is prepared with chilli powder, turmeric and coriander powder. Onions, tomatoes, ginger and garlic are also used alongside. The fish is simmered in the curry for the perfect balance of flavours. Lastly, the tempering is done with coconut oil, mustard seeds and fenugreek.
19. Kumbilappam
Kumbilappam is a must-try snack when in God’s own country. Being the famous food of Kerala, it is prepared with ripe jackfruit. The fruit is either chopped or mashed, thereby giving different textures to the dish. It is then mixed with rice flour, jaggery and cardamom. Not to forget the essence of coconut inside it.
What’s interesting here? You can witness the famous dish of Kerala being cooked in banana leaf cones. These cones are filled with the batter and steamed to perfection. Most locals prefer this as an evening snack, generally with tea or coffee.
20. Sundal
Every state has this snack that kids and adults both love! Sundal is that famous food of Kerala made with legumes. Generally, chickpeas are used for the preparation of the dish. Similarly, you can also see the usage of black-eyed peas or green gram.
The dish begins with tempering of oil alongside chilli powder, mustard seeds, turmeric and curry leaves. Chickpeas are then added to it along with salt. The dish is garnished with grated coconut and is always served warm. So, get ready for a comforting bite.
Kerala Cuisine Awaits You!
After reading about the best delicacies, you must now be aware of the famous food of Kerala. With a blend of spices and condiments, you may find the most soothing curries and rice-based dishes. Even seafood and meat dishes are heavy here. So, book your ticket to try the tantalising flavours of the South!