Famous Foods in Kerala You Should Try

Kerala cuisine is greatly influenced by foreign countries, but the food in Kerala has formed a unique flavor.

1. Puttu and Kadala Curry

This is one of the most famous food in Kerala for breakfast. It is a cylindrical shaped rice cake. Coconut shavings is an important component of this delicacy. It is usually served with Kadala curry, but can be devoured with any other item of one’s preference.

Read more about 7 Authentic Kerala Breakfasts

2. Idiyappam

This rice flour vermicelli is also known as Noolappam, is one of the most famous Kerala foods. This is intertwined vermicelli strands which is made up of rice flour and water. Idiyappam can be perfectly paired with any curry and this perfect pair can satiate your hunger in no time.

3. Appam and Stew

Appam is the perfect amalgamation of soft and crusty flavours. This item is one of the most favoured items of Kerala and has been winning the hearts of the locals. This rice flour pancake is a must try with a flavoured stew. The pancake has a soft, fluffy center and paper thin outside. This creates the lip smacking pair with any curry, especially with coconut flavoured smooth meat stews.

4. Thattu Dosa

Thattu Dosa is a well-known street Kerala snack. This is usually served with various chutneys and sambar. This particular dosas are thick pancakes which is prepared of fermented rice and urad dal batter. The taste of the dosas with chutneys and the delicious sambar offer the perfect South Indian taste and is a must.

Read more about 9 Delicious Kerala Street Foods

5. Naadan Kozhi Curry

This is the chicken curry Kerala style famous among locals and visitors. This mouth-watering red chicken curry is a perfect dish for the food lovers. This dish portrays the appropriate blend of spices and meat. The South Indian spices adds exceptional flavours to the curry and it can be easily paired with rice, Malabar parota, naan, biryani etc.

6. Thalassery Biryani

This is a special biryani from the Thalassery region of Kerala. This mouth-watering, aromatic biryani is a magic that will surely stimulate the taste buds. This is prepared with special biryani rice, authentic South Indian spices and masalas, dry nuts and stuffed meat. This special item becomes more tasteful when paired with curd, lime pickle (naranga achar) and salad. This adds more flavour to the festivals and celebrations. This is special item for the Eid celebrations in Malabar region of Kerala.

7. Fish Mollee

Kerala is famous for its fish items and sea food items. These take a special place due to the appropriate placing of Kerala. The coastal land has a huge rage of these items while Kerala style Fish Mollee is popular and well known. The Kerala food is usually prepared with kingfish or a seer fish. The predictable items consist of coconut milk and Kolum. The tangy flavour mixes with the spices like turmeric, cloves, cinnamon, pepper and green chillies- thus, creating a delicious curry. These lightly fried fishes are added to the simmering stew boiling in an earthen pot. This usage of earthen vessels adds the rustic taste of Kerala.

8. Kerala Style Beef Fry

This is a unique Kerala food that almost summarizes all the flavours of Kerala. This spicy item is satiating and stimulating. The generous hints of curry leaves, mustard leaves and ginger garlic paste render unique taste to the beef dish. This special dish has been impressing guests and it an absolute must-try for new visitors.

9. Pazham Pori or Ethakka Appam

These are the popular banana filters of Kerala. This item can never fail and it is one of the most famous delicacies from the land of bananas. This item is a simple item that creates magic with ripe bananas. Slices of ripe bananas are coated with flour and is deep fried, to create this simple yet fulfilling snack.

10. Banana Chips

This traditional Kerala snack is famous all over the word. The bananas are diced into thin slices and then sun dried before deep frying them into banana chips. This is a loved savoury item and can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere.

11. Achappam

This is popular in every household in Kerala. This is made with a batter prepared with rice flour. A particular mould is dipped in the batter and then it is places in boiling oil. This complete process creates the rose cookies much popular among children. Its crispy texture is moth watering and delicious.

12. Uzhunnu Vada

This is popular savoury compliment with tea. It is vada is made up of fermented white lentil batter. This is popular in tea shops and restaurants as it is a popular snack among all. It has a crispy outside and a soft centre and may also include peppercorn and onions.

13. Unni Appam

This Kerala food is prepared with rice powder filled with banana, desiccated coconut and jaggery. This snack also has a particular shape due to the usage of a particular mould. This is a popular traditional snack in Malayali households.

14. Neyyappam

This is traditional tea pancake and is a variation of Unni appam. This is a sweet pancake made up of rice flower, stuffed with jaggery, dried coconut, cardamom and milk. This is made on a special bronze pan known as appakkara.

15. Chatti Pathiri

This is a popular Kerala dish from the Malabar region of Kerala. This is layered pastry with a sweet or savoury feeling. This is popularly preferred during the Ramadan months and is a popular breakfast item. Malabar cuisine is popular for the usage of sesame seeds and this it is also important in this dish. This dish is prepared with flour and egg and is also popular for it variant feelings.

16. Kumbilappam

This cone shaped steamed delicacy is also known as Chakka kumbilappam. It is a jackfruit item made with mashed jackfruit mixed with grated coconut and jaggery. This mixture is wrapped in leaves from jackfruit tree, before steaming it as dumplings.

17. Ela Ada

This delicacy is made with rice flour and is a satisfying sweet snack. The rice flour makes the outer thin layer while the feeling is made up of jaggery and coconut. The ada is wrapped in banana leaf before steaming it till it is fully cooked.

18. Nannari Sherbeth

This is a healthy Kerala drink prepared from Nannari roots also known as the Indian sarsaparilla. It is natural coolant and also owns various medicinal benefits.

19. Spiced Sambharam

This is one of the traditional drink of Kerala. It is made with pure buttermilk which is seasoned with added shallots, garlic, ginger, green chilli, yellow chilli, bilimbi (pulinji), asafoetida powder, coriander leaves, mint leaves, mango and pineapple slices. This is a sugar free drink and is naturally healthy.

20. Panakam

This is a refreshing drink which is also served as ‘prasad’ in many temples of Kerala. This is made with water, lemon and fried ginger with added jaggery powder or a pinch of cardamom.

21. Banana and Tender Coconut Drink

This drink is very popular in Kerala. This is prepared with coconut pulp, milk, banana and sugar syrup. This drink is a perfect hot summer drink and it will surely regulate one’s sugar level while on a trip.