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Kerala Cuisine: 11 Must Try food Items

Kerala is a vibrant state. From culture and traditions to landscape and food items in Kerala, everything is iconic and stunning and attracts flocks of tourists from all over the world. Along with breathtaking landscapes of mountains, sea, forests, and backwaters, as well as rich traditions and cultural traits of dance and martial arts, authentic recipes have gained immense love and admiration. Be it vegetarian or non-vegetarian, be it a snack or a complete meal, recipes from Kerala will make you drool like never before. Here are some Must-Try Recipes of Food Items in Kerala for a Gastronomic Extravaganza. Try on! 

Must-Have Vegetarian Food Items in Kerala 

Scroll down and see the varieties of vegetarian cuisine the state offers. All of them are nutritious, wholesome and superbly delectable.

• Appam with Vegetable Ishtu

Are you looking for the most famous food in Kerala that every foodie loves? Appam it is. This is a thin, light, flaky, crepe-like item made with fermented rice flour and coconut milk. It is light, best for the stomach and best eaten with vegetable ishtu- the local name for stew. This healthy food in Kerala is made with coconut milk, veggies, chicken or mutton, along with regional spices like cardamon, cinnamon, cloves, shallots, curry leaves and peppercorns.

•  Puttu and Kadala Curry

Another popular food that originated in Kerala is puttu and kadala curry. Puttu is a steamed rice cake made with coconut. Kadala curry is made with black chickpeas and tastes amazing when served with puttu. If you are looking for delicious vegetarian foods in Kerala, this is at the top of the list.

•  Ghee Roast Dosa

Dosa is a popular food in all South Indian states, but ghee roast dosa is a speciality of Kerala. All the standard Kerala tour packages offer this item as a wholesome meal either for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Made with a fermented batter of rice and lentils, this special variety is cooked in ghee roast till it turns out to be super crispy. Served with Kerala-style sambar, this heavenly combination is listed as one of the 'World's 50 Most Delicious Foods'. If you are planning to have famous Kerala dishes, ghee roast dosa with sambar should be on the platter.

•  Banana Fritters

Enjoy snacking with banana fritters in Kerala. This is also one of the delicious traditional Kerala dishes made from juicy bananas. Popular as Ethakka Appam or Pazham Pori, this speciality is found in many restaurants and almost all households. Coated with rice flour and deep-fried in oil, this tea-time snack satiates evening hunger pangs for all.

 Mouth-Watering Non-Vegetarian Food Items in Kerala

Along with some authentic and iconic vegetarian delicacies, Kerala food culture also has some legendary nom-vegetarian recipes that delight every foodie. Here is the detailed note.

• Idiyappam with Curry

One of the popular Kerala dishes is Idiyappam, best served with egg curry. Made of rice flour, this exotic recipe is made skilfully and tastes delicious. Also known as Noolappam, this recipe looks like thin noodles entwined together to make a lovely texture. This is soft, tasty and superbly nutritious. Idiyappam with egg curry is the most authentic breakfast item in Kerala households.

•  Fish Molee

Kerala cuisine has quite a few delicious fish recipes, and fish molee is one of its signature dishes. This is a sensational recipe, where the fish is cooked in coconut milk gravy and kocum, popular as Kudampuli. Foodies swear by the rich flavours and aroma, along with the creamy texture of this recipe. Green chillies, tomatoes and peppers are also used to spice up the taste and palette.

•  Malabar Prawn Curry

If you love spicy and tangy tastes, try this authentic recipe of Malabar prawn curries. Here, prawns or shrimps are cooked in coconut milk gravy along with mustard seeds, peppercorns, chillies, mustard seeds, curry leaves and tomatoes. Relish the blended spicy, tangy and mildly sweet taste in every bite of this Kerala cuisine.

•  Nadan Kozhi Varuthathu

Translated into spicy chicken fry, the Nadan Kozhi Varuthathu is a national food of Kerala, loved by people visiting and residing there. In this recipe, the chicken is fried with a generous amount of spices and served with onion, spices, garlic, and vinegar on a banana leaf. The presentation makes it look traditional and mouth-watering. This is one of the most popular street foods to try in Kerala and is served with Kerala Porotta, rice, or appam.     

•  Karimeen Pollichathu

If you are a fish lover, this exotic Kerala cuisine is just for you. Usually made from pearl spot- a local catch found in the backwaters; this is fried fish with spices. Here, the fish is coated with various regional spices to enhance the flavour, wrapped in banana leaf and baked. Originally a Syrian recipe, this has now become an integral part of the culinary delights of the state, served in all the best places to eat in Kerala. The richness of spices, baked fish and banana leaf blend to present an aroma that intoxicates all foodies. We bet you cannot have just one!

•  Nadan Beef

You don’t need to face any hassle if you are craving spicy beef recipes in Kerala. Served in almost all restaurants in Kerala, nadan beef is roasted or cooked in spicy gravy. The rich taste and soft pieces make the dish delectable. Enjoy this delicacy with Malabar porotta or rice to complete a wholesome meal.

•  Erachi Varutharacha

This is another non-vegetarian delicacy in Kerala where spices are fried and crushed and then mixed with mutton, tomatoes and onions. This is one of the exclusive Kerala food recipes that is found in almost all households.

 Wrap-Up

Kerala is a versatile state, and like the stunning landscapes and vibrant culture, the food items in Kerala are also vivid and exotic. The recipes are unique and traditional and are mostly made with coconut gravy and rich regional spices. The recipes for vegetarian dishes are also as diverse as those for non-vegetarian dishes. If you are a foodie and love to experience different regional cuisines of the country, the Kerala food items welcome you with open arms. Try their plethora of local recipes, both vegetarian or non-vegetarian, and satiate your gastronomic craving.