Top 10 Kerala Dishes to try in Kerala Kerala cuisine offers many delicious dishes that are often relatively unknown outside the state. Most importantly almost all the dishes of Kerala use coconut oil for cooking purposes. How can you stay away from the mouth-watering variety of Kerala cuisine while you are visiting Tea Gardens (Munnar), Kerala Backwaters (Kumarakom), Guruvayur Temple (Guruvayur) , Kolukkumalai Tea Estate (Munnar) , Athirappilly Waterfalls (Thrissur) , Shri Padmanabhaswamy Temple (Trivandrum) , Vadakkunnathan Temple (Thrissur), Varkala Beach (Varkala) , Wonderla Amusement Park (Kochi (Cochin)), Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach (Kannur) , Poovar Island (Trivandrum), Kerala Kathakali Centre (Kochi (Cochin)) , Vembanad Lake, Chembra Peak (Kalpetta), Marari Beach (Alappuzha), Bekal Fort (Kasaragod) ? Here are top 10 Kerala dishes You Must Eat in Kerala. 1. Sadya Sadya is the most famous main course food of Kerala, probably Kerala’s own. With a set of curries with Kerala rice(boiled rice) along with sambar, parippukari with ghee, pachadi, kichadi, aviyal, puliyan, kuttukari, Kalan, Olan, Injikkari, rasam, pappadam, pickle, raita, sweetners (two or three different types), payasam. 2. Thalassery biryani Thalassery biryani is a famous dish all over Kerala for its exquisite taste and aroma. The speciality of this biriyani when compared to the other biryani variants is the choice of rice (Khaima rice and not Basmati) and the method of preparation. This creates a new variant of biryani which tastes much different than the other variants. Thalassery biriyani uses a unique, fragrant, small-grained, thin rice variety named kaima. The biriyani masala and cooked rice are arranged in layers inside the dish. Meat is cooked with the masala on a low heat and layered with rice before the lid of the container is sealed with dough. Hot coal or charcoal is then placed above the lid. 3. Parotta with beef curry Layered flat bread that originated in the Malabar region called Parotta is made by kneading maida (flour), egg (in some recipes), oil or ghee and water. The dough is beaten and later shaped into a spiral with thin layers. The ball is rolled flat and roasted into a Parotta with ghee. This is then eaten with beef curry – pieces of beef simmered in a curry made with tomatoes, onions, garlic and spices like bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, black peppercorns and star anise. 4. Karimeen pollichathu This is one of Kerala’s traditional delicacies. Karimeen or pearl spot fish is a speckled fish commonly found in the backwaters of this state. This is traditionally a Syrian Christian delicacy but has become part of Kerala’s rich cuisine. Pearl spot fish is marinated in a mixture of lemon juice, red chillies, and other ingredients, wrapped and baked in plantain leaves, giving it a unique flavour. 5. Appam with stew Appam is a Keralan staple made from fermented rice flour and coconut milk. It’s similar to a thin pancake with crispy edges. These crepe-like bowls are made from fermented rice flour, coconut milk, coconut water and a little sugar. Ishtu or stew is a derivative of the European stew and consists of coconut milk, cinnamon, cloves and shallots, eaten with appams. The stew may also feature mango pieces, vegetables, chicken or lamb. The addition of aromatic whole spices, ginger and fresh coconut milk enhance the natural flavor of the vegetables. The crucial ingredient is fresh coconut milk, which lends a sweet flavor. 6. Puttu and kadala curry This is a breakfast staple eaten all over the state. Puttu is a cylindrical steamed rice cake cooked in a mould with grated coconut. It’s usually served with kadala curry, a dish of black chickpeas made with shallots, spices and coconut milk, that can also be served with ripe bananas and grated coconut. 7. Kappa Meen Curry – Fish and Tapioca This is the staple food of the people in Kerala. It can be prepared in many ways either boiled or cooked with spices and mashed. Not only do they taste yum, but they provide some surprising health benefits. Tapioca is rich in carbohydrates, gluten free and its protein content negligible. Kappa / Tapioca with spicy fish curry is one of the famous dish served in all hotels, fast food shops, toddy shops and house boats back in Kerala. If you have never tasted this combination, do give a try 8. Kerala Fish Curry Explore the exclusive taste of Malabari spices seeped into juicy fish pieces. Kerala fish curry with special additions of tamarind extract and curry leaves. 9. Dosa Ghee Roast with Sambar Dosa is listed among ‘World’s 50 most delicious foods’ and for good reason. Made from fermented rice and lentils, the ghee roast dosa is cooked in pure ghee and roasted till it gets as crisp as it can. 10. Idiyappam with Egg Curry Idiyappam, also known as noolappam is made of rice flour, salt and water. A number of thin strands or sevai are entwined together to make this lovely appam. It’s plain texture is what makes it versatile and allows it to be paired up with all kinds of curries.
