10 Local and Vegetarian Things to Add to your Kerala Food Items List Last Updated: July 23, 2021
When you think of any place in South India, the first few food items that come to your mind are Idli, Sambar, Rice, and Dosa (or is it just me?). But, there is much more to it!
Kerala, as we all know is God’s Own Country not just in terms of natural beauty but also the food.
On my last trip to Varkala which is a beach destination in Kerala, I researched local and vegetarian foods to eat there. Although I couldn’t try everything, I would still like to share what all you can add to your Kerala food items list as a vegetarian whenever you visit.
Let’s dive right in!
1. Kerala Sadhya
This is a vegetarian’s paradise for real! It is basically a feast consisting of a variety of vegetarian food items served on a banana leaf.
I tried a version of it in Varkala but it was not served on a banana leaf so I am going to leave you with an image from the internet to give you a fair idea of how it looks.
It normally consists of Pappadam, Rice, Pickle, Vegetable Stew, Sambar, Rasam, and a few chutneys. The meal is concluded with a classic dessert called Payasam made with jaggery and rice cooked in coconut milk and garnished with cashews.
(Image: https://curlytales.com/onam-special-8-best-places-in-mumbai-to-try-onam-sadhya/)
2. Puttu and Kadala Curry
I completely missed out on this meal when I was in Kerala but you should not! Puttu is a cylindrical rice cake coated in grated coconut and Kadala Curry which is boiled chickpeas in a flavorsome curry.
Served with ripe bananas and more grated coconut.
(Image: https://www.sailusfood.com/kadala-curry/)
3. Appam with Vegetable Stew
While I devoured the stew in Varkala, I didn’t get a chance to try the Appam. I had dosa instead which was scrumptious too.
Appam is similar to a dosa but yet not quite similar. Made with rice flour, coconut milk, coconut water, and a pinch of sugar, it is best defined as a crispy savory pancake.
The coconut-based stew consists of vegetables and spices like cinnamon and clove.
(Image: https://www.sailusfood.com/vegetable-stew-recipe-kerala/)
4. Parippu Curry
If you are craving home-cooked soulful meals in Kerala, then this one’s for you. This curry resembles dal (lentil soup of sorts) made with small grams, chilies, ghee (clarified butter), and lots of spices.
The best accompaniment would be rice, of course.
Another dish I missed out on but now I have more than one reason to go back, right?
(Image: https://www.cookingandme.com/2011/03/01/kerala-parippu-curry-kerala-yellow-dal/)
5. Dosa Ghee Roast
Now it goes without saying that Dosa is a must when you are traveling to the South but what is important to mention is that it should be roasted in Ghee (clarified butter) and not just in another oil/butter.
The most authentic and traditional way to have the dosa is by roasting it in ghee. It tastes even better when it is crisp to perfection.
I am happy to confirm that I tried this and loved it.
The best way to eat dosa is with Sambar and a tomato-based chutney. I had it with stew though and it tasted delicious.
(Image: https://www.archanaskitchen.com/homemade-crisp-ghee-roast-dosa-s)
6. Idli Sambar
Relishing Idli Sambar when in Kerala is not new but still recommended. Idlis are rice cakes served with delicious Sambar which is a tangy curry made with spices and lentils.
Cheap and healthy breakfast at its best.
(Image: https://www.santabanta.com/recipes/983/idli-sambar/)
7. Malabar Parota
Besides the fact that it was SUPER cheap (only INR 10, whaaatt?), It was equally addictive.
Parota reminds me of Laccha paratha from the North but it originates from the Malabar region in the South. It is crispy, flaky, and can be had with any curry of your choice.
Trust me, you will not just stop at one. You will keep craving for more!
(Image: https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/70641/did-you-know-about-malabar-parotta)
8. Palada Payasam
Any dessert lovers here? This one’s for you.
Palada Payasam is a delicacy most popular in Kerala. Although I had a different version of it as a part of Sadhya, this one is still on my bucket list.
Ingredients include rice noodles (Rice ada), milk, sugar, and ghee (clarified butter) and sprinkled with nuts like raisins and cashews.
Especially served during Onam, this festive dessert is widely available during other months of the year too.
(Image:https://happietrio.com/palada-payasam-recipe-palada-pradhaman/)
9. Ethakka Appam (Banana fritters)
This one was highly recommended by one of my local friends from Kerala but I couldn’t easily find it till the end of my trip so this is another addition to my Kerala food items list.
Kerala is big on banana and coconut dishes so it goes without saying that this is a must-try. Ethakka Appam is basically fried bananas served with tea or coffee and made with plain flour and deep-fried. It is an evening snack of sorts.
(Image: https://nishkitchen.com/kerala-banana-fritters-pazham-pori-ethakka-appam/)
10. Ada Pradhaman (another variety of payasam)
If you want to try more types of payasam, then you can add this to your Kerala food items list.
Made with rice noodles (rice ada) and coconut milk. Jaggery is used as a sweetener instead of sugar in most cases and nuts like cashews, almonds, and raisins are added to it.
If you have reached the end of this article, don’t you agree Kerala is a vegetarian foodie’s paradise?
I have more than half of the items listed above added to my Kerala food items list which I aim to tick off whenever I visit next.
Did you enjoy reading this article? Got any feedback for me? Please shoot them in the comments below. I will really appreciate it!
Check out my experience in Varkala here.
