Cuisine & Must Try Dishes

Must-Try Traditional Dishes in Kerala

Kerala is a food lover’s paradise, offering a blend of flavors, spices, and coconut-infused dishes. With influences from Hindu, Christian, and Muslim communities, Kerala’s cuisine is unique and diverse. Here are the must-try traditional dishes:

 1. Sadya – The Grand Vegetarian Feast

• A traditional Kerala meal served on a banana leaf, usually during festivals and weddings.
• Includes rice, sambar, avial, olan, thoran, pachadi, kichadi, erissery, pappadam, and payasam.
• Must-try dish for an authentic Kerala experience!

 Best Places to Try: Traditional households, temple feasts, and vegetarian restaurants like Ariya Nivas (Trivandrum), Bharat Hotel (Kochi).

 2. Kerala Parotta & Beef Curry – The Perfect Pair

• Flaky, layered parotta paired with spicy beef curry is a Malabar delicacy.
• Soft, crispy, and best eaten with hands!
• Parotta also pairs well with chicken or mutton curry.

 Best Places to Try: Rahmath Hotel (Kozhikode), Zain’s Hotel (Kozhikode), Dhe Puttu (Kochi).

 3. Malabar Biryani – The Fragrant Delight

• A light, aromatic biryani made with Jeerakasala rice, mild spices, and slow-cooked meat (chicken, mutton, or fish).
• Unlike Hyderabadi biryani, Malabar biryani is not heavily spiced but rich in flavors.

 Best Places to Try: Paragon Restaurant (Kozhikode), Sagar Hotel (Kozhikode), Kayees (Kochi).

 4. Puttu & Kadala Curry – The Breakfast Favorite

• Puttu is a steamed cylindrical rice cake made with coconut.
• Served with Kadala (black chickpea) curry or sometimes with banana and sugar.

 Best Places to Try: Dhe Puttu (Kochi), Arya Bhavan (Trivandrum), Local tea stalls.

 5. Karimeen Pollichathu – Grilled Pearl Spot Fish

• Fresh Karimeen (Pearl Spot fish) marinated with spices and wrapped in banana leaf before being grilled.
• A must-try Kerala seafood specialty!

 Best Places to Try: Grand Hotel (Kochi), Fort House (Kochi), The Rice Boat (Kumarakom).

 6. Meen Curry (Kerala Fish Curry) – The Spicy Staple

• A spicy red fish curry made with coconut, tamarind, and Kashmiri chili.
• Best paired with boiled tapioca (Kappa) or rice.

 Best Places to Try: Oceanos Restaurant (Kochi), Ramees Restaurant (Trivandrum), Local toddy shops.

 7. Appam & Stew – The Soft & Spicy Combo

• Appam is a soft, lacy rice pancake with crispy edges.
• Served with vegetable, chicken, or mutton stew cooked in coconut milk.

 Best Places to Try: Indian Coffee House (Trivandrum), Kashi Art Café (Kochi), Farmers Café (Kumarakom).

 8. Kappa & Meen Curry – The Tapioca Treat

• Boiled tapioca (kappa) served with spicy red fish curry.
• A simple yet flavor-packed dish, commonly found in Kerala homes and toddy shops.

 Best Places to Try: Mullapanthal Toddy Shop (Ernakulam), Nettoor Toddy Shop (Kochi).

 9. Thalassery Biriyani – The Sweet & Spicy Biryani

• Famous for its unique blend of sweet and spicy flavors.
• Uses small-grain Kaima rice, saffron, and slow-cooked mutton or chicken.

 Best Places to Try: Paris Restaurant (Thalassery), Rara Avis (Kannur).

 10. Erachi Varutharacha Curry – The Roasted Meat Curry

• A traditional Syrian Christian dish with slow-roasted spices and coconut.
• Usually prepared with mutton or beef and served with rice or parotta.

 Best Places to Try: Kuttanadan Restaurant (Alappuzha), Nettoor Tharavadu (Kochi).

 11. Kerala Payasam – The Sweet Ending

• Traditional Kerala dessert, made during festivals and feasts.
• Different varieties include:
  • Palada Payasam (rice flakes & milk)
  • Parippu Payasam (lentils & jaggery)
  • Ada Pradhaman (rice ada & coconut milk)

 Best Places to Try: Sree Krishna Inn (Guruvayur), Ambiswamy’s (Trivandrum).

 12. Toddy & Spicy Local Dishes – Kerala’s Unique Drink

• Toddy (Kallu) is a locally fermented coconut drink.
• Best paired with spicy seafood, beef roast, and kappa (tapioca).

 Best Places to Try: Mullapanthal Toddy Shop (Ernakulam), Nettoor Toddy Shop (Kochi).

Kerala’s diverse culinary traditions make it a food lover’s paradise. Whether it’s a vegetarian feast like Sadya, a flavorful Malabar biryani, or a seafood delicacy, every dish reflects the state’s rich spice trade and cultural diversity.

So, when in Kerala, eat like a local and enjoy the authentic flavors!