South Indian Food : A Delight for Foodies

South Indian dishes have over the years gained immense popularity not just in India but in all over the world. One South Indian dish that has become extremely popular is idli sambar which is served in almost all south Indian restaurants. A traditional breakfast in all south Indian home especially in the states of Kerala, Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and countries like Sri Lanka. As they are made by steaming a batter consisting of fermented black lentils and rice, it is an extremely healthy yet delicious dish. Due to the process of fermentation, idlis break down the starches so that they are easily metabolized by the human body.



Idlis are usually served with coconut chutney of various kinds and authentic sambar that add to the extra flavor and taste. A lentil based vegetable stew based on broth made with tamarind, sambar is extremely popular among south Indian food lovers as well. Though the origins of the dish are unknown, legend has it that it was first made in the 19th century kitchen of Thanjavur Marathas ruler Shahuji in Tamil Nadu. According to the legend, Shahuji was trying to experiment and in the process discovered the dish sambar. It is a reflective of a broad and ancient tradition of lentil based dishes that are integral to the cuisines of South India. In regions that grow coconuts, sambar is made from a paste of fresh, grated roasted coconuts and spices instead of the usual sambar powder. Usually served with steamed rice, sambar is an integral part of daily south Indian cuisines. Also served with vadas, dosas and idlis, they are extremely popular as breakfast or evening snacks all over the country. Roadside vendors and restaurants more often than not offer free refills of sambar and chutney when eaten with idlis, vadas or dosas.  Today, there are various types of authentic sambar which taste very different and unique in different restaurants.

A South Indian soup, rasam is prepared by using tamarind juice as a base with the addition of tomatoes, chilli pepper, cumin and types of seasonings and spices. Currently, rasam powder is easily available in the market and this contains all the seasoning required to make rasam at home. Eaten either as spicy soup or with rice, it has a distinct flavor that is different from sambar though they both might look similar. Rasam has many health benefits as it provides the human body with a good dose of vitamin A and C due to the tomatoes and acidic fruits that go into making it.  It is a very good source of protein especially for those who are vegetarians and are not able to get the desired amount from fruits and vegetables.

In conclusion, south Indian food is one of the most healthy and tasty dishes that are now easily available in south Indian themed restaurants. Also as they are extremely popular, there is now a large number of such restaurants that are opening across the country.

Article Source: http://goarticles.com/article/South-Indian-Food-A-Delight-for-Foodies/9028015

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South Indian Cuisine: Taking India to The World

Indian cuisine is considered as one of the most diverse and unique in the the world and is characterized by the sophisticated and fine use of spices, vegetables, grains and fruits. Each geographical region has their own technique of cooking that reflects the rich culture and tradition of that particular place. Further, the religious beliefs have also played a crucial role in the growth and development of Indian cuisines as many Hindus, Buddhist and Jain communities practice vegetarianism to a great extent and this is reflected in the meal preferences as well.



As India is a large country, there are various types of dishes that come together to form Indian cuisine. The four main parts of India namely North, South, East and West have their own set of food items that are unique to their culture, region and tradition. While dishes from North India are greatly influenced by thick spicy and creamy gravies, Eastern India has food items that are generally steamed and dried in nature. Dishes from West India are normally less spicier and more sweeter as compared to other parts of the country. South Indian cuisine has a dominance of spices because these places have always been a center of trade since time immemorial. Some of the major spices include cardamom, cinnamon, pepper and cloves among others. Besides spices, South Indian food is also known for its abundant use of coconut and also has a good range of non-vegetarian dishes as well.

Further, each of the states of South India, namely Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka have their own unique style and method of cooking that adds the distinct flavor to all their food items.  So while sambar are prepared in all the four states, a true food connoisseur can easily tell the difference between the preparation of all the four states. Food from Tamil Nadu forms an integral part of the South Indian cuisine and balances between both spicy and non-spicy dishes. Some of the popular Tamilian food items include rice sambar, various types of dry curries, rasam, idli, pongal, dosai, aval (flattened rice), puttu, idiyappam, appam among others. Though people from the state do consume non-vegetarian items especially sea food, it is much lower in comparision to Western countries. Food from Kerala also has an assortment of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Since Kerala is famous for its coconuts, it invariably finds its way into a number of meals within the state. Seafood is pretty popular within the state as well and consumed on a daily basis. The food of Andra Pradesh is considered to be extremely spicy and are very hot and tangy as well. They have both vegetable and lentil based dishes in this region of the country.  Among south Indian food, Karnataka dihes are considered the most mild and has generous doses of jaggery, palm sugar and minimal use of chilli powder. As the number of vegetarians are more in the country, vegetarian meals enjoy immense popularity both within and outside the state.

Over the past few years, South Indian food has begun to enjoy a lot of popularity both within the country and across the globe. This is evident from the number of South Indian themed restaurants that have been established in various parts of the world. Additionally, the perfect balance between sweet and spicy, vegetarian and non-vegetarian, South Indian meals are sure to make every meal both delicious and satisfying for people across diverse tastes and preferences.

Article Source: http://goarticles.com/article/South-Indian-Cuisine-Taking-India-to-The-World/9023719

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Explore the Best in South Indian Cuisines

An essential part of the Indian cuisine, south Indian food is very popular not just within the sate but in a number of places around the country. The food in this region uses a good and generous amount of spices and coconut, which are present in almost every dish that have their roots in this region. Further, most dishes are tempered with oil, mustard seeds, curry leaves, dried chilly and urad dal for extra flavor and taste. While the state of Tamil Nadu is famous for a number of dishes like idlis, dosas, sambar and vada among many others, the Malabar Coast in South India is well-know for its use of spices that attracted many foreign invaders in the past as well. Cardamon, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves are some of the prominent spices that are used in many South Indian dishes. Further, rice is the staple food of South India as compared to wheat which is consumed in a greater quality in western India.



Food in India is therefore completely unique and inspired from the culture and heritage of that particular place. As breakfast is considered as one of the most important meal, South Indian breakfast dishes are impressive both in terms of variety and taste. They are also very easy to prepare, tasty and extremely healthy as they provide all the necessary vitamins, nutrients and minerals. Some of the popular dishes in a South Indian breakfast menu includes idli, medu vada, various types of dosa, upma, appam, etc. These dishes have over time not just gained popularity within the states but are enjoyed in the same manner in other states of India as well as around the globe. Another prominent aspect of south Indian dishes is the authentic coconut chutney that serves as a perfect accompaniment to many  of the dishes. As coconut trees are found in abundance in almost all the states of South India, it is very popular and served with a number of dishes as well. Further,coconut chutney is an integral part of any meal that is served in India and if a meal does not contain it is considered incomplete.

Due to the immense popularity of South Indian cuisines, a number of restaurants catering to this particular cuisine have opened up around the country, especially in and around the capital. Gurgaon, situated in the National Capital Region (NCR) also has a number South Indian restaurant that cater to people of that region by providing them authentic South Indian food in a contemporary ambiance. This means that in case you want to enjoy authentic South Indian food in Gurgaon you are never far from some of the best options in the region.

Article Source: http://goarticles.com/article/Explore-the-Best-in-South-Indian-Cuisines/9020569


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List of Some Delightful and Exotic South Indian Dishes

It's a fact no doubt, South Indian cuisine is the most spicy of all Indian food. This food is  centered around rice or rice-based dishes. It is mixed with Sambar (a soup-like lentil dish tempered with a lot of spices as well as chillies) and rasam (a spicy-sour lentil dish), dry & curried vegetables and a range of coconut-based chutneys as well as poppadums. South Indians are exceptional fans of filter coffee. Following are some delightful as well as exotic dishes that you are able to come across in all South Indian cuisine restaurants all over the world!

Idli:
No longer only a South Indian preferred dish, Idlis are liked and can be found  just almost anywhere in the country. Have them once and you'll understand why. The mixture for Idlis require to be fermented nightlong, to prepare it the very next day.

Dosa:
Dosa (crisp delicious pancakes) is a basic food in its home region. In the remaining of the nation also, Dosas are enormously liked and south Indian restaurants serving them can be found in just about every suburban area! The chefs in these restaurants follow the traditional south Indian food recipes.

Appam:
Appams are awesome for consuming delectable South Indian curries! Even though simple to make, they take a little amount of practice to perfect. The ingredients for its mixture are supposed to be soaked nightlong, as well.

Sambar:
Sambar is served boiling hot with Idlis, Vadas or plain as well as simple steamed rice.

Coconut Chutney:
This mild chutney is the ideal accompaniment for idlis (steamed rice cakes), dosas as well as  uttapams ( rice pancakes).

Rasam:
This soup-like side dish is baking hot, however you can have it as hot as you like. It tastes awesome with plain steamed rice.

Curd Rice:
It is really a comfort food! A south Indian dish, it tastes excellent with just a pickle or chutney as well as daal (lentils).

Tomato Rice:
A south indian dish, sourish Tomato Rice makes an awesome one-dish meal. It is usually eaten with poppadoms.

Bisi Bele Bhath:
This healthy rice dish from South India can be consumed all by itself. You can eat it with a spicy pickle for added flavor.

Gunpowder:
The very well-liked Gunpowder  can be enjoyed with Idlis (steamed rice cakes) or Dosas (crispy salty rice pancakes) as well as Sambar or can only be sprinkled on plain steamed rice.

Article Source: http://goarticles.com/article/List-of-Some-Delightful-and-Exotic-South-Indian-Dishes/8836619/


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South Indian Cuisine - Having a Magic of its Own

Food is completely linked to everything significant in life; our wellbeing & health, to those who are dear as well as the world around us. But, in the middle of fast food as well as junk food , it's easy to lose the importance of food. It's just there, accessible, at times tasty and healthy than others, easily discarded if we don't enjoy having it.



However, food not just refreshes us, it defines our world for us. When we feel physically fit, nourished as well as cared for; when what we consume makes us happy, life is good. Rather than taking tension on what's ahead or behind us, we start enjoying our present. Food builds  energy in us and makes us enjoy life.

Food has extraordinary power, as well. Because of it, we are able to reach out to people as well as show their value in our life.
At a south Indian vegetarian food restaurant, food is a big celebration of life. The healthy vegetarian south Indian cuisine menu dishes will please your taste buds for sure, as they have an added magic.

Such is the magic of these dishes that any devoted carnivore, for whom it takes a lot to drag him to a South Indian vegetarian dining restaurant that serves just “pure vegetarian south Indian cuisine,”,  after only one trip to such establishments, they convert to vegetarianism.
Though South Indian cuisine does consist of meat dishes too, but largely it is a meatless cuisine. People  enjoy a good dosa with authentic sambar and all the trimmings any day–particularly the paper masala dosa, a light crispy pancake prepared from urud dal batter; filled with potato mix. It is usually served quite traditionally with all the condiments served in individual separate bowls.

“South Indian cuisine menu is largely vegetarian and is based on the idea that food forms the personality, mood, as well as mind,” says Viji Varadarajan, writer of Samayal: The Pleasures of South Indian Vegetarian Cooking. “South Indian Food is always prepared with a great amount of attention given to the balancing of taste, nutrition, quality, as well as variety.”

The menu consist of extremely plain low fat dishes .So, if you like to have a simple yet wholesome meal, in that case you can choose this cuisine. Rice Rasam, idli-sambar, upma, uttapam, plain dosa are a few of the healthy nutritious dishes examples which are very light for the stomach.

Article Source: http://goarticles.com/article/South-Indian-Cuisine-Having-a-Magic-of-Its-Own/8830295

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The Best of South Indian Cuisines

Cuisines from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu all form part of the South Indian cuisine group. Most South Indian dishes are rice based and it is also combined with lentils to make dosa, idli, vadas and uttapams. These items are not just high in terms of nutrition but are also extremely delicious and popular throughout the country.

Kerala cuisines is a perfect mix between vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. While the Hindus, particularly the Nambudiris and Nairs have a predominant South Indian Vegetarian dining, the Christian and the Muslim communities lean towards a more non-vegetarian dominated cuisine. Since Kerala has a lot of coconut trees, coconut finds its way into most of the dishes of the state. Additionally, seafood in the state is popular and enjoyed by a lot of people around the state.


Andhra cuisine is the most spiciest of all Indian cuisines with a generous dose of chili powder and tamarind that make their dishes extra tangy and spicy. There are three major areas of Andhra Pradesh namely Telengana, Rayalaseema and coastal region have their own unique set of cuisines with their own set of dishes. The capital of the state, Hyderabad has its own characteristic cuisine that is heavily influenced by Nizams or Muslim rulers.

The south Indian dishes that form a part of the Karnataka cuisine are very diverse and unique. It is relatively less spicier than the rest of the South Indian cuisine and there is generous dosage of sugar and jaggery in most of their dishes. Also vegetarian dishes are much more popular in the state and Udupi cuisine forms an integral part of the cuisine of the state. The cuisine of the state can be divided into four categories namely North Karnataka cuisine, coastal Karnataka cuisine, Coorgi cuisine and South Karnataka cuisine.

Tamilian cuisine on the other hand is a perfect mix between spicy and non-spicy dishes. It is again dominated more by non-vegetarian dishes than vegetarian dishes. The dominance of rice is also prevalent as it is one of the most staple food of the region. There are five main categories of Tamilian cuisine namely gravy dishes to be mixed in rice, accompaniments (mixtures like kootu, kari,poriyal, pickles, and papadum), standalone snacks (vadai,bonda,bajji, soups, various chutneys, and thayir Pachadi), dessert, fast foods, or light meals (various types of idlis, dosai, poori, pongal, uppma, idiyappam, aappam, etc.).

So while most dishes of the South Indian cuisines might still be only popular among their respective states, some of the South Indian dishes have managed to cross the national barriers and enjoy national and sometimes even global popularity. The three most popular among them are dosa, idli, and vada.

Dosa is a pancake made by combining rice batter and lentils and is popular  in almost all the South Indian as well as in countries like Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka. Considered as highly nutritious and tasty it is rich in carbohydrates with almost no sugar or saturated fats. It is also gluten free and is rich in proteins and vitamins as well. Dosa is also stuffed with vegetables and sauces to make a quick meal and are usually served with a combination of chutneys and sambar. Due to its high level popularity, dosa enjoys a special place among South Indian restaurants that are spread across the country.

A traditional breakfast in most South Indian home and highly popular in restaurants across the country is Idli Sambar which is made from a batter of fermented black lentils and rice. Generally eaten as a snack or during breakfast, idlis are served in pairs and are accompanied with chutney and sambar. There are a number of variations of the original idli that are being used in various restaurants depending upon the availability of time and choice of the cook. From mallige idli to rave idli, restaurants are always trying to innovate and bring unique dishes to customers to enrich and delight their taste palate.

A popular snack from South India that enjoys popularity all over the world is vada which is generally prepared at home but is also found in all major restaurants and street corners. Known as vades in South Africa, they are also very popular in the Indian railways where they are available as a snack all through the day. Bele vada (masala vadai) and Uddina vada (medhu vada) are the two major forms of vada. While Bele vada is made from split dehusked black chickpeas, Uddina vada is made from dehusked black lentils. Also while bele vada is circular and slightly flat, uddina veda is wheel shaped with a hole in the middle. Both are enjoyed better with either chutney or sambar of any kind.

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The Rich Heritage Of South Indian Cuisines

Indian food is different and unique in various aspects from the rest of the world. With distinctive flavor and taste, the food habits and cuisines in the country have been influenced by various factors. Numerous customs and traditions of civilizations of the British, Persian, Arabs and Portuguese have left an inedible mark on not just the culture of the country but on its cuisine as well. Further, with diverse culinary habits, India truly depicts diversity of cuisines in a myriad shades and manners. Each part of India have their own unique and special set of dishes which are completely varied and distinct from the other part.



The Indian cuisine can be divided into four diverse groups namely, South, East, West and North. So while cuisine of North India is dominated by thick, moderately spicy and creamy gravies, cuisine of Eastern Indian is relatively simpler and is generally steamed and fried. On the other hand, the best way to describe the cuisine of West India would be to say that it is diverse from extremely spicy to elegantly sweet. Authentic South India cuisine is known for its spicy foods as it has long been a center for spice trade in the country, including cardamom, pepper, cinnamon and cloves. This part of India is also famous for the availability of coconut and sea food which are an integral part of the cuisine of the South Indian states.

Another aspect of South Indian dishes is that it is rice based. So whether it be dosa which is a combination of rice and lentil, the biryani of Hyderabad are considered as classic dishes not just in India but throughout the world. On the whole South Indian dishes are an amazing blend of colors, spices, flavor, seasoning, nutritional balance, brilliant taste and visual delight.

The four main regions of South India include Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. Food dishes from Andhra Pradesh are known for their intense and rich spiciness. There are two types of cuisines in Andhra Pradesh namely Andhra Mughlai and cuisine of Telengana. So while Andhra Mughlai is rich and aromatic and has basically evolved in the city of Hyderabad. Some popular dishes here include kebabs, biryani and salans filled with exotic spices, nuts and dry fruits. Red hot chillies and tamarind dominate various dishes like pulao, vegetable curry and dal in the Telengana flavored cuisine. Telengana cuisine has gained a lot of prominence due to its exotic and mouth-watering non-vegetarian dishes like mutton or chicken that are cooked with drumsticks. Dishes from Hyderabad are greatly influenced by the Nizams or Muslim rulers. From sour to sweet and from hot to salty, Hyderabad cuisine is extravagant and complete. The biryani of Hyderabad have achieved great fame and popularity and are considered as one of the finest dishes not just in South India but in the entire country.

Tamil Nadu enjoys a definite and individual place in the culinary map of India. With a wide range of dishes, red chillies, turmeric, tamarind and whiff of asafetida are important and crucial ingredients. Popular dishes of the region include dosa, idli, vada, uppuma. Besides these there are a variety of stews, rasam koothu, poriyal, avial which are popular in the state. Sweet dishes like payassam and mysore pak are well known as well. Chettinand cuisine from the state has gained immense popularity throughout the country, famous dishes including varuval (dried dry fish cooked with spices), pepper chicken, biryani, poriyal (curry), etc. further a number of South Indian Snacks from papads to appalam, chips and vada are also very well-known. Filter coffee from the state is also very popular and has achieved a cult status in the cuisine as well.

Kerala cuisine is more popular for both its non-vegetarian and vegetarian dishes. One of the most popular vegetarian dishes is the traditional sadhyas which is a meal that is served with rice and and a grand assortment of a number of side dishes. Served on a banana leaf, the sadhya is a completed meal with appetizers, main course and desserts. Another aspect of Kerala cuisine is that it is prepared with coconut and an assortment of spices like cinnamon, ginger, pepper, coriander, turmeric, cloves, etc. Some dishes of Kerala even have a Arab influence.

The cuisine from Karnataka also forms a major part of the Authentic South Indian Cuisine category. Influenced by its three neighboring states, the cuisine is also inspired from Maharashtra in the north. Bisibele Bath. Saaru. Vangi Bath, Khara Bath, Kesari Bath, Akki Rotti, Davanagere -Benne Dosa, Ragi mudde, and Uppittu are some of the famous dishes of the state. 

Article Source: http://goarticles.com/article/The-Rich-Heritage-Of-South-Indian-Cuisines/8728459


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