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Food of Kerala

Last Updated At: 27-May-2025

The Food of Kerala - A Journey Through Traditional Kerala Cuisine

Key Takeaways

  • Kerala's cuisine reflects its rich cultural heritage, coastal geography, and abundant natural produce like spices, seafood, coconut, and tropical fruits.
  • The food is known for its complex flavors combining tangy, spicy, and sweet profiles, often cooked in coconut oil and served with rice.
  • Signature dishes include Kerala Prawn Curry, Thalassery Biryani, Erissery, Appam with Stew, Puttu with Kadala Curry, and Fish Moilee.
  • Meals are often served on banana leaves, especially during festivals like Onam, showcasing tradition through elaborate feasts like Ela Sadya with 26+ dishes.
  • Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food are popular; seafood plays a dominant role due to the coastal location.
  • Street food, toddy shop delicacies, and festive sweets like Palada Payasam and Banana Fritters are integral to Kerala's food experience.
  • Locally sourced ingredients and traditional cookware (like manchatti – clay pots) are key to preserving authentic flavors.
  • Culinary traditions encourage eating with hands to enhance sensory connection and cultural immersion.
  • Kerala's food offers a balance of health, taste, and cultural storytelling, making it a must-explore for food lovers.

Welcome to the gastronomic paradise of Kerala, where the food culture is as diverse and vibrant as its landscape. Situated along the lush southwestern coast of India, Kerala boasts a rich culinary tradition that reflects its cultural heritage, geographical features, and historical influences. From aromatic spices to fresh seafood and tropical fruits, Kerala's cuisine tantalises the senses with its unique blend of flavours and textures. Indulge in mouth-watering dishes like appam with stew, fish curry, and puttu served with kadala curry, each prepared with meticulous attention to detail and bursting with authentic taste. Whether dining at traditional toddy shops, street-side eateries, or luxurious restaurants, every meal in Kerala is an exploration of culinary excellence and hospitality, making it a haven for food enthusiasts from around the world.

Has your mouth already begun watering? Then mate, allow us to take you on a gastronomic sojourn where you will come across the most famous foods of Kerala that will just drive you hungry!

List Of 12 Kerala Traditional Food

Here's the requested table with dish names, key ingredients, and best places to eat:

Dish NameKey IngredientsBest Places to Eat
Kerala Prawn CurryPrawns, coconut milk, tamarind, curry leaves, spicesFort Kochi seafood shacks, Malabar Junction
Thalassery BiriyaniKaima rice (Jeerakasala), chicken/mutton, spices, fried onionsParis Restaurant (Thalassery), Rahmath Hotel
Erissery (Pumpkin & Lentil Curry)Pumpkin, red lentils, coconut, cumin, mustard seedsSadhya meals at traditional Onam feasts
Appam With StewFermented rice batter, coconut milk, vegetables/chicken/lamb, cloves, cinnamonKashi Art Café (Kochi), Grand Hotel (Ernakulam)
Puttu and Kadala CurrySteamed rice flour, coconut, black chickpeas, curry leaves, spicesAriya Nivaas (Trivandrum), Pai Dosa
Karimeen PollichathuPearl spot fish, red chilli paste, lemon, banana leaf, spicesHouseboats in Alleppey, Hotel Seagull (Alleppey)
Fish MoileeKingfish/Seer fish, coconut milk, green chillies, cloves, coconut oilFusion Bay (Kochi), Oceanos Restaurant
Malabar Parotta With Kerala Beef CurryMaida flour, egg, ghee (parotta); beef, tomato, pepper, curry leaves (curry)Rahmath Hotel (Kozhikode), Paragon Restaurant
Dosa Ghee Roast With Kerala Style SambarRice & urad dal (dosa), ghee, lentils, tamarind, veggies, coconut chutneyIndian Coffee House, Saravana Bhavan
Ela SadyaRice, sambar, avial, thoran, pachadi, olan, payasam, picklesSree Krishna Inn (Cochin), traditional Onam feasts
Banana Fritters (Pazham Pori)Ripe bananas, maida flour, sugar, gheeLocal tea shops, Pai Brothers (Kochi)
Palada PayasamRice ada, milk, sugar, gheeTemple feasts, BTH Sarovaram (Ernakulam)

1. Kerala Prawn Curry - The Magical Recipe of the South 

This flavoursome meal, known as Chemmeen Curry, is a staple food of Kerala and will give you a taste of sour in addition to a spicy, tangy flavour, a well-matched flavour profile and a seasonal combo of fresh seafood. A seafood lover's heaven, the spicy shrimp curry in the Kerala style is commonly referred to as Konju Varutharachha Curry. This meal is a tantalising southern delicacy.

2. Thalassery Biriyani - The Aromatic Rice Dish

The biryani meal appeals to all the senses! And while we review this unique Thalassery Biriyani, which is the best food of Kerala, it should be noted that it originated from the Thallasseri port, which is known for being the port of exchange of three distinct spices. The ideal blend of these spices and Kaima ( small-grained rice or Jeerakasala rice) is used to make this Biriyani. This flavorful Biriyani, which hails from Kerala's Malabar area, will satisfy your hunger perfectly.

Read More : Beaches In Kerala

3. Erissery or Pumpkin and Lentil Curry - The Scrumptious Curry of Kerala

Yams or raw plantains are mostly used to make this well-known Keralan dish. This recipe starts by boiling a pumpkin with some sweetness to it with various spices and salt to make it highly flavourful. Adding red beans to this vegetarian dish, specially prepared on the occasion of Onam, raises the nutrient content of the dish to a new level. Rice or roti are served with this meal.

4. Appam With Stew - The Finger Licking Meal

The traditional food of Kerala is made from fermented rice flour and coconut milk. Stew, generally called the Ishtu, is cooked with coconut milk, shallots, cloves, and cinnamon. The fermented rice flour, coconut water, and some coconut milk garnished with sugar make the crepe-like bowls in this delicacy. The combination of spices and milk is perfect. Some mango chunks, chicken, lamb, or vegetables are often included to accentuate the meal's flavour.

Read More : Temples In Kerala

5. Puttu and Kadala Curry - The Delectable Cuisine of Kerala

The morning feast and staple food of Kerala consists of cylinder-shaped steamed rice and curry cooked with only the richest spices. This meal is gladly consumed across the state and is presented beautifully with ripened bananas and shredded coconut. This is Kerala's healthiest breakfast, and its velvety texture will make you hungry.

6. Karimeen Pollichathu - The Traditional Delicacies of the People of Kerala

It is a genuinely delicious meal and one of the best foods of Kerala. It is undoubtedly a gastronomic delight worth savouring. The pearl spot fish, mostly found in the state's backwaters, is known as karimeen in Kerala. This dish is a staple of Keralan cuisine and is known throughout the state. The choicest red chillies, lemon juice, and fragrant seasoning are used to marinate the fish in this recipe. After that, it is cooked in a plantain leaf, giving it a nutritious flavour. You'll want more and more of the delectable seafood after trying this!

Read More : Best Waterfalls In Kerala 

7. Fish Moilee - The Garnished Seafood Paradise

Do not miss out on this delicious Syrian Christian treat at all costs! Fresh fish (either King or Steer), coconut oil, fragrant spices, fresh green chillies, and cloves are balanced to create this dish's wonderful taste. This dish is prepared in a manchatti, an earthen pot. Fish Moilee is sometimes described as a Kerala-style fish stew, and the mouthwatering curry made with coconut will have you licking your fingers!

8. Malabar Parotta With Kerala Beef Curry - A Lip-Smacking Non-Vegan Dish

A flatbread, also known as Parotta in the Malabar region, is obtained by the ultimate result after kneading maida, oil, water, and eggs. This is made possible by the dough being carefully beaten before being torn into little knots and formed into a spiral shape with thin layers. Then, it is rolled until it is thin and flat, and it is roasted in ghee after that. The delicious Beef curry, which has a superb fusion of spices with tomato paste, is then served with this well-known Malabar Parotta. This dish is a staple of Keralan cuisine.

Read More : Culture Of Kerala 

9. Dosa Ghee Roast With Kerala Style Sambar - The Favourite Dish of the South

You must try this crispy ghee-roasted dosa with Kerala sambar. This well-known morning meal has mouthwatering sambhar and coconut chutneys, giving the ghee a rich scent. With its taste, flavour, lightness, and a host of other qualities, this south Indian classic will always rank at the top. When visiting Kerala, you should put this crispy paper roast Dosa on your menu.

10. Ela Sadya - The Popular Festive Feast

Ela Sadya is a famous food of Kerala, a festive dish. Onam's famous multi-course vegetarian feast, known as Ela, includes about 26 dishes. It is served on a banana leaf and is famed for its aroma and flawless blend of flavours. The mother of all holiday feasts is thought to be this well-known Keralite dish. Upperi, pulissery, Kaalan, ellisheri, olan, naranga curry, inji curry, mezhukkupuratti, parrippu, Kootu Curry, Thoran, Chor, and more delightful delicacies which are the most popular among these scrumptious cuisines.

Read More : Festivals Of Kerala

11. Banana Fritters - The Sweet Snack

This remarkable Keralan delicacy, also known as Pazham Pori or Ethakka Appam, is deliciously cooked with ripe bananas. These fritters are the special dish of Kerala that is everyone’s go-to tea-time treat. The Keralan dish Pazham pori is served with pleasing vanilla ice cream on the side. Ripe bananas are dipped in sweet flour and fried till golden brown. Try these crispy appetisers when you are in Kerala.

12. Palada Payasam - A Heavenly Sweetmeat

This is the must-try, and best food of Kerala, loved by locals and visitors alike. Keralans consider this finely decorated rice kheer with Palada, the state's most well-known meal. Almost every home in Kerala enjoys this kheer, cooked from rice ada, sugar, ghee, and milk, during Onam. Similar to the rice kheers in the North, this sweet delicacy is cooked until it turns thick and creamy. The most popular dessert in Kerala is the traditional Palada Payasam, prepared in a shallow wok for unmatched flavour and aroma.

Read More : Tourist Places In Kerala

Conclusion

The food of Kerala embodies the essence of the region's rich cultural heritage and diverse culinary traditions. From the spicy coconut-based curries of the Malabar coast to the subtle flavours of the backwaters, each dish tells a story of Kerala's unique culinary journey. Whether it's the traditional sadhya served on banana leaves during festivals or the fiery karimeen pollichathu prepared in coastal kitchens, Kerala's cuisine is a celebration of freshness, flavour, and tradition. With its emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and age-old cooking techniques, the food of Kerala continues to captivate palates and evoke a sense of nostalgia for residents and visitors alike, offering an unforgettable culinary experience that lingers long after the last bite.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Famous Dish Of Kerala

Q1. What makes Kerala’s traditional cuisine unique compared to other Indian states?
A1.
Kerala’s cuisine is unique due to its extensive use of fresh coconut, a wide variety of spices, and the blend of vegetarian and seafood dishes influenced by its coastal geography and cultural diversity.

Q2. Which dish is considered the heart of a traditional Kerala Sadya meal?
A2.
Rice is considered the heart of a traditional Kerala Sadya, typically served with multiple vegetarian curries, pickles, and desserts on a banana leaf.

Q3. Why is rice the staple food in most Kerala households?|
A3.
Rice is the staple food because Kerala’s wet climate and abundant water resources favor rice cultivation, making it the primary source of carbohydrates for the population.

Q4. How do Kerala’s spices influence the flavor of its famous dishes?
A4.
Kerala’s spices, like black pepper, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon, add a rich aroma and complex, layered flavors that create the distinct spicy, tangy, and savory profiles typical of its cuisine.

Q5. What are some must-try dishes for first-time visitors to Kerala?
A5.
Must-try dishes include Kerala Prawn Curry, Thalassery Biriyani, Appam with Stew, Puttu and Kadala Curry, Karimeen Pollichathu, and Ela Sadya for a full traditional experience.

--- Published By  Adotrip

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