Last Updated At: 27-May-2025
Key Takeaways
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!
Here's the requested table with dish names, key ingredients, and best places to eat:
| Dish Name | Key Ingredients | Best Places to Eat |
| Kerala Prawn Curry | Prawns, coconut milk, tamarind, curry leaves, spices | Fort Kochi seafood shacks, Malabar Junction |
| Thalassery Biriyani | Kaima rice (Jeerakasala), chicken/mutton, spices, fried onions | Paris Restaurant (Thalassery), Rahmath Hotel |
| Erissery (Pumpkin & Lentil Curry) | Pumpkin, red lentils, coconut, cumin, mustard seeds | Sadhya meals at traditional Onam feasts |
| Appam With Stew | Fermented rice batter, coconut milk, vegetables/chicken/lamb, cloves, cinnamon | Kashi Art Café (Kochi), Grand Hotel (Ernakulam) |
| Puttu and Kadala Curry | Steamed rice flour, coconut, black chickpeas, curry leaves, spices | Ariya Nivaas (Trivandrum), Pai Dosa |
| Karimeen Pollichathu | Pearl spot fish, red chilli paste, lemon, banana leaf, spices | Houseboats in Alleppey, Hotel Seagull (Alleppey) |
| Fish Moilee | Kingfish/Seer fish, coconut milk, green chillies, cloves, coconut oil | Fusion Bay (Kochi), Oceanos Restaurant |
| Malabar Parotta With Kerala Beef Curry | Maida flour, egg, ghee (parotta); beef, tomato, pepper, curry leaves (curry) | Rahmath Hotel (Kozhikode), Paragon Restaurant |
| Dosa Ghee Roast With Kerala Style Sambar | Rice & urad dal (dosa), ghee, lentils, tamarind, veggies, coconut chutney | Indian Coffee House, Saravana Bhavan |
| Ela Sadya | Rice, sambar, avial, thoran, pachadi, olan, payasam, pickles | Sree Krishna Inn (Cochin), traditional Onam feasts |
| Banana Fritters (Pazham Pori) | Ripe bananas, maida flour, sugar, ghee | Local tea shops, Pai Brothers (Kochi) |
| Palada Payasam | Rice ada, milk, sugar, ghee | Temple feasts, BTH Sarovaram (Ernakulam) |
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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!
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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!
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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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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.
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