Why South Indian Foods – An Introduction

Well! What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear about south Indian foods? SPICY AND COCONUT FLAVOURED!! Let’s go ahead and learn more about these amazing and mouth-watering foods.

The most popular and healthy South Indian foods are the ever crispy and delectable dosas, curd rice, idli, sambar, avial, appam, rasam, coconut chutneys, and steamed rice coconut logs called Kerala puttu. These meals are incredibly filling and low in calories and as these yummy dishes are oil-free, they make excellent breakfasts for both children and adults. In fact, they have been found to boost immunity.

The majority of South Indian dishes are vegetarian and their play with the ingredients like curry leaves, mustard seeds, coconut oil, and coconut milk gives it a unique and distant taste to the taste buds.

The majority of South Indian dishes are vegetarian and easy to cook (if done right)

Many of the traditional dishes of South India only require a few minutes to prepare and don’t even add much fat or calories. They are also rich in vitamins and minerals and are very satisfying. A healthy breakfast can be a tasty treat for the whole family and it’s a great way to start the day! There are many ways to make a South Indian meal and you can YouTube for a lot of these.

If you are among the few who are looking for ways to blend in some healthy food along with your regular meals then you are on the right page.

• Among the most traditional and healthiest South Indian dishes is the humble Rasam. Rasam Rice is a staple food of many South Indian households. This is often served as a breakfast dish and is known as the “food of the gods”. It is also considered a cure-all and is found in almost every household. You can get different flavors and types of rasam rice to suit your palate. And, while they might be heavy, they’re also filling and nutrient-rich. Rasam Sadam is a staple in most households. It is also often used as a healing food because it is said to help with flu, cough, and cold. In addition to the many delicious options available, the Rasam rice can be made with a variety of vegetables. If you’re looking for a quick, nutritious, and filling South Indian meal, consider trying Rasam Rice.

• Another popular South Indian dish is the Okra Buttermilk Curry or Vendakkai moru kootan. This is a delicious curry made with okra/ladies’ finger, coconut, and buttermilk and is a healthy vegetarian side dish for rice.

• Dosa: It’s a popular south Indian thin crepe with fermented batter. It is made by soaking and blending black gram/ urad dal and rice together into a smooth batter with a dash of salt. This delicious healthy dish is served hot along with chutney/ sambar. It is a good source of protein as its key ingredients are rice and black gram. Dosa is high in carbohydrates and has no added sugars or saturated fats. The fermentation process increases the vitamin B and vitamin C content.

• Idli: This steamed pillowy and soft fluffy cake is another yummy breakfast dish in South India. The idli batter is made the same as dosa batter, the only difference is that idli batter has more urad dal as compared to dosa batter which has more rice. They are served with coconut chutney, sambar and uzhunu vada (Medu vada).

• Medu vada (Uzhunu vada): This donut-shaped appetizing south Indian breakfast snack has a crispy exterior and a soft interior. This is one of the all-time favorite of many!

• Avial: This is the most popular dish in Kerala served with the main meal of the day (oonu in Malayalam), also equally popular in Tamil Nadu. It is considered as an essential dish in a typical vegetarian keralite home. Avial is a mixture of vegetables cooked in coconut and yogurt gravy seasoned with coconut oil and curry leaves. It is an extremely healthy dish or as some phrase it, a powerhouse of essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.

• Sambar: Sambar is a South Indian vegetarian stew made with vegetables and pulses. It is high in proteins as dal is one of the main ingredients and in addition to proteins it also rich in fiber as sambar includes a variety of vegetables rich in fiber like okra, drumsticks, pumpkin, tomatoes, brinjal and other fiber-rich vegetables. Sambar is mostly consumed with idlis, dosas, and rice.

You can find healthy South Indian dishes that are gluten-free and have zero to no gluten. Some of these dishes are gluten-free and vegetarian and can be prepared in a matter of minutes. Whether you’re looking for a healthy lunch or a satisfying dinner, you’ll find that South Indian cuisine is delicious, flavorful, and healthy. This is a great meal for any family and though there are many other healthy Indian dishes you can try like the title says, this is just to pique your curiosity.