Introduction
Tamil cuisine is a cooking style that originates from the Southern parts of India in the state of Tamil Nadu and other parts of South Asia. It both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes that have been popular for quite a number of years, generations even.
1.Meen Kozhambu
This is a curry fish dish made from a base of tamarind, urad dal and toor dal. It is very hot and has a sour taste. Meen Kozhambu is a homely fish curry that is very simple and is to make. The recipe has a lot of variations as people like to add what they call a “secret ingredient” to make their dish outstanding. Secret ingredient or not, it still tastes as authentic and as scrumptious.
2.Urlai Roast
This is a traditional dish that still uses recipes that are not too far from the original one. It is made from baby potatoes that are roasted in fresh Chettinad masala. It is seasoned with grated coconut, coriander seeds, ginger, garlic and red chilies. These make a great spicy side dish for rasam.
3.Chicken Chettinad
This traditional dish has a combination of up to 28 different spices, pretty sure you can already feel the heat and the flavor busting out of your tongue. The chicken is heavily marinated in yogurt and a mélange of spices. This dish originates from Chettinad but is also part of the Tamil cuisine. It is best served hot and makes a killer main course dish.
4.Cabbage Poriyal
Cabbage Poriyal is the perfect vegetarian side dish made from stir-fried cabbage with roasted lentils, fresh coconut, and spices. It is a very simple and healthy dish that does not require too many ingredients or time. It also has a lot of flavor and is a bit crunchy.
5.Milagu Pongal
This dish is great for a light breakfast and sometimes even for dinner, it is a variant of the famous Pongal which is commonly made during the festive season in South India. It largely constitutes of white rice, pepper, and cumin seeds. It looks really good and the aroma is simply divine.
6.Archuvitta Sambar
Archuvitta Sambar is a regular dish in most Tamil households. It is traditionally made from sambar and a variety of roasted and freshly grounded spices. Anyone can make archuvitta Sambar nowadays as there are simpler methods of preparing the amazing dish. It has a very bold flavor.
7.Mulligatawny Soup
This dish is great for a typical winter day. It is a great combination of fresh fruits and vegetables simmered in coconut milk, black peppercorns, and tamarind pulp. It is usually served a little bit of sour cream. The curry soup is very rich in flavor and smells great.
8.Arisi Tengai payasam.
It is a very sweet dessert dish that originates from the Tamil cuisine. It is made from rice, coconut and jaggery, it is sometimes referred to as the rice coconut kheer as it looks somewhat like kheer. Rice and coconut are a traditional Indian combo and so is a very common dish in many of its local households.
9.Kanchipuram Idlis
This dish is quick and easy to make and they are a variety of Idlis. The idlis is spiced with cumin, pepper, and ginger powder stuffing. The idlis is made from rice that has been soaked in water for hours and then shaped into anything, usually into balls. It is a very ancient dish that originates from the people of Tamil Nadu in India.
10.Uttapam
Uttapam is a specialty amongst the people of Tamil Nadu. It is made from ground ural dal and rice powder. The combination is allowed to ferment for a few hours. After which it will be slowly fried on a skillet with little oil. It is very flat and crispy on the edges and soft in the center. The toppings are usually made from a variety of veggies and fruits such as onions, tomatoes and capsicum. It is served with coconut chutney, spicy tomato and chili chutney or sambar.
11.Murukku
Murukku is an Indian word for twisted, as the name suggests these are ring twisted snacks, the most famous of Tamil Nadu. The batter is made from urad dal, rice flour, salt, cumin seeds, etc. The mixture is then deep-fried in oil until it turns crispy. It is healthier when made in ghee. The snack is one of India’s favorite and is made all year round but very common during festivals.
12.Coconut chutney
The dish is locally known as uruttu chammanti. It is made from grounded coconut, ginger, mustard seed, and roasted red chili. It is usually as a side dish paired with dishes such as dosa, vada, or idli. There are quite a number of variations when it comes to making coconut chutney but the result is always just as amazing.
13.Lemon rice
This dish is great for that last-minute dinner and that short notice family gathering. Lemon rice is quick and easy to make, it has a pop of flavor. It is seasoned with onions, red chili, tomatoes, curry leaves, and salt. The rice is cooked with lemon juice and then fried with the seasoning. For crunchiness, groundnuts can be added to the meal.
14.Kootu
Kootu is a side dish made from lentils and a variety of vegetables. Tamil Nadu has many variations of this dish such as the poricha kootu. It is made from urad dal and is fried in red chilies and coconut; this is then turned into paste. The paste is then mixed with cooked vegetables and moong dal. It can be served with Virundhu Sappadu.
15.Sundal
Sundal is a salad made from gram or black chickpeas. The gram or chickpeas are roasted and served with sliced ginger, chilies and grated ginger.
Conclusion
Tamil cuisine has a wide range of amazing dishes and constitutes very homely meals that can be easily prepared and enjoyed.