South Indian food images with names

Pictures with a short description of the most popular South Indian food items are shown here. The most famous South Indian food items are the South Indian Breakfast foods Idli, Dosa, Vada, Sambar and Upma. These are the all-time favourite breakfast foods of India and have been enjoyed by generations.

List of South Indian breakfast dishes with pictures

Idli, steamed and healthy

Idly
Idli

Idli is one of the most popular breakfast foods of India. It is about 2 inches in diameter and made from a fermented batter of ground rice and lentil and steamed in moulds. They are normally served with chutney -a spiced ground coconut paste and Sambar (see below) a watery gravy, not too spicy and goes well with idly .



Dosa, so tasty

Dosa
Dosa

Dosa is also a popular breakfast food and is made with the same fermented batter as the Idli, but instead of steaming it is made flat like a pancake. Chutney and Sambar are served with it. Masala Dosa has a potato masala filling.  Dosas are delicious and very popular with the tourists.



Vada, like spiced doughnuts

Vada
Vada

Vada is the doughnut shaped brown rings on the plate. Vadas are deep fried breakfast food made from ground lentil. They are usually served together with the idlis. Accompaniments for Vada is the same as for Idlis – Chutney and Sambar.



Sambar, the South Indian Curry

Sambar
Sambar

Sambar is a watery gravy made with special spices like Asafetida and tamarind paste, together with Dal (de-husked lentil) and vegetable pieces. It is always served free with foods like Idly, Vada and Dosa. It is also served with rice for lunch or dinner.



Appam and Stew from Kerala

appam and stew and Mutta roast of kerala
Appam & Stew from Kerala

Appam from Kerala is made with rice flour batter fermented with Toddy (alcoholic nectar of Coconut trees) or yeast. Appam is like a pancake with a thick center and paper thin lace border. Appam is usually eaten with Kerala Stew, which is a thick gravy made with coconut milk, spices and meat or vegetables. Appam can also be eaten with egg roast called Kerala Mutta Roast and other curries.



South Indian Biryani

south indian biryani Malabar Biryani
South Indian Biryani

South Indian Biryani is a flavored rice dish cooked with meat, fragrant spices, rice and many other ingredients. The biriyani has its own versions in different parts of the country - The South Indian Biryani examples are Hyderabadi biryani of Hyderabad and the Malabari biryani of Kerala. They are very tasty and should be tried.



South Indian Thali

South Indian Thali
South Indian Thali

South Indian Thali is the popular meal. not only in the South, but all over India. It is a vegetarian meal served on a large stainless steel plate with all the different curries in small dishes arranged on the circumference. In the centre goes the breads or rice. To end the meal a payasm (see below) or two is included.



Kerala Sadya

kerala south indian thali
Kerala Sadya

Kerala Sadya is the traditional festival meal served on a washed banana leaf with rice and many vegetable curries, different types of spiced yogurt and few types of Payasam (see below). Keralites eat it squatting on the floor.



Upma or Rava Kichadi

Upma the Indian breakfast food wins $100,000- in a cooking contest
Upma or Rava Kichadi

Upma or Rava Kichadi is the common man's breakfast food in South India. It is made by frying a few onion slices, mustard then adding water and bringing to a boil. Then some vegetable cubes (optional) and semolina are added. An Indian Chef, Floyd Cardoz won the top prize of $100,000- in the 2011 final of the 'Top Chef Masters' contest in Los Angeles - Floyd Cardoz made an upma of semolina with mushrooms to win the top prize of $100,000.



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