Kerala, a state in southern India, is renowned for its diverse and delicious snacks. Some popular Kerala Snacks include:
1.Unniappam
Unniappam is a traditional snack of Kerala. Unni means small, Ney means ghee or clarified butter, and appam means small rice cake. It is a deep-fried dish which is sweet.
2.Pazham Pori
Pazham Pori, or Ethakka appam, is prepared with ripe bananas called Nendra Pazham. Bananas are perfectly sliced, then dipped in the sweetened flour batter and fried till golden brown. It is a simple dish anyone can make.
3.Parippu Vada
Parippu Vada is a spicy, crunchy fritter made with lentils (chana dal and toor dal). The cooking method is the lentils are soaked first, ground coarsely, then mixed with some onions, green chilies, ginger, and curry leaves, then shaped into small flattened balls, and then deep fried. It is a traditional tea-time snack in Kerala.
4.Sukhiyan
Sukhiyan or Sugiyan is everyones favorite tea-time snack. It is a simple snack made from jaggery, coconut, and soaked green gram, coated in a batter prepared from rice flour and then deep fried. It is a unique, traditional Kerala sweet and savory snack.
5.Achappam
Achappam is a traditional snack for Christians on special days, like Christmas or marriage ceremonies, in Kerala. The word ach means mold, and appam means food made with flour. Achappam uses different patterned molds to give a specific shape and size. The mold is heated to high temperature in oil, dipped into the batter (a blend of rice flour, eggs, sugar), and then again back to the hot oil to create a crispy delicacy.
6.Aval Varattiyathu
Aval Varattiyathu is a nutritional snack prepared with flattened rice, coconut, and jaggery, complemented by fried cashew nuts and black sesame seeds to enhance flavor.
7.Kaya Varuthathu
Kaya Varuthathu, known as banana chips, has been a beloved regional snack for generations. The process typically involves cutting green or ripe bananas into thin slices or strips and frying them until they achieve a satisfying crispiness.
8.Kuzhalappam
Kuzhalappam is a tube-shaped snack that enjoys popularity among the Christian community in Kerala. To make Kuzhalappam, roasted rice flour is deep-fried with onions, garlic, sesame seeds, and cumin.
9.Kappa Upperi
Kappa Upperi is a snack crafted from thin, deep-fried wafers of cavassa root, known for its crunchy texture and delightful flavor. To make this Upperi, raw cassava is utilized after removing its inner rind and outer skin. The chips are then deep-fried in coconut oil, seasoned with salt, and often spiced with red chili powder.
10.Uzhunnu Vada
Uzhunnu Vada, or Medu vada, means soft vada, are crispy, doughnut-shaped fritters prepared using black gram (urad dal) with a blend of other spices.
11.Neyyappam
Neyyappam is a traditional snack commonly enjoyed during tea time in the evenings. It consists of rice flour, jaggery, ghee-fried coconut (pieces or grated), cardamom, and ghee. Additionally, Neyyappam is also a popular offering in Hindu temples in Kerala.
12.Vattayappam
Vattayappam is a soft and spongy rice cake for its delightful taste and aroma prepared from a fermented rice batter. Its distinctive flavor and fragrance come from the coconut, sugar, and cardamom. Vattayappam is a steamed and sweetened rice cake that is not only delicious but also a healthy option.
13.Chakka Varuthathu
Chakka varuthathu, or Jackfruit chips, is a widely enjoyed snack in Kerala. These chips are known for their delicious, crispy, and nutritional qualities.
14.Mutta Puffs
Mutta puffs, or egg puffs, are the best option for an evening snack, brunch, or when you have guests over for breakfast or tea. They are quick to prepare, and it is rare to find anyone who can resist the temptation of a well-made egg puff.
15.Sakara Varatti
Sarkara Varatti, or Sarkara Upperi, is prepared by cutting bananas into thick pieces, and frying them until they become crispy, and then blending them with melted jaggery. Sarkara varatti is one of the must-have dishes in Onam sadya and remains a beloved snack among the locals.
16.Malabar Unnakayya
Malabar Unnakayya is a sweet delicacy from the Malabar region of Kerala and is a popular choice during weddings, Iftar, and other festivities. It’s a dessert prepared using ripe plantain banana, coconut, and ghee. Ripe bananas are steamed, mashed, filled with a coconut mixture, and then fried until crispy.
17.Avalose Unda
An authentic sweet treat originating from Kerala, Avalose Unda, also known as Mavunda, is made from a blend of rice powder, grated coconut, cardamom, and sugar. This snack consistently garners praise and is an ideal choice after lunch or during tea.
18.Vettu Cake
Vettu cake is a fried sweetened cake, a renowned cake typically found in rural Kerala tea stalls. People in Kerala commonly enjoy vettu cake, and it gets its name from the cracks (referred to as vettu) that appear during the frying process. This cake consists eggs and all-purpose flour.
19.Ulli Vada
Ulli vada, crispy and crunchy onion fritters, are a well-liked street food in Kerala. Their distinct flavor and texture set them apart from traditional Onion Pakoda, mainly due to the inclusion of rice flour in the recipe.
20.Pakkavada
Pakkavada is a trendy snack, ideal for enjoying with tea or as a quick bite when hunger strikes it is also called as ribbon pakoda because of its unique shape. This crispy snack is a blend of chickpea flour and rice flour seasoned with various savory spices.
