Kerala is the Southernmost state of India, known for its rich heritage and culture. The people living in Kerala have massive respect for their culture and traditions. This can be observed through their festivals, dance forms, and food items. The state is close to the Arabian Sea, making it the best tourist spot for beach or water lovers. Apart from their rich heritage, people follow healthy food habits, and most of their traditional foods involve the usage of coconut, which is best known for its numerous health benefits. Also, because of its nearness to the seashores, the state is famous for its variety of fish recipes. Let us see some of the most famous breakfast dishes from Kerala.
1.Appam
It is a famous breakfast item of Kerala that is made of fermented rice batter that is combined with coconut milk. It is a type of thin pancake that is available in multiple variations such as Idiyappam ( another famous breakfast item that is in the form of rice noodles which is best served with chicken or fish curry, dhal or spicy chutney), Achappam, Kuzhalappam, Neyappam (a traditional dish made of rice flour and ghee that originated from Kerala and is traditionally served in most of the Hindu temples), Pesaha appam, Vettayappam ( famous oil free snack that is made of rice flour, coconut, and sugar).
2.Puttu
It is another famous breakfast item of Kerala that is equally famous as an appam. The term “Puttu” means “sliced” in Malayalam. It is soft, cylindrical, and made of rice and coconut spreads. This breakfast item is usually served hot with gravies such as chicken curry, chana masala, or chutney. Variations of Puttu include the usage of wheat flour, ragi, or corn flour mixed with banana.
3.Idiyappam
Idiyappam, or string hopper, is a variation of appam made of rice flour. It is in the form of noodles from rice flour mixed with salt and water. It has its unique taste and is usually served with Avial or curries made of potato, egg, or meat. It is an integral part of Kerala’s traditional breakfast items, whose popularity is widespread even in its neighboring state Tamil Nadu.
4.Uthappam
Uthappam, also known as Uttapam or Oothappam, is a type of DosaDosa thicker than the usual DosaDosa and contains toppings of tomatoes, onions, chilies, and coriander. Few people also prefer using capsicum, coconut, carrot, and beetroot toppings. The main ingredient of uthappam is its batter which is made up of urad dal and rice that is ground in a ratio of 1:3. This dish is best served with sambar or chutney.
5.Chemba Puttu
Chemba Puttu is a variation of Puttu that is made of Chemba Puttu Podi (red rice flour). It is reddish or brownish in color and is rich in nutrients as compared to the usual white rice Puttu. This Puttu is prepared by mixing Chemba Puttu Podi with grated coconut and salt. Chemba Puttu is served with bananas, kadala curry, or vegetable curries that add a delicious taste to the item.
6.Vegetable Upma
Upma is a very common breakfast that is not only found in Kerala but in other southern states as well ( such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka). In different regions, it is prepared with different ingredients. One of those varieties of upma is the vegetable upma which is prepared by adding a wide range of vegetables along with peas and cashews that gives an exotic flavor.
7.Pazham Pori
This food item is known by various names like vazhakkappam, ethakka appam, or bekachi, which is a fritter food that is prepared using ripened bananas and flour (such as maida flour). Moving to states neighboring Kerala, the food takes different names, such as vazhakkai bajji in Tamil Nadu or balekayi bajji in Karnataka. It is a very popular breakfast or snack item in Kerala that is usually served with some form of chutney.
8.Adai Dosai
It is a form of DosaDosa that is popular in most of the southern states and is prepared using a batter made of toor dal, rice, red chilies, curry leaves, and various other lentils, making it a tasty and healthy alternative to the regular DosaDosa. Compared to the regular DosaDosa, it is thicker and softer, which is liked by many children and is a popular lunch box item. It is best served with coconut chutney or avial.
9.Karimeen Pollichathu
It is one of Kerala’s best and most favorite breakfasts that is loved by the citizens. It is not prepared in a regular manner and has its own recipe. The pearlfish is first coated with a mixture of lemon, chili, and other necessary spices. After coating the fish, it is wrapped in plantain leaves and baked until the fish is cooked, giving a crispy layer from the outside and softer flesh on the inside. If you are a seafood lover, then this is a must-try dish that will make you fall in love with the item.
10.Kappa Kuzhachathu
It is another mouth-watering dish that can be found everywhere, starting from small shops near the backwater to the very famous 5-star restaurants. It is prepared by smashing boiled kappa (a root vegetable very similar to potato) and cooking it with other necessary spices. It tastes best when served with fish curry. Make sure you try this famous and easily available dish on your next visit to Kerala.
11.Madakku San
Madakku san, also known as mutta uthappam, coconut pancakes, or love letter, is a tasty dish that is sweeter in taste because of its toppings that are prepared from jaggery or sugar. Its cooking procedure is similar to that of a dosa in which the batter is spread on a hot pan and flipped to cook on either side and then rolled. It is a famous breakfast as well as tea time snack that is best served with banana or milk/ tea.
12.Avial
Avial is a traditional curry that originated from Kerala and is known to be one of the healthiest curries made using a variety of vegetables that include raw banana, drumstick, potato, carrot, snake gourd, ash gourd, and various other spices that are cooked into a thick paste. The oil that is generally used in a vial is coconut oil, which is best known for its numerous health benefits and is suggested by most dieticians. Hence, this is a must-try healthy item if you are a fitness freak and want to try something that does not affect your diet.
13.Thattu Dosai
It is another form of DosaDosa that can be easily found on the street sides, whose size is much smaller than a regular dosa and easily fits into your palm. It not only differs in size, but it is also very soft and fluffy as compared to regular crisp DosaDosa. Various other ingredients are also added on top of this, which creates variations of DosaDosa, such as egg dosa, cheese dosa, moong dal dosa, or keema dosa. It is best served with coconut chutney, mint chutney, or sambar.
14.Chakka Varattiyathu
Chakka varattiyathu, or the jackfruit halwa, is a type of dessert that is made using jackfruit pulp and jaggery. For those who don’t know about jackfruit, it is a huge and fluffy fruit that can be found in most places in Kerala that is rich in vitamins. Though the dish is very tasty, its preparation is a time-consuming process but is worth trying.
15.Idli Upma
Idli upma, which is prepared from leftover idli, is an efficient way of waste food management. Although it is prepared from leftover idli, there is no compromise in its taste, and it has its taste that serves as an ideal breakfast that is neither too heavy nor too light. Fried peanuts are included to add a crunch to the dish.
16.Prawn Moilee
It is a type of prawn curry that is too delicious and has an excellent aroma that gives the mouth-watering temptation. It is a simple recipe that is made using coconut milk and usually served with Idiyappam or white rice and is rich in nutrients that are essential for our body. If you are a fan of seafood and want to try something other than the fish varieties, then this is a good option for you that is way too ideal for your stomach that isn’t so heavy.
17.Kappa Puzhukku
Kappa Puzhukku ( also known as kappa vevichathu) is another such dish that is common among most Kerala households. It is made of smashed tapioca that is seasoned with grounded coconut. The dish is best served with fish curry or spicy chutney. You can find this dish easily in any small hotel, tea shop, or restaurant that is served along with fish curry. Once you try this dish, you’ll want to have more and more of it.
18.Godhambu Vellayappam
It is another traditional breakfast item of Kerala that is sweet in taste and easy to prepare at home. It is generally a wheat flour pancake that is made from batter prepared by grinding rice flour along with coconut milk, yeast, and sugar. It requires very few ingredients and can be prepared by anyone easily. It is best served with coconut chutney, mint chutney, or tomato-onion chutney.
19.Kozhukatta With Kadala Curry
It is one of the famous religious sweets that is known to be lord Ganesha’s favorite sweet, and you can find this in every household during auspicious occasions such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, or other personal occasions. It is made of steamed rice flour dough that is stuffed with sweet made of coconut and jaggery. It is also served as a regular snack or breakfast item, along with chana gravy ( or kadala curry).
20.Ada Pradhaman
Ada Pradhaman or Ada Payasam/ Kheer is a traditional dessert item in Kerala made of rice and jaggery syrup. It is not so fluid and generally thick that it has a very sweet taste. It is also a common item on special occasions such as Onam and other events. It can easily be prepared at home and is usually served with cashew nuts, badam, and dry fruit toppings.
