8 Lesser known Dishes of Kerala That You Must Try

Kerala is not just known for its pristine natural beauty, but is also a land of culinary delight. From delectable fish curry to lip smacking chutney, Kerala is every food lover’s Mecca. Kerala cuisine has something for everyone, from sweet lovers to spice connoisseurs. With the grand festival of Kerala, Onam, around the corner, it is high-time that you try some of the below mentioned dishes from Kerala that are immensely underrated but are sure to take on a heavenly food journey with every morsel. 

Idiyappam or Noolappam

A delicious breakfast item in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Idiyappam is basically a noodle cake that is steamed just like Idli. It is made of rice flour, and it is usually served with a side of coconut milk. But you can also have it with a spicy chicken or fish curry. Both are delicious and would surely leave you smiling from ear to ear.  

Theeyal

You may know that Kerala is a land of spices, which makes the local cuisine too hard to resist. While you may have had many coconut-based fish and chicken curries in God’s Own Country, you may not have had anything like Theeyal. It is one of the less known foods of Kerala, which is made of an assortment of fresh vegetables and make a perfect accompaniment for rice and appams. 

Erachi Puttu

Putti is quite famous in Kerala, and one of the most popular dishes. But, Erachi Puttu, not so much. This delicious chicken preparation is aromatic and each mouthful is a flavour bomb. It is made like an ordinary puttu, i.e., rice flour steamed in a special cylindrical vessel, and loaded with grounded coconut. But what makes it different is the addition of a layer of pepper-based chicken gravy, which is sure to leave your taste buds tingling for more. 

Pathiri

Popular in the Malabari region of Kerala, Pathiri is basically a roti or flat bread made from rice flour. In the land of appams and parottas, Pathiri may have lost its way in gaining popularity, but in terms of taste it is right up there. You can have Pathiri with your favourite Kerala fish or meat curry, and you may wonder why you didn’t taste this before. 

Kozhi Pidi

Without a shadow of doubt, one of the most underrated foods of Kerala, Kozhi Pidi is a traditional dish, usually made by Christian families in the state. Pidi is essentially a marble-sized rice dumpling that is dunked in a thick and spicy chicken curry. If you don’t mind a bit of spice, you would surely enjoy shedding a few tears of joy when you taste this dish. 

Toran

This is one of the many delicious vegetarian dishes of Kerala that deserves the attention and fame like other popular dishes. It is a simple yet heart-warming main course dish that is made of finely chopped vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and beans and lots of coconut. The addition of the tempered curry leaves on top adds another layer of flavour.

Pappada Vada

Indians are known to like all things crispy and deep-fried. And, the world is a fan of the Banana chips, the most Kerala famous food. But, Kerala has another crunchy delight that is not as popular as it should be. It is too hard for anyone to resist the temptation of a Pappada Vada. A common evening snack in Kerala, these papads are made of rice batter, and fried in coconut oil. It is delicious, and you can have it anytime of the day.  

Kerala Payasam

You may have tasted the ever-so-delicious Kerala Payasam (Kheer) and drooled over it. But, wait until you taste Boli. It is a lentil flatbread with a sweet coconut and jaggery filling, i.e., flavoured with the goodness of nutmeg and cardamom, and loaded with dollops of ghee. It is usually made during Onam and is one of the best sweet dishes in Kerala.  

So, there you have a list of some of the best yet lesser known dishes of Kerala. If you are visiting Kerala during Onam, you can book your stay at any of the resorts in Kerala by Club Mahindra. It would be a perfect base to witness the beautiful culture of Kerala, Onam celebration and enjoy the delicious festive feast, known as Onasadhya, which comprises some of the delicious dishes mentioned above.