Famous Dishes of Karnataka That Take You on a Delightful Culinary Journey

Karnataka is a beautiful state on the south eastern coast of India. Blessed with stunning landscape, the state is also known for its beautiful culture, and cuisine. The culinary culture of Karnataka is mostly influenced by its neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Maharashtra, yet it has managed to carve its own identity and popularity.  

Being a vast state with a good mix of people of communities coming from different states, the flavours of food of Karnataka change from one region to another. While the coastal areas like Mangalore and Uttara Canara are known for their tangy curries, south Karnataka is popular for its different types of Bath (mixed rice). The north Karnataka food is much spicier than other parts of the state.  

If you are a foodie, you may inevitably be keen to taste the Karnataka famous food, but even if you are not, you must try these mouth-watering Karnataka delicacies.

The curries that captivate your tastes buds 

Korri Gassi 

Korri means chicken and Gassi is curry in the local Kannada language. This coconut-based curry comes from the Mangalore region, and it is usually served with Neer dosa, rice or roti.  

Kundapura Koli Saaru 

A traditional food of Karnataka, Kundapura Koli Saaru is another type of chicken curry that is made of an assortment of spices, coconut milk and is flavoured with ginger, garlic, and onions. The succulent, melt-in-your style chicken pieces is the perfect accompaniment for dosa or rice, and you can have it anytime of the day, and all day.  

Coorg Pandi Curry 

The name says it all about the dish’s origin. This is a pork-based curry, which is very popular in Coorg that both locals and tourists love. The meat is cooked in a special masala that is made of grounded local spices, and has a dark colour.  

What makes this curry a favourite is the use of the extracts of a locally-grown fruit called kachampuli that has a distinct sour taste, which adds a beautiful flavour to the curry.

Delectable desserts that make you drool! 

Haalbai 

A famous sweet dish in Karnataka, Haalbai is made from the staple ingredients like rice, jaggery, coconut milk and grounded coconut, which adds a distinct flavour and texture to the dish. This sweet is usually prepared during special occasions, and it can be eaten warm or cold as per your preference. 

Chiroti 

One of the quintessential local dishes of Karnataka, Chiroti is a sweet dish that is made using all-purpose flour or maida. It is a flaky pastry that is dipped in cardamom flavoured sugar syrup. The crunchy, sweet delectable is too good for anyone to resist.  

Mysore Pak 

Mysore Pak is a simple yet popular sweet all over India. This delicious sweet treat is made of only three ingredients, gram flour (besan), sugar and ghee. The texture is soft, and the ghee makes it rich, and irresistible. 

Blissful Bath (rice preparations) that re heart-warming 

Mangalore Biryani 

Biryani. Just the mention is enough to make anyone’s mouth water. And, amongst the wide range Biryani varieties available in India, Mangalore biryani may not be as popular as others, but it is a Karnataka special food. 

This dish is usually prepared with chicken meat, and it gets all its taste and flavour from the special Mangalorean masala paste, which is made of coriander seeds, cardamom, coconut, clove, ginger, cumin seeds, garlic, fennel seeds, dry red chilli, etc. The biriyani is usually served with curd or raita to balance the spiciness and the heat.  

You can easily find Mangalore biryani all over Karnataka, but no points of guessing, the best place to visit in Karnataka to have this special food is Mangalore.  

Bisi Bele Bath 

One of the most Karnataka special food, Bisi Bele Bath is a staple in every Kannadiga family. This comfort food is made of rice that is mixed in coconut-based curry and features an assortment of vegetables and to top it all it is served with a spoonful of ghee.  

Chitranna 

Another tasty rice preparation, Chitranna is a lemon-flavoured rice with vegetables. In some places, Chitranna is made with flattened rice or poha, instead of the traditional rice. It is a simple and tasty food that would fill your heart and tummy. Usually, the dish is served with a side of papad.  

So, now that you are aware of the famous foods of Karnataka, which of these are you most excited to try? If you are visiting the state anytime, you can enjoy gorging on these delicacies, by booking your stay at the Club Mahindra resorts in Karnataka. The resorts in Karnataka by Club Mahindra are known to serve the best local food, and during your stay, you can taste some of these delicacies.