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There seems to be a limitless number of food choices for those who enjoy South Indian cuisine. The cuisine is a diverse and flavourful culinary tradition that reflects the rich cultural heritage of the region. The dish is mainly characterised by aromatic spices and fresh herbs, and a major focus lies in the rice and lentils. Besides, South Indian cuisine provides a harmonious blend of nutritional value, flavours, and textures.
One of the most common dishes that shapes South Indian cuisine is dosa. Dosa is a quintessential thin, crispy pancake made from a fermented batter of rice and lentils. Here the batter undergoes a process of fermentation lends a slight tanginess to the final product and makes the dosa easier to digest. Dosa has a light and airy texture which is coupled with a satisfying crunch of the outer layer. Dosa can be paired with a number of dishes apart from the regular sambar and coconut chutney. Here are some of them:
- Red Chilli Chutney
Move beyond the regular coconut chutney and enjoy the fiery and bold red chilli chutney. This chutney is made from dry red chillies, garlic, tamarind, and spices that provide a tantelising combination of heat and tanginess. The intense heat of the chillies is balanced by the tangy sweetness of the tamarind that complements well with dosa.
- Peanut Garlic Podi
Podi is a South Indian condiment that has a large number of variations. One of the common is peanut garlic podi. This spice blend is made from roasted peanuts, garlic cloves, dry red chillies, and a blend of spices like cumin and coriander seeds. What makes the condiment different from others is the nutty flavour while the garlic adds a pungent kick to it. It's crunchy texture and bold flavour balance the soft and savoury dosa.
- Kori Kuzhambu
This dish hails from Tamil Nadu which is a flavourful and aromatic chicken curry. Here the chicken pieces are cooked in a rich and spicy gravy made from ground spices, coconut, onions, tomatoes, and tamarind paste. The result is a spicy and tangy curry that adds layers of complexity when paired with a crispy texture of dosa.
- Vada Curry
It is a popular curry from Tamil Nadu that is made with pan-fried crispy masala-coated vadas cooked in a delicious curry of tomatoes and onions. The batter of the vada can be made with chana dal. For the curry, all you need is tomatoes, onions, coconut paste, garlic, chillies, and spices.
- Thakkali Thokku
It is a savoury dish that can be enjoyed with hot dosa or steaming idli. This is a tangy and spicy tomato dish made from ripe tomatoes that are cooked with a whole lot of spices to enhance its flavour and aromatic taste. It includes mustard seeds, fenugreek, turmeric, and chilli powder. It offers a burst of savoury and slightly sweet flavours that complements the crispness of the dosa. It is spread generously on top or served on the side to be used for dipping the dosa.
- Kari Dosai
It traces its origin from the Konar community of Madurai. Here tempting layers make up the dosa. At the bottom is the plain dosa made from the batter, in the middle is the paper-crusted omelette and the final layer on top is the spicy mutton keema. Typically, this dosa is served with mutton gravies.
