10 Tamil Nadu Breakfasts Better Than Idli Dosa

By Shireen Jamooji

South India has a whole spectrum of foods and flavours to explore.  The state of Tamil Nadu especially has a number of intriguing breakfast dishes that deserve more recognition.  Here are some you should try.

Ven Pongal

Ven Pongal is a dish made with rice, split dal, ghee and tempered spices. Ven in Tamil means white.

Uppappam

'Upp' means salt in Tamil and this savoury appam is made from rice flour and urad dal with a selection of spices.

Vella Dosai

It may look like a dosa but this sweet crepe is made with jaggery, coconut and often ragi flour for more energy.

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Idiyappam

Also known as String Hoppers, they're long, pressed rice noodles that are served with stew or curry.

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Kambu Koozh

This Pearl Millet porridge is consumed during summers as a cooling and hydrating drink and breakfast.

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Arisi Upma

Simple and wholesome this mix of ground rice flour, toor dal and black pepper is an understated gem.

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Pidi Kozhukattai

Pidi Kozhukattai is sweer and simple dish with steamed rice flour blended with jaggery syrup and coconut.

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Ammini Kozhukattai

Using balls of leftover steamed rice dough tempered with mustard seeds and curry leaves and finished with a dry masala. 

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Mor Kali

Made with buttermilk and rice flour this savoury cake comes together in 15 minutes and is a popular tiffin option.

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Lemon Sevai

Fine rice noodles are cooked with spices and tempering and then squeezed with refreshing lemon.

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