Top 10 South Indian Dishes You Must Try at Least Once

Veg Pulav

Veg Pulav is a fragrant and flavorful Indian rice dish cooked with mixed vegetables, aromatic spices, and herbs. Perfect as a wholesome main course or a side, it’s a light yet satisfying one-pot meal enjoyed across India.

Chaapati Bhaji

A comforting and traditional Maharashtrian dish, Chaapati Bhaji combines leftover chapatis with flavorful spices and sautéed vegetables, turning everyday ingredients into a delicious, homestyle meal.

Puri Bhaji

Puri Bhaji is a classic Indian breakfast dish consisting of deep-fried, golden puffed puris served with a flavorful potato curry (bhaji). It’s a comforting and satisfying meal enjoyed across India, often paired with pickles and chutney.

Dahi Puri

Dahi Puri features crispy puris filled with potatoes, chutneys, and topped with chilled curd, sev, and spices. It’s a sweet, spicy, and cooling treat in every spoonful.

Bhel Puri

Bhel Puri is a crunchy, tangy chaat made with puffed rice, sev, chopped onions, tomatoes, boiled potatoes, and a mix of tamarind and green chutneys. A quick and tasty snack!

Pani Puri

Pani Puri is a beloved Indian street food made of crispy hollow puris filled with spicy tangy water, mashed potatoes, chickpeas, and chutneys. It’s a burst of flavors in every bite!

Methi Paratha

Methi Paratha is a healthy and flavorful flatbread made with fresh fenugreek leaves mixed into whole wheat dough. It’s mildly spiced and ideal for a nutritious start to the day.

Paneer Paratha

Paneer Paratha is a protein-rich Indian flatbread stuffed with a flavorful mixture of crumbled paneer (Indian cottage cheese), herbs, and spices. Perfect for breakfast or lunch.

Aloo Paratha

Aloo Paratha is a classic North Indian stuffed flatbread made with whole wheat flour and a spicy mashed potato filling. It’s pan-fried with ghee or butter and typically served with curd or pickle.

Payasam

Payasam is a traditional South Indian dessert made by simmering rice, vermicelli, or lentils in milk and sugar, often flavored with cardamom and garnished with ghee-roasted nuts and raisins. Rich, creamy, and aromatic, it’s commonly served during festivals and special occasions.

Bisi Bele Bhaat

Bisi Bele Bhaat is a traditional South Indian rice dish made with lentils, rice, vegetables, and a special blend of spices. Originating from Karnataka, its name means “hot lentil rice” in Kannada. This wholesome one-pot meal is rich, flavorful, and typically served with ghee and crispy papad.

Fish Molee

Fish Molee is a mild and flavorful South Indian fish curry from Kerala, made with coconut milk, spices, and lightly fried fish. It’s known for its creamy texture and subtle aroma, often served with appam or steamed rice.

Uttapam

Uttapam is a soft and savory South Indian pancake made from fermented rice and urad dal (lentil) batter, topped with chopped vegetables like onions, tomatoes, and green chilies. It’s crispy on the outside, fluffy inside, and typically served with coconut chutney and sambar.

Dahi Vada

Dahi Vada is a popular Indian snack made of soft lentil dumplings soaked in creamy yogurt and topped with tangy chutneys and spices. It’s a perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors, often served chilled and enjoyed as a refreshing treat.

Vegetable Upma

Vegetable Upma is a light, savory South Indian breakfast dish made from semolina (rava) and mixed vegetables. Flavored with mustard seeds, curry leaves, and green chilies, it’s a wholesome and quick meal that’s both nutritious and satisfying.

Mini Idli Sambar

Ghee Roast Dosa

Ghee Roast Dosa is a crispy, golden-brown South Indian delicacy made by roasting a thin dosa in aromatic ghee. Known for its rich flavor and crunchy texture, it’s typically served with coconut chutney and spicy sambar.

Lemon Rice

Lemon Rice is a flavorful South Indian dish made with cooked rice, tangy lemon juice, and a simple tempering of mustard seeds, curry leaves, and spices. It’s light, refreshing, and perfect for a quick meal or lunchbox option.

Medu Vada

Medu Vada is a popular South Indian savory snack made from urad dal (black gram), shaped like a doughnut and deep-fried to golden perfection. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, it’s typically served with coconut chutney and sambar.

Idli Sambar

Idli Sambar is a classic South Indian breakfast dish consisting of soft, steamed rice cakes (idli) served with a flavorful and tangy lentil-based vegetable stew (sambar). It’s light, nutritious, and often enjoyed with coconut chutney for a wholesome start to the day.

Masala Dosa

Masala Dosa is a popular South Indian dish made from a thin, crispy fermented rice and lentil crepe filled with a spiced potato mixture. Served hot with coconut chutney and tangy sambar, it’s a flavorful and satisfying meal enjoyed across India and beyond.