Names Of Vegetables In Malayalam: #1 Best Guide

Apart from the beautiful scenes of nature and beaches in the Indian state of Kerala, there is something else that you should be aware of! It is undoubtedly the mesmerizing agricultural fields and impressive production of massive numbers of different vegetables and edibles in this country. The most popular are rubber, tapioca, coffee, tea, and coconut. Also, Kerala is the single largest producer of cashew, ginger, and turmeric. Thus, if you are planning to visit the excellent state of Kerala, filled with colorful and bright crops with heart-touching culture, you ought to increase your vocabulary by learning the names of top vegetables in Malayalam.

From ivy gourd and broad beans to bell pepper and English carrot, we’ve got the best collection of Malayalam vegetable vocabulary that will help you explore the land of Kerala more natively! Once you enter a restaurant in Kerala, these words will come in handy in providing yourself with the best of the dishes you desire. Nevertheless, you do not need a specific reason to learn anyway. The Malayalam language is beautiful on its own, and you should not dare miss the chance to acquaint yourself with its unique literature. So, if you are ready to move ahead, let’s learn some vegetable names in Malayalam.

Agriculture In Kerala

Before heading on to the names of vegetables, let us glance at the agricultural scenario of Kerala and go on a short cultural trip to India.

While urbanization has taken up a significant part of the agricultural means of the people of Kerala, it did not take them all. There is still a wide presence of cultivation of unique crops that are nowhere to be found easily outside of the region. It is a fact that Kerala has been a consumer state for a long now. That means they have dependent on other states for their food production.

However, the state itself has been a land of unique and varied crop production. The essential production regards the cultivation of rice and paddy. Over 600 varieties of rice are produced in the agriculture of the state. Additionally, it is a ground covered in massive production of spices like turmeric, cinnamon, clove, cardamon, etc.

Since we are explicitly talking about vegetables in this blog, we should know that while some products like areca nut, sugarcane, paddy, cashew nut, etc., are also used by the locals, not many vegetables are cultivated in Kerala. However, it is still a home garden for many essential vegetables that we regularly consume in our dietary foods, such as tomato, bitter gourd, carrot, cucumber, snake gourd, brinjal, pumpkin, radish, and a few more. For this reason, our focus will mainly be on those vegetables grown in this country. 

In the following sections, let us discuss these vegetable names with Malayalam translations and details.

Vegetables In Malayalam

From the most straightforward meal to the most lavish meat recipe, every other dish will undoubtedly involve vegetables to bring about the aroma, the taste, and the savoriness to the ultimate finished food. And once you land in Kerala, you will see many recipes and types of vegetables that you would want to either appreciate or negate.

Hence, to make your journey a smooth one, this section will cover some common vegetable names in Malayalam with dish examples that you should know! Knowing such translations and food menus will give you an exciting and relaxing experience in India. You will enable a power to enjoy the journey in an authentic local spirit.

Potato (ഉരുളക്കിഴങ്ങ്)

The first vegetable name that we need to know is “potato.” ഉരുളക്കിഴങ്ങ്, pronounced as uruḷakkiḻaṅṅ, is the Malayalam name for the vegetable potato and you cannot miss out on this. No matter where you go in Kerala, from the main dishes of Dosa, Potato Curry, to Uttapam, you will find potatoes everywhere.

Tomato (തക്കാളി)

Next up, the Malayalam name for the vegetable “tomato” is തക്കാളി, pronounced as takkāḷi. It is another popularly grown vegetable in the state used in many traditional dishes such as Kerala Style Tomato Curry, Tomato rice, etc. The tangy and sweet taste of the tomato takes up a significant role in the south Indian menu.

Beans (പയർ)

While tomatoes and potatoes are the major players in the kitchen, beans are no less. പയർ (payar) is the Malayalam name for the word “beans,” and dishes like Beans Thoran and Beans Mezhukkupuratti cannot exist without the blessing of this vegetable.

Ivy Gourd (ഐവി മത്തങ്ങ)

ഐവി മത്തങ്ങ, pronounced as aivi mattaṅṅa, is the Malayalam name for the vegetable “ivy gourd.” aivi mattaṅṅa or Kovakka is a widely grown vegetable in the Southern state of India and is also one of the most popularly consumed food ingredients. It helps in making dishes such as Kovakka Mezhukkupurratty (spicy ivy gourd fry), Kovakka Thoran, and many more curry dishes.

Ash Gourd (മത്തങ്ങ)

The ash gourd is more popular than the Ivy gourd in Kerala. Also called the മത്തങ്ങ (mattaṅṅa) or Kumbalangain Malayalam, the ash gourd is the life of almost all food recipes in the south Indian kitchen. Wherever you may search, you find mattaṅṅa and its potency in many dishes such as Kumbalanga Paal curry, Olan, Kumbalanaga Parippu curry, etc.

Yam (ചേന)

Another extensively grown item is the “yam.” ചേന (cēna) is the Malayalam name for the vegetable, and it is an item that is consumed in day to day life by the Malayali population. Dishes like yam fry and Elephant yam curry are the life of every household in Kerala.

Bottle Gourd (കുപ്പി വെള്ളരി)

Bottle gourd is known as കുപ്പി വെള്ളരി (kuppi veḷḷari) or Churakka in Malayalam and is a familiar vegetable in the Malayali households. Many recipes such as Lauki curry and Loki halwa cannot taste as delicious as they are without the bottle gourd’s potency.

Ridge Gourd (പീച്ചീങ്ങ)

പീച്ചീങ്ങ (Peechinga) is the Malayalam name for the vegetable ridge gourd. Another member of the gourd family is commonly used in the South Indian kitchen. Dishes like Peechinga Thoran, Peechinga curry, etc., save the importance of the vegetable.

Bitter Gourd (പാവയ്ക്ക)

The Malayalam name for the vegetable ridge gourd is പീച്ചീങ്ങ, pronounced as pāvaykka. It is also a known vegetable in Kerala and is used in dishes like pāvaykka fry, pāvaykka curry, etc.

Bell Pepper (മണി കുരുമുളക്)

Bell pepper, known as മണി കുരുമുളക് (maṇi kurumuḷak), is one of the common vegetables in Malayalam menu. From fried dishes to curry and stir-fry recipes, bell peppers always work their wonder in the South Indian dishes.

Carrot (കാരറ്റ്)

Let us not forget the most customary vegetables on our list. Carrot known as കാരറ്റ് (kāraṟṟ) in Malayalam, is one of the beloved vegetables of the people. Carrot Pachadi, Carrot Poriyal, and carrot Thoran are some traditional food items that you cannot miss out on.

More Vegetable Names

While we have already discussed some vegetables’ names and dishes related to them, we still have more to learn. Thus, this section will proffer another set of vegetable names that you should know by heart to increase your vocabulary level. So, read the below table and enhance your Malayalam skills.

The Best Way To Learn Malayalam

Vegetable names have indeed added spark to your Malayalam Vocabulary. However, it is not the time to stop learning yet! You can add more to your learning lists like grammar, basic phrases, date and time, greetings, slang, etc. And to do so, you don’t have to look for a website or course. You can find all the material easily on Ling App.

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