Idli, Dosa, Sambar. Yes, these are the most famous Tamil foods known outside the South Indian region. And no, we are not going to restrict our knowledge of vocabulary about food in Tamil Nadu to these three items. Tamil cuisine goes far beyond this stereotypical list.
With Tamil being one of the oldest living languages in the world, and Dravidian history and culture being as rich as they are, it would be an injustice to only scratch the surface of its culinary heritage. In this article, we will try to cover as much content on Tamil cuisine and its vocabulary as space allows.
Top 10 Most Loved Tamil Dishes
Food (உணவு – unavu) in Tamil Nadu is steeped in tradition. Even though global culinary influences have been making inroads into the Tamil food culture, authentic Tamil food is still holding fort quite strongly, all thanks to its deep cultural roots.
The most basic and popular food items that are extensively used throughout Tamil cuisine, and which give a Tamil Sappadu (Cāppāṭu – சாப்பாடு) its rich and distinct flavor, are coconut, tamarind, and curry leaves. A Tamil Sappadu is a full-course meal that consists of all six flavors – sweet (Iṉippu – இனிப்பு), sour (Puḷippāṉa – புளிப்பான), bitter (Kacappāṉa – கசப்பான), salty (Uppu – உப்பு), pungent (Kaṭumaiyāṉa – கடுமையான), and astringent (Tuvarppu – துவர்ப்பு).
Come, let us learn some easy Tamil vocabulary as we learn more about Tamil cuisine.
#1 Idli
Yes, the most popular, most common, and most ubiquitous Tamil food is the soft, steamed rice idlis (இட்லி). Made from fermented batter of rice, idlis are the staple breakfast or tiffin food, served along with coconut chutney (Tēṅkāy caṭṉi– தேங்காய் சட்னி) and Sambar (சாம்பார்) – a lentil and vegetable soup.
#2 Dosa
A good Masala Dosa (Macālā tōcai – மசாலா தோசை) can make your heart sing! A dosa is a crêpe-like item made of a fermented batter of rice and lentil. It comes in a variety of textures, but the most popular one is Masala Dosa, where Masala constitutes a lightly spiced boiled potato filling. The dosa is served along with Sambar and coconut chutney. In many places, tomato chutney (Takkāḷi caṭṉi – தக்காளி சட்னி) also accompanies the meal. In Tamil Nadu, it is known as Dosai or Thosai.
#3 Uttapam
An Uttapam (உத்தபம்) resembles a pancake but is savory in flavor. It is made of semolina and yogurt batter. The most popular varieties are Onion Uttapam (Veṅkāya uttapam – வெங்காய உத்தபம்) and Tomato Uttapam (Takkāḷi uttāpam – தக்காளி உத்தாபம்) where these two vegetables are finely chopped and added as a topping. There is also Vegetable Uttapam with finely chopped vegetables like capsicum, carrots, and cabbage.
#4 Vada
Vada or Vadai (Vaṭai – வடை) is a fried savory snack made of black gram batter and served with an assortment of chutneys. This street-side snack is best-enjoyed piping hot, especially during the thundering monsoon season. It also tastes yum dipped in Sambar.
#5 Chicken Chettinad
Chettinad is a region in Tamil Nadu where this dish originated. Chicken Chettinad (Kōḻi ceṭṭināṭu – கோழி செட்டிநாடு) is a delicious chicken curry made of chicken pieces cooked in a spicy paste made of coconut, onions, tomatoes, and various Indian spices (Macālā – மசாலா).
#6 Mutton Kuzhambu
Mutton Kuzhambu (Maṭṭaṉ kuḻampu – மட்டன் குழம்பு) is a fiery mutton curry commonly eaten with white rice (Arici – அரிசி). The main flavor comes from coconut and poppy seeds (Pāppi vitaikaḷ – பாப்பி விதைகள்).
#7 Puliyodarai
Puliyodarai (Puḷiyōtarai – புளியோதரை) is a delicious savory rice dish full of flavor, thanks to its star ingredient – Tamarind (Puḷi – புளி). It is generally made during festivals and on special occasions. It is also offered to the deities in the temples as a meal offering (Piracātam – பிரசாதம்) and then distributed among the devotees.
#8 Rasam
Rasam (Racam – ரசம்) is a peppery broth made of tamarind pulp and tempered with curry leaves (Kaṟivēppilai – கறிவேப்பிலை) and mustard seeds (Kaṭuku vitaikaḷ – கடுகு விதைகள்). It is usually savored on its own but can also be eaten with rice.
#9 Paruppu Payasam
Paruppu Payasam (Paruppu pāyacam – பருப்பு பாயசம்) is a traditional dessert made of moong lentils slowly cooked in coconut milk (Tēṅkāy pāl – தேங்காய் பால்), jaggery (Vellam – வெல்லம்), clarified butter or ghee (Ney – நெய்) and garnished with nuts and dried fruits.
#10 Filter Kaapi
No Tamil meal is complete without a shot of freshly brewed Filter Kaapi (Vaṭikaṭṭi kāpi – வடிகட்டி காபி). It is a frothy coffee concocted with milk (Pāl – பால்) and sugar (Carkkarai – சர்க்கரை) that tastes divine.
List of Vocabulary About Food In Tamil
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