Kolkata is one of the second biggest cities in India. As the cultural, intellectual, and artistic capital of India, Kolkata is widely known as the City of Joy. Kolkata is the hub of fast food centers and restaurants. Kolkata’s food is probably one of the city’s main attractions. In Kolkata, there is a South Indian market known as Lake Market that offers everything from food to crafts that originate from the region. It also offers a variety of South Indian restaurants serving delicious dishes to satisfy different types of people. Here are some of the South Indian dishes that you need to try in Lake Market.
1. Masala Dosa
Masala dosa is one of the most popular South Indian Dosa, which has its origins in Tuluva Udupi cuisine in Karnataka. Masala dosa is crispy, soft, and, healthy. It is made from rice, lentils, potato, ghee, and curry leaves, and then stuffed with aloo masala and served with chutneys and sambar. There are different types of Masala dosa like Mysore masala dosa, Rava masala dosa, Onion masala dosa, Paper masala dosa, Cheese masala dosa, etc.
2. Idli
A puffed rice cake that is made with steaming rice and lentil batter. It is served with sambhar and chutney. The Idli is one of the most popular breakfast items in India due to its ease of preparation and customization with very little or no oil required to make it.
3. Upma
Upma is also one of the South Indian breakfast dishes. It is a light and tasty snack made with roasted semolina (Sooji) with veggies, green chilies, and curry leaves. You can pack it for lunch as well. It is also served with chutney. Upma is both healthy and tasty because it contains a very less amount of fat.
4. Vada
Vada is crispy, fluffy, and delicious which goes well with coconut chutney, tomato chutney, and sambhar. These doughnut-shaped fritters are made with black gram, herbs, coconut, and spices. It tastes like a lentil doughnut. It is deep-fried in pure vegetable oil. There are different types of vada like Medu Vada, Batata Vada, Dahi Vada, etc.
5. Uttapam
South Indian Uttapam is pancakes made from rice flour filled with tomato, onions, carrots, and coriander leaves, and chilly topped with either idli batter or dosa batter. It is also served with sambhar, coconut chutney, and tomato chutney. For people who prefer a low-fat diet, Uttapam is an easy homemade breakfast.
6. Curd Rice
Curd Rice also known as yogurt rice, is a dish originally from India. The word curd means “Indian Yogurt”. The combination of creamy curd with perfectly steamed rice flavored with subtle spices provides a refreshing taste. People have their way of enjoying curd rice. It can eat alongside Podi, papad, and pickle. Curd rice is a great source of protein and carbohydrates together. It’s a complete meal and healthy too.
7. Pongal
Pongal is a popular South Indian food made of rice, yellow moong dal, curry leaves, black pepper, and green chilies either in a sweet or savory dish. It is also served with sambhar and coconut chutney. It is also offered to Gods not only in South Indian homes but also in temples during pooja and festivals.
8. Chicken Chettinad
Chicken Chettinad is one of the most authentic, delicious, and spicy dishes from South Indian cuisine made with a blend of roasted Chettinad spices, coconut milk, and pureed nuts. It can also be served with ghee rice, jeera rice, or pudina pulao. It is one of the pepper-flavored gravy from Tamil Nadu.
9. Appam
Appam is also a breakfast pancake dish made with fermented rice batter and coconut milk. It is also served with sambhar and coconut chutney. It can also be accompanied by vegetable stew. It is one of the lightest dishes for breakfast. It is completely oil-free and it would not trouble your stomach.
10. Rasam
Rasam is one of the most basic and essential South Indian meals. It is served with plain rice and a vegetable side dish. It can also be served as a soup which can be made with a blend of spices and fresh garlic. It has no cooked dal in it. When the stomach gets upset, rasam is recommended. It is very useful for digestion.
11. Payasam
Payasam is one of the traditional recipes that include rice, vermicelli, and moong dal. It is also known as kheer. It is also known as Paruppu Payasam or Parippu Payasam.There are different types of payasam like jevvasiri payasam, Rava payasam, thengai payasam, etc. It is also cooked in Navaratri as Moong Dal Payasam.
12. Lemon Rice
Lemon rice is one of the refreshing and delicious dishes. It is a rice preparation flavored with fresh lemon juice and cooked with lentils, mild spices, curry leaves, and nuts. It is very comforting and commonly eaten by many. It is also served with sambhar and coconut chutney, plain yogurt, and salad. It is also cooked during festivals and occasions with some fried snacks like vada, papad, or pakora.
13. Bisi Bele Bath
The traditional dish Bisi bele bath originates in the Indian state of Karnataka. The meaning of Bisi bele bath is “Hot lentil rice dish. It is a porridge made with rice and lentil, cooked with vegetables, south Indian spices, and nuts. It is a flavorsome preparation topped with crunchy boondi. It is also accompanied by coconut chutney.
14. Dahi Vada
Dahi Vada is one of the most famous Indian street food found on eating corners in Kolkata. The meaning Dahi means “yogurt” and Vada means “fried fritters”. It is a classic snack where vada is soaked in sweet curd and topped with chutneys and spice powders. It is also used as a side dish or snack. It is also cooked during celebrations, occasions, parties, and festivals like Diwali, Holi, and Navaratri.
15. Rava Dosa
Rava Dosa is also one of the famous South Indian dosas and is very popular in the South Indian Tiffin Centres. This dosa is also crispy, soft, and healthy. It is made from semolina, cumin, ginger, coriander leaves, and green chilies and then stuffed with aloo masala and served with chutneys and sambar.
16. Paper Butter Masala Dosa
Paper Butter Masala Dosa is also one of the South Indian dosas. It is a semi-spicy, crispy and delicious dosa, with aloo masala folded into it and topped with butter. This dosa is also made from rice and lentils batter. It is also served with sambhar and coconut chutneys.
17. Podi Dosa
Podi Dosa is also another type of South Indian dosas. Podi in Tamil means “chili powder”. It is just like a regular dosa which is made from rice flour and ground pulses, lentils batter, and gun powder. It only adds a little bit of chili powder towards the end of cooking. It is also served with sambhar and coconut chutneys.
18. Tomato Onion Uttapam
Tomato Onion Uttapam is another thick Uttapam pancake made from rice flour filled with tomato, onions, carrots, and coriander leaves, and chilly topped with either idli batter or dosa batter. It is also served with sambhar, coconut chutney, and tomato chutney. It can also be eaten during breakfast or dinner.
19. Mini Idli
A puffed rice cake that is made with steaming rice and lentil batter. It is made in mini sizes. It is served with sambhar and chutney. Mini Idli can also be served as snacks. It is also used as a side dish or snack. It is also cooked during celebrations, occasions, parties, and festivals like Diwali, Holi, and Navaratri.
20. Filter Coffee
Filter Coffee is a classic South Indian style coffee. It is from Karnataka. It is still a part of every traditional South Indian house. This coffee contains 70% Robusta beans and 30% chicory finely ground. Filter Coffee is also good for health, and the refreshing and most important thing is it lowers the risk of heart diseases and stroke.
