Southern Indian Breakfasts

Idli is a traditional, savory Indian cake that is a popular breakfast item in numerous South Indian households, although it can be found throughout the country. It is made with a batter consisting of fermented lentils and rice, which is then steam... READ MORE

Appam is a popular Indian bowl-shaped pancake made from a batter of rice and coconut milk. Typically consumed for breakfast or dinner, appam is most popular in Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, and Kerala, where it is culturally linked to the Syrian Christia... READ MORE

Upma is a wholesome Indian dish made with dry semolina, cooked into a thick porridge. Traditionally served hot for breakfast, its taste is slightly bland, so various nuts, beans, and spices such as turmeric and chiles are commonly added to the dis... READ MORE

Medu vada is an Indian snack that is visually similar to a doughnut, consisting of a deep-fried batter made from black lentils and seasonings such as fenugreek, cumin, pepper, chili, and ginger. The fritters are often served for breakfast with coc... READ MORE

Visually similar to a pizza, uttapam is a South Indian dish consisting of a batter (based on rice and lentils) that is fried and topped with chopped vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, carrots, and chiles. There is also a version of the dish call... READ MORE

Pesara dosa (also called pesara attu or mung bean dosa) is India's national dish and one of the most popular breakfast foods in Andhra and Rajasthan. Dosa is the world's thinnest griddlecake, a paper-thin pancake made with an ear... READ MORE

Rava idli is a popular steamed semolina cake invented during World War II by the popular restaurant chain Mavalli Tiffin Rooms (MTR) in Bangalore, India. During the war, there was a shortage of rice, the main ing... READ MORE

This Indian crêpe is made with a very thin batter of rice flour, water, and salt. Unlike other Indian dosas which call for much thicker, and fermented batter, this version uses an unfermented and runny batter which is spread and cooked on a ... READ MORE

Kozhukkatta is the name for Indian rice flour dumplings filled with jaggery and coconut. The dumplings are steamed and then usually served for breakfast, or consumed as a snack, when they are accompanied by tea on the side. In some cases, cooks li... READ MORE

Ven Pongal is a savory Tamil dish made with rice and moong dal (yellow split lentils). The name "ven" in Tamil means white, referring to the dish's light-colored appearance, while "pongal" means to boil over, symbolizing prosperity and abundance. ... READ MORE

Ishtu is a traditional dish originating from Kerala. This simple stew with a soupy consistency is made with a combination of onions, potatoes, ginger, green chili peppers, curry leaves, black peppercorns, and coconut milk. The ingredients are simm... READ MORE

Indian masala omelet is a traditional egg-based dish originating from South India. The dish is made with a combination of eggs, onions, green chili peppers, coriander, chili powder, and turmeric powder. The eggs are whisked with the other ingredie... READ MORE

Khageena is a traditional dish consisting of savory scrambled eggs. The dish is also popular in Pakistan. It’s usually made with a combination of eggs, onions, tomatoes, green chili peppers, oil, butter, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder,... READ MORE

Akki rotti is a dish that is especially popular in the Indian region of Karnataka, consisting of griddle-baked rice flour that is shaped like a pancake or a flatbread. It is commonly consumed either for breakfast or lunch, usually accompanied by v... READ MORE