10 Iconic Foods From Kerala You Must Taste For Authentic Coastal Flavours And Culture

10 Famous Kerala Foods Every Traveller And Food Lover Should Experience At Least Once: Kerala’s food culture reflects centuries of trade, migration and local agricultural traditions. The cuisine is known for its strong coconut flavours, aromatic spices and abundant seafood dishes influenced by coastal geography. Traditional cooking methods are deeply connected to festivals, religious customs and family heritage. From steamed breakfast delicacies to spicy seafood curries and sweet festival desserts, Kerala’s culinary identity offers something for every palate. Street food, home cooking and festive meals all contribute to this vibrant food ecosystem. These 10 dishes represent the most loved and culturally significant foods that showcase authentic Kerala cooking traditions and flavours.

1. Puttu And Kadala Curry

Puttu is a popular breakfast dish made using steamed rice flour and grated coconut, shaped into cylindrical layers using a special steaming mould. It is usually served with kadala curry, a black chickpea curry cooked with coconut milk, shallots and aromatic spices. This meal provides high energy and is commonly eaten with ripe bananas or additional coconut garnish.

2. Appam With Vegetable Or Meat Stew

Appam is a soft fermented rice pancake with crispy edges and a soft centre. It is made using rice flour, coconut milk and natural fermentation processes. It is traditionally served with stew made using vegetables, chicken or lamb cooked in coconut milk with cinnamon, cloves and ginger. The creamy texture makes this dish highly popular during breakfast or dinner meals.

3. Karimeen Pollichathu

Karimeen, also known as pearl spot fish, is a famous backwater fish speciality. The fish is marinated with lemon juice, chilli powder and salt before being wrapped in banana leaves and baked or steamed. This cooking technique helps preserve natural moisture while enhancing spice absorption. It is a signature dish often associated with coastal Christian culinary traditions.

4. Malabar Parotta And Beef Curry

Malabar parotta is a layered flatbread prepared using refined flour, oil or ghee and eggs in some recipes. The dough is repeatedly kneaded and folded to create thin layers. It is commonly eaten with spicy beef curry cooked using onions, tomatoes, garlic and whole spices like black pepper and cardamom.

5. Erissery

Erissery is a traditional vegetarian curry often prepared during festivals. It is made using pumpkin, plantain or yams cooked with lentils, turmeric, cumin seeds and grated coconut. This mildly sweet and spicy curry is usually served with rice during ceremonial feasts and religious celebrations.

6. Palada Payasam

Palada payasam is a traditional dessert pudding prepared using rice ada, milk, sugar and ghee. It is especially popular during festive occasions and weddings. The slow cooking process gives the dessert a rich creamy texture and sweet aroma, making it one of the most beloved Kerala sweets.

7. Kerala Prawn Curry

Kerala prawn curry is famous for its tangy and spicy flavour profile. It is prepared using coconut milk, fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds and local souring agents such as kudampuli. The prawns are marinated before cooking, enhancing the absorption of spices and creating a rich seafood flavour.

8. Thalassery Biryani

Thalassery biryani is a unique rice and meat dish influenced by historical spice trade routes. It is prepared using small-grain rice varieties, layered with cooked meat masala and slow cooked under sealed heat. Aromatic spices such as cloves, star anise and cardamom give this biryani its distinctive fragrance.

9. Fish Moilee

Fish moilee is a mild coconut milk fish stew popular in many households. Fish such as kingfish or seer fish is marinated with turmeric, chilli powder and lemon juice before cooking in coconut milk with green chillies and spices. The dish is known for its light flavour and soft texture.

10. Banana Fritters

Banana fritters are simple tea-time snacks made using ripe bananas dipped in flour batter and deep fried. Known locally as pazham pori, these fritters are commonly sold in street food stalls and enjoyed with hot tea. Their sweet flavour and crispy texture make them a favourite comfort snack.

Kerala’s food heritage continues to evolve while preserving traditional cooking knowledge. The balance between spice, sweetness and coconut-based flavours ensures its global popularity among food lovers and travellers.