Beyond dosa and idli: South Indian delicacies that are a must try

South Indian cuisine happens to be one of the most popular native cuisines of India. South Indian cuisine is a collection of food from five states - Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It also includes food from the union territories of Pondicherry, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 

The speciality of South Indian cuisine is the unique use of spices and the flavours that it brings.  

The cuisine is also known for the use of coconut in their curries. Other common ingredients include curry leaves, mustard oil, and red chillies. 

If you are a foodie, here are a few South Indian dishes that you cannot miss:

Medhu vada

Medu Vada looks like a doughnut but tastes completely different. It is a dish that is served with chutneys. The dough is made and then shaped round. It is then deep fried in oil to give it a perfect colour and a crispy and crunchy taste. You can have it with chutney, sambar, rasa. It can also be a standalone dish when eaten hot and crispy. 

Kerala prawn curry 

This is the signature dish of Kerala and is served almost everywhere in the state. It is  mildly spicy with hot and tangy flavours. The scrumptious dish goes best with malabari parotha, rice or appam. The unique ingredient of this dish is that it is prepared in coconut milk. For better flavour, you can also top it with raw mango shreds and peppercorns.

Curd rice 

If you are seeking comfort then this is your dish. Comparatively milder but still the best. It is a basic curd rice dish but the tadka is what sets it apart. All you need is a combination of steamed rice and curd. You can also use flavoured yoghurt as per your preference. For tadka, you can use cumin seeds, curry leaves, peanuts, green chilies and ginger.

Bisi bele bhaat 

Bisi bele baat is a traditional Karnataka dish which is made using steamed rice and toor daal, vegetables and spices. It is very similar to khichdi. Basic, simple, yet flavourful. It goes best with boondi raita, chutney, salad, papad, or banana chips. It is a part of the Udipi cuisine.