On The Spice Trail with Tamarind Global
Indian food lovers across the world eat numerous varieties of idlis, uttapams, paniyarams and dosas, served
with sambar and a mind-boggling variety of chutneys, pickles and podis (powders). Naturally, this is the only
food commonly associated with Tamil Nadu. But the cuisine of this southern state is so much more than it’s
Udipi restaurant specialties. Whether it is Kongunadu or Arcot, the Chettiars or the Iyengars, food takes on
different avatars across communities. Traditional Tamilian Brahmin food is pure vegetarian fare served on
banana leaves and is called Ilai Sappadu, meaning a full course meal that accommodates all the six tastes –
sweet, sour, bitter, salty, pungent and astringent. It consists of a never-ending array of dishes such as poriyal,
rice, varuval, pachadi, idli, payasam, sambar, thokku, vadai and kuzambu, amongst others. Contrary to
popular belief, non vegetarian food is part of the Tamilian repertoire. Chettinad chicken, prawns kuzhambu,
fried fish and kola urundai (meat balls) and some lip-smacking seafood from the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu
are among the popular dishes.
Continue reading “The Tamil Nadu Special”