10 Local South Indian Dishes To Try In Coimbatore That Will Make Your Trip Memorable

The best way to experience a destination is through its local food offerings. And in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore, the ‘Manchester of South India,’ the diversity is not just seen in its lush green landscapes and flowing waters, but in its fare that ranges from simple home-cooked rice-lentil preparations to non-veg street food snacks. So, here are 10 local South Indian dishes to try in Coimbatore that promise to make your trip a memorable one.

10 Local South Indian Dishes To Try In Coimbatore

1. Paniyaram

Served hot, straight off a specialised pan with depressions, Paniyaram is a popular street food snack in Tamil Nadu. To make the fluffy hot snack, a fermented batter of urad dal and rice is first prepared. Then, finely chopped veggies are added for mouthfeel. The dumplings have a crisp golden crust and are soft on the inside. The flavours of Paniyaram are often enhanced with additions like grated coconut, poha and methi seeds.

2. Athirasam

Athirasam or Adirasam is a local South Indian must-try dish in Coimbatore. The lightly sweetened deep-fried pancake is not just a household treat but also finds recognition at Thirunallur’s Panchavarnesvar Temple. An offering of 6000 Adhirasams is made to the deities at the temple during the annual festival. In Tamil Nadu, Adirasam is also prepared during Janmashtami and Diwali.

3. Kozhi Urundai

The nippy weather of Coimbatore beckons visitors to seek comfort in a soupy minced chicken ball gravy. That’s Kozhi Urundai for you! A kofta gravy from Tamil Nadu, it’s a flavoursome dish that promises to drive away your cold and leave you feeling comforted. To prepare this dish, chicken or kozhi is minced in a blender with spices. Next, it’s seasoned and shaped into urundai or balls. Either the minced chicken balls are directly added to a flavourful gravy, or they are deep-fried and then cooked in it.

Also Read: 10 Traditional South Indian Dishes In Chennai You Must Try On Your Next Trip To The TN Capital

4. Akkaravadisal

A rich and creamier cousin of Sakkara Pongal or sweet pongal, Akkaravadisal is a moreish dessert. Unlike Sakkara Pongal, where it’s an option to cook the rice in milk, in Akkaravadisal, it’s mandatory. Moreover, this sweet has a higher ratio of moong dal to rice as compared to pongal. Garnished with roasted dry fruits, the creamy Akkaravadisal often makes it to the hands of devotees as prasad, paying a visit to the many Lord Vishnu temples in Coimbatore.

5. Kongunadu Vellai Biryani

Apart from Dindigul Biryani, Tamil Nadu is home to Kongunadu Vellai Biryani, a delicacy in Coimbatore. In Tamil, it translates to “white mutton biryani” thanks to its white-ish hue. The reason for this colour is attributed to the stringent use of spices and mellow yet memorable flavours. Made with tenderly cooked mutton or chicken, it’s a household favourite in Coimbatore. Made mostly in home kitchens with jeerga sambar rice or short-grained rice, country chicken, or sometimes even freshwater fish, goes into the preparation of this delight.

6. Arisi Paruppu

One of the many local South Indian dishes in Coimbatore that deserves attention is Arisi Paruppu. A one-pot meal made with Ponni parboiled rice and toor dal and seasoned with onion, garlic, tomato and spices, it’s hearty and healthy. The addition of mixed beans or red cow beans adds nutritional value to the dish. Arisi Paruppu is packed with fibre and protein, and a rice-lentil combination that supports your body and budget.

7. Kothu Parotta

Walk to a street food stall in Coimbatore, and chances are they are serving freshly tossed Kothu Parotta. Wheat flour parottas are expertly cut into ribbons. On a hot kadai, diced veggies and onions are roasted. In go, the eggs, cooked meat or fish until all the goodness is combined and heated. Finally, the ribboned paratha slices are added and tossed with the masala. Kothu Paratha also shows how innovately leftover bread can be repurposed.

8. Ellu Urundai

Ellu Urundai promises to be a perfect post-meal sweet. After all, it isn’t rich, cloyingly sweet or deep-fried. Rather, Ellu Urundai is nothing but Coimbatore’s answer to til laddoos. Instead of sugar, jaggery makes it to Ellu Urundai while cardamom powder perfumes the til laddoos. The nutty aroma and its high iron and calcium content add to the appeal of this sweet. Ellu Urundai is one of the must-try local South Indian dishes in Coimbatore.

Also Read: Regena Cassandrra Busted These 9 Myths About Chennai

9. Spring Chicken Fry

Native to Tamil Nadu, rather, Hotel Milaharam, where this dish was invented, Spring Chicken Fry is nothing yet everything you’d imagine it to be. The dish consists of a 40-day-old free-range organically grown chicken, which is cooked in Milharam’s housemade masala ground traditionally. The deep-fried snack has the aroma of coconut oil, curry leaves and chillies. Paired with parottas, Spring Chicken Fry will leave you with a spring in your step!

10. Thattai

A visit to Coimbatore or anywhere in Tamil Nadu would certainly mean stopping for filter kaapi at the nearest stall. Thattai, a crisp yet filling tea-time snack, goes perfectly with filter kaapi and is a must-try in Coimbatore. A bit similar to “nippatu” in Kannada, Thattai is made of rice flour and a variety of snacks. And it comes in various flavours like ragi, pepper, butter, sesame and more.

So, these are 10 local South Indian dishes to try in Coimbatore on your next trip to the ‘Manchester of South India.’

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