Unknown to thousands of vegans around the world, South Indian cuisine is a promising source of delicious vegan dishes. Ask any South Indian about their favourite food from their hometown, and chances are that at least 2 out of the 4 dishes they’d mention have no need for dairy or nonvegetarian ingredients.
If you’ve turned vegan and are looking for healthy meal alternatives, here’s your guide to South Indian cuisine based on various mealtimes.
Breakfast
A pantry full of lentils and fermented rice batter is enough to get any South Indian ready for the day ahead. There’s so much you can do with just a few ingredients for breakfast.
To start with, there’s the dosa-sambar or the idli-sambar combination. Savoury, spicy and completely satisfying! Pair it with a traditional filter kaapi, and you’d need nothing more.
If not for dosa or idli, you can also prepare upma in the morning. Made of durum wheat, it is hearty, has an earthy aroma, and is full of veggies.
Lunch
Say what you will but a typical South Indian lunch is a feast. There’s no shortcut to it. A serving of red rice is often accompanied by several gravies and vegetables, each prepared in a different way.
But if this is your first time attempting South Indian cuisine, consider making an easy dish like avial to go with red rice. It is a mix of vegetables cooked in mustard seeds and coconut oil, which goes perfectly with the nuttiness of red rice.
Those of you who enjoy slightly sour and flavourful foods can prepare puliyogare with leftover rice and spices.
Snack
Snacktime is the ideal time for all South Indians to take a break from their routine, catch up with neighbours, and enjoy moments of peace.
In most households, items like parippu vada, murukku, paniyaram, and bonda are a constant throughout the week.
Some of these are mild in flavour, some are crispy. But on the whole, they leave you wanting more. Try our Heritage blend when you settle down for snacktime with either of these vegan snack dishes.
Dinner
Dinner is usually a simple affair for South Indians. After a day full of hearty meals, now is the time to wind down with foods that are cooling or light on the stomach.
While curd rice is a crowd favourite, you might need to find vegan curd alternatives to make it. Green chillies, curry leaves, and mustard seeds are tempered and mixed into soft-cooked rice with curd.
If you can’t find a vegan curd option, you can also choose between a vegetarian biryani, bisi bele bhaat, or appam and vegetable stew.
Honestly, you can’t go wrong with appam. It is made without any dairy products and is one of the best vegan dishes that can be had for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Enjoy your diet with some of these South Indian dishes and treat yourself to the authentic experience by having a steaming cup of specialty filter kaapi.
We have a range of 5 kaapis for you to choose from. Let us know which dish and kaapi you are keen to try out.
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