Page 561 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

INTRODUCING SOUTH INDIA  559

variation of the dosa, made
with lentils and rice), dhapalam
(a vegetable curry) and pachidi
(a curd-based relish).
In contrast is the cuisine
of Hyderabad with its distinct
Muslim influences. Savoury
mutton or chicken biryanis are
accompanied by kebabs, lamb,
chicken or vegetable curries
(salans), vegetables and breads.
Some specialities include
pathar gosh (lamb cooked on
a stone), haleem (a pounded
Chinese fishing nets, an iconic sight in Fort Cochin, Kerala wheat and lamb dish eaten
during the fasting months
Tamilian food. A traditional meal Andhra Pradesh of Ramzan or Ramadan) and
includes all six to balance nutrition, The liberal use of red chilli and desserts such as shahi tukra
the appetite and digestion. The tamarind make Andhra food and kubani ka meetha, made
special flavour of the food comes one of the country’s spiciest. with dried apricots and cream.
from a combi nation of curry Rice and vegetables form the
leaves, ginger, coconut, garlic, basis of a meal. Some common ON THE MENU
coriander, asafetida, tamarind, dishes include pulihora (sour/
pepper, chillies, cloves, cumin, tamarind rice), pesarattu (a Aadu olathiayathu Fried cubes
cinnamon and cardamom. of lamb garnished with coconut
Meals consist of cooked rice and curry leaves.
served with an array of vegetable Meen varuval Masala fried fish
dishes, sambhar, rasam (watered from Chettinad, served with sliced
down version of sambar with onions and lime.
pepper, herbs and tomatoes) Sambhar A spicy lentil broth
and chutneys. Crisp poppadams with mixed vegetables, a must
or appalam (rice wafer) complete for all meals.
a meal. Desserts include the warm Tahari A rice-and-mincemeat
milky rice payasam or sweet pulao, a Hyderabad special.
pongal, also made from rice. Tamatar pappu A spicy tomato-
Non-Brahmin communities, and-lentil curry.
such as the Chettiars from Thengai saadham Coconut rice,
Chettinad, are meat eaters. Their seasoned with red chillies and
hot and spicy cuisine has several curry leaves.
interesting fish, mutton and Upma A savoury semolina
chicken dishes, of which pepper Street vegetable market in rural breakfast dish.
chicken is considered the best. Tamil Nadu

Bagara baingan, whole Meen moilee, a speciality of Payasam is a creamy dessert
aubergines stuffed with spices, Kerala’s Christian community, made from rice and milk and
are Hyderabad’s most famous is a lightly spiced coconut garnished with cashew nuts
vegetarian dish. fish curry. and raisins.

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