South Indian Recipes- “All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast”, and since nothing screams morning glory quite like some crispy vadas and butter-y dosas - we've compiled our 10 best South Indian breakfast recipes just for you.From kids to adults, the South Indian breakfast is an all-time favourite ranging from the humble upma to Kerala's popular appam served with a delicious vegetable stew. Let's face it, nothing beats waking up to the aroma of crackling curry leaves and the sound of sputtering mustard seeds. And since we can't decide whether we love the cuisine from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu or Telangana more, we bring all of South India to you.
You can happily kick start your day with some steamed idlis spruced up with coconut chutney and a bowl of piping hot sambar - simple, healthy and timeless. Indeed, there are infinite ways to transform your mundane mornings the South Indian way, but we've listed our top 19 best South Indian breakfast recipes which will never fail to impress. They are comforting, loaded and wholesome. If you're racing against time and can't have a leisurely breakfast you can always recreate the classics in the comfort of your home and pack them for work. They're that easy! If you're looking for something simple and speedy, delicious and nutritious - these dishes are just the ticket for you.
Here are our 19 sensational South Indian breakfast recipes that play up the South like never before. Now, stop drooling, start cooking. And take your senses for a gastronomical joy ride.
1. Onion Rava Dosa
Crispy, deep-fried and divine, this rava-style dosa made with onions is too good to be true. Soon to be your new favourite, you can even add some green chillies for that extra zing.
(Also read: 7 Side Dishes for Dosa)
Best south Indian breakfast recipes: A crisp dosa made with rava an topped with a onion-green chilly mixture.2. Buttermilk Sambar
A recipe that's sure to draw recipe requests. This buttermilk based sambar imparts a tangy flavour, and tastes even better if topoed off with a tantalizing tadka.
Best south Indian breakfast recipes: Lady finger and brinjal cooked in a sambar paste and buttermilk base.
3. Appam: Rice and Coconut Pancake
A handful of ingredients is all you need to create these magical, fluffy appams! With a soft and thick center and a paper thin exterior, you can lap up any curry with these lovely appams.
(Also read: 10 Best South Indian Rice Recipes)
Best south Indian breakfast recipes: popular Kerela breakfast dish, also known as Palappam.
4. Medu Vada
Crispy and sinful, this urad dal based snack is a favourite of many and who can blame them? Spruce it up with some coconut chutney and serve piping hot.
Best south Indian breakfast recipes: Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, Medu Vada is a South Indian dish.5. Ven Pongal
Rice and lentils, cooked and tempered with cumin and a dollop of ghee give birth to this traditional South Indian breakfast. We promise, it's simply delicious and pairs beautifully with tangy sambhar and coconut chutney.
Best south Indian breakfast recipes: Ven Pongal is a common naivedyam food that is offered to Goddess Durga.
6. Uttapam
Light and scrummy, uttapam is a dosa-like preparation made with a mixture of rice, dhuli urad dal and fenugreek seeds. Once you try it, you're sure to ask for seconds!
Best south Indian breakfast recipes: A traditional delicacy from down South which literally means 'poured appam' in Tamil.
7. Rawa Upma
Savoured all over the Indian subcontinent and not just the South, top off this delicious breakfast dish with some grated coconut and greens.
Best south Indian breakfast recipes: Rava is also called as Suji in Hindi and cream of wheat in English.8. Puttu
Coconut-y and delectable, this steamed rice cake is extremely popular in Kerala and can be relished with Kadala curry, egg curry and even ripe bananas. All you need is 20 minutes to whip up this instant hit!
A simple recipe of steamed rice cake cooked with coconut shavings. Image credits: iStock.
9. Kerala Vegetable Stew
Fuss-free and easy, this vegetable stew made with carrots, potatoes, cauliflower and French beans is brimming with flavour. Spice with cinnamon and a handful of curry leaves.
A simple vegetable stew cooked with the goodness and flavor of coconut milk.10. Oats Idli
A healthy approach for those who are calorie conscious, these idlis stuffed with oats and grated carrots are just yum! Who says food can't be nutritious and scrumptious at the same?
Low on carbs and healthy idlis made with oats and grated carrots.11. Ragi Dosa Recipe
12. Oats Uttapam Recipe
This delicious and healthy twist to uttapam is what you need right in the morning. This south Indian breakfast recipe is sure to make your day. All you need is oats, semolina, yogurt, hing, tomato, cumin seeds, et al to make a filling and yummy oats uttapam.
13. Pesarattu (Green Gram Dosa) Recipe
Pesarattu is a dosa like preparation native to Andhra Pradesh. It is made with green gram and eaten as a snack or breakfast meal. Enjoy pesarattu with coconut chutney.
14. Goli Idli
Rice balls steamed, cooked and served with your favorite tomato chutney. This innovative goli idli recipe is so easy to make and requires just a few ingredients.
15. Uggani
Uggani is a variety in Upma made from Puffed rice and is perfect to serve for healthy breakfast. This recipe is very easy and quick to make.
16. Chicken Keema Idli
Chicken keema is an ultimate non-vegetarian inclusion to the South Indian cuisine list. This recipe is not just unique but also quite healthy.
17. Instant Rava Dosa
A perfect dish for all occasions. Just 30 minutes and simple ingredients, you can have this amazing dosa for your lunch, dinner or breakfast meal. And when we say 'instant', we really do mean instant. So, make it to believe it.
18. Soya Idli
This recipe of idli involves soybean along with rice and urad dal- which makes the whole recipe enriched with good protein.
19. Curd Rice
Simple curd rice can be prepared with steamed rice and plain curd or with additional tempering of urad dal, mustard seeds, chillis, coriander leaves and steamed rice.
We are sure that waking up to these delectable South Indian dishes will make your mornings all the more better. Let us know which one tops your list as a favourite breakfast option.