The gorgeous tropical state of Kerala is well known for its rich culinary heritage, aromatic spices, and exquisite cooking traditions. From an extensive menu of flavourful seafood delicacies to the uniqueness of various vegetarian feasts, Kerala traditional food is the reflection of the state’s cultural legacy and history. 

Be it a meander through Kerala’s backwaters or a ride through the misty hills of Munnar, indulging in the act of tasting authentic local cuisine is an essential part of the journey that makes it more fulfilling.  

While exploring and indulging in the region’s food culture, it’s highly recommended to visit the best places to eat in Munnar, like some of Munnar best restaurants to experience the real deal firsthand. That’s where Le Serene Munnar offers guests an unforgettable dining experience, featuring Kerala’s greatest delicacies, prepared with fresh local ingredients and love – amidst the scenic hill silhouettes.

 

What Makes Kerala Traditional Food Unique? 

Rich Use of Spices 

  • Vasco da Gama did not arrive on these shores for their scenic beauty alone. It was the allure of Kerala’s precious spices, like black pepper, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon, that captivated these ambitious explorers and traders – igniting a new chapter of global trade, colonial ambitions, and the fierce competition for control of the spice routes.
  • These are also the same ingredients that elevate delicacies to a whole new level, adding warmth, aroma, and depth to every dish flawlessly. 
  • What’s even more special is that the spices never overwhelm the dishes but enhance the natural flavours of the ingredients.  

Coconut in Every Form 

  • Kerala, which translates to the land of coconut palms, is a heavenly abode abundant in coconuts and their various forms. From the creamy richness of coconut milk to the chewy bliss of grated coconuts enhancing the taste of everything it touches, the exquisite ingredient just makes the tasting experience better for everyone. 
     
  • There is a reason it’s considered the backbone of Kerala cuisine. From lending a creamy texture to curries and richness to desserts to adding a distinct flavour that defines every dish, coconut appears in many forms—grated coconut, coconut milk, coconut oil, and roasted coconut paste. It has become an essential core that makes Kerala dishes instantly recognizable and unforgettable. 

Fresh and Local Ingredients 

  • Kerala varied topography means there is plenty of fresh produce available in abundance throughout the year. The main ingredients for daily meals are seafood from the Arabian Sea, locally grown organic vegetables, tropical fruits, aromatic spices and rice.  
  • This emphasis on seasonal and local ingredients is to ensure maximum freshness and authenticity of the dish without compromising traditional regional flavours. 

Famous Kerala Food You Should Never Miss 

Kerala Sadya  

The one and only… and the most celebrated example of famous Kerala food is the regality of a traditional sadya. 

  • A freshly cut and washed plantain leaf is placed, with the narrow, pointy edge facing the left and the broader side to your right. The rice takes up the bottom portion, whereas more than twenty different preparations, including avial, thoran, olan, pachadi, kichadi, pickles, and pappadam, fill up the top portion in abundance. The rice is brought to life with ladles of sambhar, moru, and rasam – each enhancing the feast with their distinct flavour. 

Appam and Stew 

  • Appam is a soft rice pancake with a pillow-like centre and a lacy, crispy edge, which reaches its full potential when paired with a mildly spiced vegetable or chicken/beef stew. The stew is cooked in creamy coconut milk, with spices flavouring it, making it one of Kerala’s most beloved breakfast and dinner combinations. 

 

  • There is also the delightful pairing of sweet coconut milk, which is the mixture of coconut milk with sugar/jaggery and flavoured by cardamom. Usually, people soak the appam in the creamy delight, but it can also be enjoyed by tearing it in pieces and dipping it in the sweet mixture. 

Kerala Fish Curry 

  • This conversation about food curries and delicacies is incomplete without talking about the signature coastal delicacy of Kerala fish curry. 
     
  • Fresh fish is simmered in a tangy gravy, made of tamarind, coconut, and aromatic spices. With the right touch of cooking specialty, careful preparation, and slow cooking, the dish enhances into a rich, spicy, and slightly sour curry that makes a mouthwatering appeal, especially when paired with steamed rice or tapioca. 

Puttu and Kadala Curry 

  • Every food mentioned in this blog is iconic, but “Puttum kadalayum” as Keralites call it, is ICONIC. This freshly steamed rice cake filled with grated coconut, paired with the thickness of black chickpea curry, is a breakfast food that will leave you completely full – both in the departments of hunger and mental satisfaction.
     
  • The food is a highly nutritious combination that reflects Kerala’s love for rice-based dishes, complemented by the delight of coconut-based ingredients.  

Malabar Parotta and Curry 

  • Kerala’s love for Parotta is known almost everywhere in India and has spread across the world. The popular flatbread with its flaky and layered texture, when paired with its evergreen companion, beef curry, becomes a delicacy that’s a must-have for anyone visiting the state. 
     
  • Popular curries that go well with Malabar parotta are chicken curry, mutton curry, green peas curry, and other vegetable curries – making it a highly cherished food choice among locals and visitors alike. 

 Popular Kerala Food Items for Every Food Lover 

Karimeen Pollichathu

Spicy Kerala-style fish fry served on a banana leaf with sliced red onions, fresh lime halves, and curry leaves on a white plate placed on a wooden table. 

  • Easily one of the most iconic Kerala food items, Karimeen Pollichathu, aka Pearl spot leaf-roasted, is a side dish that you just must give a try.  
  • It features Karimeen (pearl spot) marinated with spices, wrapped neatly in banana leaves, and grilled to absolute perfection.  
  • The banana leaf is known for locking in moisture, perfuming the food subtly, and giving it an earthy touch, making it an inevitable part of this dish’s preparation. 

Thalassery Biryani 

  • The famous dish, with its roots originating from North Kerala’s Malabar region, is a vastly popular style of biryani across the world. The biryani uses the fragrant Jeerakasala rice, aromatic spices, and well-prepared tender meat.  
  • Unlike many other biryanis, it offers a lighter yet incredibly flavourful taste that reflects Kerala’s rich cultural influences.
     

Kappa and Meen Curry 

  • Kappa, aka boiled tapioca, is a special food that, when paired with a spicy fish curry, becomes a beloved comfort food loved throughout Kerala.  
  • The humble root is creamy and fluffy on the outside, with an earthy sweetness that melts in your mouth – complimented with the spice-indulgent pairing of fish curry.  

Banana Chips 

  • Somewhere, someone is munching on banana chips while reading this. The delicious, crunchy, and subtly salted chips are an irresistible part of Kerala’s snacking culture that will make you finish the whole packet without even realizing it. 
  • This cute crunch-delight, made of raw bananas, sliced in the shape of a coin, and fried in pure coconut oil, is an ideal tea snack and a travel souvenir. 

Payasam 

  • One of the most beloved endings to an Onam sadya is the traditional serving of payasam. No Kerala feast is complete without the mouthwatering bliss of payasam. This traditional dessert comes in many forms and styles, popular varieties include Ada Pradhaman, Palada Payasam, Semiya Payasam, and Parippu Payasam. 
  • Kerala’s exquisite dessert is made of milk (could also be coconut milk), jaggery, and according to the ingredients required, like rice, lentils, vermicelli, and other important contents, are added.  

Experience Authentic Kerala Cuisine in Munnar 

Farm-Fresh Ingredients 

  • The most reassuring fact about experiencing all the famous Kerala food is that Munnar and its surrounding regions offer access to fresh vegetables, herbs, and locally grown produce. Most restaurants source raw materials from nearby farms, ensuring the final product is fresh, flavourful, and true to Kerala standards.  

Scenic Dining Experience 

Exceptional and exquisite dining experience on one side, breathtaking visual extravaganza on the other, imagine that!  

  • That’s exactly what being surrounded by valleys, cool mountain air, and tea plantations feels like – transforming every meal into an unforgettable experience while complementing Kerala’s rich culinary heritage.  

Traditional Flavours with Modern Comfort 

Le Serene Munnar’s restaurant brings the best of Kerala’s traditional flavours, fresh local produce and panoramic hill views, to create an unreal ambience that elevates your dining experience into a celebration of culinary delights. The restaurant is popular for its authentic Kerala cuisine servings, along with international favourites in a tranquil atmosphere.  

Best Time to Enjoy Kerala Traditional Food in Munnar 

Honestly, anytime is an ideal time to indulge in Kerala’s traditional food, especially when visiting Munnar. However, certain occasions elevate the experience to something truly memorable and worth holding onto. 

  • During family vacations – The joy of sharing a traditional Kerala feast with your loved ones is the most beautiful way to cherish togetherness and etch beautiful memories permanently. 
  • Romantic getaways – Misty hills, splendid tea gardens, and breathtaking landscapes make Munnar the perfect setting to savour Kerala’s flavours with your special someone. 
  • Monsoon season culinary experiences – The chilling, mist-laden, and rainy weather of Munnar makes warm Kerala delicacies like curries, snacks, and comforting meals a serendipitous pleasure.  
  • Festival celebrations – Festivals set Kerala’s culinary heritage in full swing, with the grandeur of sadya feasts, traditional sweets, and age-old recipes celebrated with enthralling excitement and shared passionately. 

 Conclusion  

Ultimately, the culinary heritage of Kerala is one that goes beyond mere savouring, it’s a sensory endeavour traversing through history, spice, and soul.  

From the regal sadya feast served on a plantain leaf and the tender cloud-like feels of Appam, to the glorious shine of a slow-simmered coastal fish curry – and finally to complete the course with the comfort of cardamom-infused Payasam, every famous Kerala food is a testament to the state’s culinary mastery. 

For those traversing the verdant landscapes of Munnar, this journey is the ultimate luxury, offering a lasting taste of the region’s identity. To truly experience these time-tested flavours, one must dine where culinary artistry meets the majesty of the landscape. While Munnar is known for an extensive array of vibrant, local eateries – a true gourmet experience awaits you at Le Serene Munnar. Because here you’re lucky to experience authentic Kerala delicacies that are reimagined with sophisticated flair, making it more than just a meal, but a celebration of Kerala’s finest traditions, curated for passionate travellers.  

(Le Serene Munnar)