Indian cuisine is full of variety and flavor, and the South Indian subcuisine is no exception. But, it is often overshadowed by popular North Indian dishes like butter chicken and dal makhani. However, there are plenty of delicious South Indian recipes that don’t use onion or garlic! These vegetarian dishes are packed with flavor and are perfect for those following a strict diet. Let’s take a look at some of these wonderful dishes.
Paneer Pesarattu
This classic dish hails from Andhra Pradesh and is traditionally served with ginger chutney. It consists of a crepe made with green gram (moong dal) and paneer (Indian cottage cheese). The batter can be spiced up with chili peppers, asafoetida (hing), cumin seeds, ginger powder, and turmeric to give it an extra burst of flavor. This protein-rich dish is perfect for breakfast or lunch!
Coconut Chutney
An accompaniment to many a meal in the south, this chutney goes great with steamed rice cakes known as idlis or stuffed pancakes called dosas. The star ingredients here are grated coconut and roasted peanuts which get ground together with green chillies and tamarind pulp to form a delicious paste that can be served either dry or wet. A pinch of garam masala adds just the right note to this already flavorful condiment.
Avial
Avial belongs to Kerala’s famous sadya platter and incorporates an interesting mix of vegetables cooked together in coconut oil along with fresh curry leaves. Commonly used vegetables include raw banana, drumstick, potatoes, yam, snake gourd etc., while shredded coconut helps bind all these flavors together nicely. Asafoetida imparts its unmistakable flavor while turmeric gives it its characteristically yellow hue. Delicious!
Sambar
No South Indian meal would be complete without sambar! This traditional tangy stew includes lentils such as split pigeon peas (toor dal) boiled together in a masala base consisting of spices such as fenugreek seeds, coriander seeds, red chilli powder, etc., as well as tamarind pulp for extra sourness. Fresh vegetables such as yams or eggplants can also be added for an extra kick of flavour – yum!
Also Read: 3 Best South Indian Chicken Recipes
Conclusion
There you have it – some fantastic South Indian recipes that don’t need onion or garlic to impress your taste buds! So go ahead and dive into these flavourful dishes the next time you want something unique yet delicious to enjoy at home.
