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Home » Recipes

Kerala and South Indian Recipes

Collage of Kerala recipes.

I'm sharing the authentic recipes that my family has used for generations, but with modern conveniences. They range from everyday meals to the elaborate Onam sadhya dishes that are an important part of my culinary heritage.

In addition to family recipes, you'll also find recipes that I started making on my own and perfected through the years.

What Makes Kerala Cuisine Special

Kerala cooking is known for its generous use of coconut (as coconut milk, grated coconut, and coconut oil), fresh curry leaves, and the perfect balance of spices influenced by a history of spice trade.

Unlike other Indian cuisines, Malayalis (Keralites) use coconut milk as the base for curries rather than tomatoes or cream, and Kerala's coastal location means fish is an important part of the cuisine.

You'll find everything here from the iconic Onam sadhya feast dishes (like Parippu Curry, Inji Curry, and Pachadi) to breakfast favorites (masala dosa with all the chutneys), Kerala Christian specialties (the ever-popular Beef Fry and Fish Molee), and everyday comfort foods (Egg Curry, Potato Stew).

Start Here if You're New to Kerala Cooking

Essential Techniques: Everything you need to start cooking authentic Kerala food at home. Essential ingredients, traditional techniques, and must-try recipes from India's spice coast. Read my comprehensive guide to Kerala cooking.

Browse all Kerala recipes below ↓


Each recipe includes step-by-step photos and tips learned from cooking these dishes my entire life.

  • Collage of Kerala recipes.
    Kerala Cooking Basics
  • Semiya Payasam vermicelli noodle pudding in bowl.
    Authentic Semiya Payasam Recipe – Kerala Vermicelli Pudding
  • Kerala inji curry ginger relish in bowl.
    Authentic Inji Curry Recipe – Kerala Ginger Chutney
  • Bowl of Kerala Kootu Curry with black chickpeas.
    Kerala Kootu Curry – Traditional Onam Sadhya Recipe
  • Kerala Potato stew in blue bowl.
    Kerala Potato Stew (Ishtu) with Coconut Milk
  • Carrots and green beans thoran in a white bowl.
    Authentic Kerala Beans Thoran with Carrots
  • Cucumber kichadi in brown bowl with curry leaf on top.
    Cucumber Pachadi | Kerala Kichadi Recipe
  • Mango pachadi in brass bowl.
    Kerala Mango Pachadi (with Pineapple Variation)
  • Two masala dosas on plate and green and red chutneys and dosas and sambar in background.
    How to Make Perfect Masala Dosa at Home
  • Potato masala in blue bowl.
    How to Make Potato Masala for Masala Dosa (Restaurant Style)
  • Dosa stacked on a plate.
    Make Dosa on a Crepe Maker
  • Dosa stacked overlapping on a plate.
    How to Make Dosa at Home | Foolproof Fermentation Tips
  • Coconut red chutney in white bowl.
    Coconut Red Chutney for Masala Dosa
  • Coconut green chutney in white bowl.
    Cilantro Coconut Chutney (Coconut Green Chutney)
  • Kerala style beef fry - beef ularthiyathu - in a bowl.
    Kerala Beef Fry (Beef Ularthiyathu)
  • Kerala vegetable stew with potatoes carrots, curry leaves in a creamy white sauce.
    Kerala Vegetable Stew
  • Blue speckled bowl of egg curry garnished with cilantro, with naan and brown eggs in the background
    Kerala Egg Curry
  • Bowl of Kerala parippu curry with fried curry leaves, onions, and chili.
    Kerala Parippu Curry – South Indian Dal
  • Indian Instant Pot Chicken Curry with cilantro in white bowl on straw placemant
    Easy Instant Pot Chicken Curry
  • Kerala chicken curry with yellow rice in a black plate with naan stacked in background.
    Kerala Style Chicken Curry (Nadan Kozhi)
  • Instant Pot chicken korma curry with rice in a bowl with naan bread in the background
    Instant Pot Chicken Korma
  • Instant Pot beef curry in oval dish.
    Easy Instant Pot Beef Curry with Coconut Milk
  • Instant Pot Sambar L1 - two bowls of sambar with tomatoes, eggplant okra, garnished with cilantro
    Instant Pot Sambar | South Indian Kerala Style
  • Instant Pot Indian Fish Curry in dark bowl
    Instant Pot Fish Curry | Fish Molee
  • Beef Curry Stew
    Beef Curry Stew
  • Fried Potatoes Kerala Style
    Kerala Potato Fry – Potato Mezhukkupuratti
  • Fish Molee Curry
    Fish Molee Curry
Neena in red sweater head tilted

Hi, I'm Neena Panicker, and welcome! I am the creator, photographer, and author of recipes and tips at Paint the Kitchen Red. I live in the glorious west in Salt Lake City, Utah with my family.

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