Most people, especially the North Indians think of hot idlis with delicious sambhar or crispy dosas with spicy chutneys when they hear of the Tamil cuisine. However, Tamil cuisine is full of authentic recipes that can give seven-course meals of five-star restaurants a run for their money.

Tamil recipes are usually a perfect blend of tangy, sour, sweet and spicy ingredients and vary a lot from the cuisines that hail from other South Indian states. Over the years, the Tamils have also started using modern baking and sweet making techniques to add more flavors on their plates.

Therefore, you can see a lot of variations such as spongy Christmas cakes, beetroot halwa, etc. apart from the traditional South Indian sweets such as coconut halwa, Appam, etc.

Coconut is one of the favorite ingredients which the Tamils add to every other recipe of theirs be it desserts, curries, chutneys or even soups. Red Chillies, Pepper, Cardamom, Curry leaves, Cloves, Tamarind, and Coriander are also added to most of their main and side dishes.

Appalam, dishes made from sprouts, banana chips, vegetable bonda, etc. are their favorite snack recipes. Chettinad Chicken, payasam, biriyani, parotta, lemon rice, and much more are part of their main recipes which we often see in their festival and marriage menus as well.

The seafood found in the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu is just unbelievable and always has something new to offer whenever you visit these places. The mountains and hilly regions of Tamil Nadu have spicy and rich flavored recipes to offer the ones which you could only find in authentic restaurants and hotels of Tamil Nadu.

The natives prefer strong tea and coffee which are their favorite beverages. You would often find the natives eating curd with rice and they prefer adding curd and buttermilk to their diet.

The wholesome nutrition of the Tamil recipes make them healthy for all age groups and if your cheeks look round and full after returning from a trip, then you certainly have enjoyed the hearty meals and sumptuous snacks of Tamil cuisine.

A collection of recipes written in Tamil (தமிழ்) language. You will find both vegetarian and non-vegetarian recipes in this category.