There’s far more to Indian food than butter chicken, tandoori chicken, and naan. These North Indian staples may be on more restaurant menus, but they’re just a small sampling of the flavors of the subcontinent.
To broaden your palate, you’ll want to head south where carbs reign supreme and tandoori flavors give way to hints of coconut. South India is a vegetarian’s paradise. South Indian cuisine comes from five southern states—Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu—and a collection of territories in the southern portion of the subcontinent. South Indian food is as varied as the region itself, but rice, lentils, chiles and coconut are staples. Tamarind makes frequent appearances as do sambar powder and dried curry leaves. And of course, no meal is complete without coffee.
Here’s what to eat— and drink—when traveling in South India.
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Hyderabadi Biryani
If you're familiar with Indian food, you're probably familiar with biryani. Hyderbadi biryani is a variation that comes from Hyderabad. It's typically made with basmati rice, vegetables or meat, onions, spices, lemon and saffron.