Tirunelveli is a city in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is known for its historical monuments and temples, but more importantly, it is famous for its delicious food. The cuisine of Tirunelveli is a mix of Tamil, Telugu, and Malayali cultures and has been influenced by the cuisines of different foreign countries.
The most popular dish from Tirunelveli is the ‘Kothu Parotta’ which is made with minced parotta (an Indian flatbread) mixed with spices, vegetables and eggs or meat. This dish can be served with either chicken or mutton curry. Other popular dishes include ‘Thalakulai Idli’ which are steamed idlis made from black gram batter and served with chutney; ‘Kambu Maavu Puttu’ which is steamed pearl millet flour served with coconut milk; ‘Vellai Paniyaram’ which are dumplings made from fermented rice batter; and ‘Molaga Bajji’ which are deep-fried chilli fritters.
Tirunelveli also has an array of delicious snacks like murukku (a savoury spiral-shaped snack), ribbon pakoda (rice flour fritters), vadai (deep-fried lentil doughnuts) and seedai (deep-fried sesame balls). These snacks can be enjoyed on their own or as accompaniments to meals.
The most popular sweet dish from Tirunelveli is ‘Iruttukadai Halwa’, a delicious dessert made with semolina, ghee, sugar and cashew nuts. Other popular sweets include ‘Adhirasam’ which are sweetened rice flour doughnuts; ‘Pal Kova’ which are milk-based sweets made from condensed milk and sugar; and ‘Urundai Pal’ which is a ball-shaped sweet made from wheat flour, coconut shavings and ghee.
Tirunelveli cuisine also offers an array of traditional beverages such as filter coffee, lemon juice and tender coconut water.
In conclusion, Tirunelveli has a diverse selection of food that reflects the various cultures that have influenced the region over the centuries. The most famous dish in Tirunelveli would have to be Kothu Parotta – a spicy minced parotta stir fry that can be enjoyed with chicken or mutton curry – while other popular dishes include Thalakulai Idli, Molaga Bajji and Iruttukadai Halwa.