A collection of 30 of the best popular South Indian breakfast recipes. South Indian cuisine is very broad as it consists of cuisines from five South Indian states – Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka.
These states also have regional cuisines that are known for their unique and delicious recipes, such as Chettinad cuisine, Udupi cuisine, Mangalorean cuisine, Hyderabadi cuisine, etc.
In this post, I am sharing a collection of popular South Indian breakfast recipes. I hope this post helps you decide on your breakfast menu.
Most South Indian breakfast recipes can be made healthier by replacing all purpose flour with whole wheat or whole wheat flour. Some recipes require some preparation like soaking rice and lentils for idli or dosa. Recipes like idli, dosa, upma, appam can also be packed in a tiffin box for kids.
30 Best South Indian Breakfast Recipes
1. Idli recipe – Idli One of the most healthy and popular South Indian breakfast dishes. These are soft, light, fluffy idlis served with sambar and coconut chutney that are not only delicious but also very healthy. This idli recipe post also describes how to make idli batter.
2. Masala Dosa – This is again a popular South Indian breakfast snack not only in India but also abroad. Although making masala dosa is a long process, it is worth it. In this recipe, the dosa is crispy and served with a delicious potato masala. If you don’t have time, skip making aloo masala and make sada dosa (white dosa) with coconut chutney.
3. Download the app – These delicious lacy soft fritters also known as appam or palappam are a popular Kerala breakfast served with vegetable stew. They are gluten-free and vegetarian as well
4. Pongal Recipe – Ben Pongal is a South Indian breakfast made with rice and yellow mung dal. Like a savory dish, this dol is seasoned with cumin, hing and black pepper. Don’t forget the lovely aroma of ghee, which is used to temper these spices. You can make two more delicious Pongal variations for breakfast:
5. sweet her – These are crispy, fluffy, soft and delicious lentils of South Indian cuisine. If sweet breakfasts aren’t your thing, try this recipe for delicious spicy donuts made with black gram dal and aromatic spices. The combo of Vada with Samba is very tasty.
6. Upma recipe – This is an easy and quick South Indian breakfast dish made from rava (semolina or cream of wheat). Upma is usually served with coconut chutney, lemon slices or lemon pickle. It can also be plain. There are many variations of popular parables in South India such as:
7. Idiyappam recipe – String hopper also known as Idiyappam Nul Puttu and is a popular breakfast of Kerala. This Idiyappam recipe gives you soft and smooth Idiyappam which tastes great with a curry or any side dish of your choice like Veg Korma or Mushroom Korma or Veg Stew or Kadala Curry.
8. Uttapam recipe – Uttapam is a delicious South Indian tiffin breakfast of thick pancakes. These pancakes are made with fermented rice and urad dal batter. Other delicious warming variations you can make for breakfast:
- Rava Uttapam
- Oats is hot
9. Rava Dosa – Another popular South Indian dosa variation that you can make for a quick breakfast. The best part about making instant rava dosa is that it does not require any fermentation and is very easy to make.
You can make rava dosa plain or you can spice it up by adding chopped onions, curry leaves, herbs and spices. Other popular quick dosa varieties are:
10. Puttu recipe – Puttu served with Kadala curry is one of the most popular breakfast combinations in Kerala. Apart from kadala curry, it tastes good with veg stew or potato stew.
11. Poor seasoning – The combo of puri with potato curry is popular all over India. This South Indian Potato Masala Gravy tastes great not only with Garibs but also with Dosa or Roti or Paratha.
Sometimes I make this Maharashtrian style puri bhaji and Punjabi aloo pur too. This breakfast dish is loved all over India and is prepared in different ways.
12. Akki Roti – It is one of the staple breakfasts in Karnataka and is made with rice flour and mix veggies. Akki Roti makes a good healthy breakfast. You can add vegetables of your choice to the dough. Joar Roti is another flat bread popular in Karnataka cuisine.
13. Pesarattu recipe – Start your day with this healthy crepe made with green mung beans. Known as pesarattu, these are crispy crepes made with mildly spiced mung dal batter and are a breakfast specialty of Andhra cuisine.
14. Ginger recipe – Adai is a delicious protein rich pancake. Adai is very easy to make. Soak the rice and lentils and then grind them into a slightly coarse batter. Also unlike making dosa You do not need to ferment the batter.
15. Rava Tdli – These quick idlis made with semolina make an easy breakfast option. To make instant rava idli, no grinding and fermenting is required.
16. Dosa set – These are very soft, light and spongy dosa varieties. These soft dosas are called set dosas as they are served in sets of 3 dosas per serving. Serve set dosa with your favorite coconut chutney, veg sagu or potato sagu or veg korma or idli sambar.
17. Mysore Banda Recipe – These are crispy, soft and fluffy fritters made with urad dal (black gram), some spices and fresh coconut bits. There are many variations of bonds that are created:
18. Chai Chai bath – A popular breakfast dish in Bangalore. This breakfast basically consists of three dishes, which are – savory khara bhaat, a sweet rava kesari and coconut chutney.
19. Endorsement Dosa – This is a dosa that is amazingly soft, spongy, porous and stays put even after hours. Great for tiffin box with some dry chutney or idli podri. This poha dosa recipe is an Andhra specialty.
20. Cracked Idli – These are amazingly soft, light and fluffy idli varieties made with poha (parched rice), idli rice and whole urad dal (whole black gram). When paired with coconut chutney and samba it makes a healthy and tasty breakfast or lunch.
There are some other breakfast recipes made with poha such as:
21. Semitic analogy – It is a delicious simal form made of vermicelli, spices, spices, cashews and herbs. This quick and easy breakfast dish is also called vermicelli upama and has a unique taste and texture. A vegan breakfast option that comes together in under 30 minutes.
22. The leaven of sin – This is a healthy variation of dosa or crepe made with ragi seeds or ragi flour. Ragi dosa can be prepared in many ways. The ragi dosa recipe is also gluten-free. I am sharing two delicious and healthy recipes in this post.
Ragi or finger millet or nachni is a healthy grain and I incorporate them wherever I can, like in making dishes like ragi roti, Ragi Ladoo, Yeast pudding, ragi kheer and ragi idli. Being rich in calcium, it is excellent for women as well as children.
23. Rava Kichadi – This breakfast dish is similar to khichdi and one that is made with rava. I add some vegetables to it to give it some texture and nutrition. Vegetables that can be added to this dish are capsicum (bell pepper), French beans, green peas and carrots. But you can omit the vegetables and make it without vegetables.
24. Dosa below – Soft, thin, light and lacy crepe made with rice batter. Neer dosa is easy to prepare as no fermentation is required. Apart from coconut chutney, neer dosa can also be served with veg sago or veg korma or potato korma.
25. Oats Idli – Healthy, Delicious and Quick Oats Idli Recipe. No fermentation is required to make this quick idli recipe. Have some more snacks Recipes with oats That can be created like:
- Oats dosa
- Oats porridge
- Oatmeal chilla
- Oats Khichuri
26. Bene Dosa – These crispy, soft and buttery dosas hail from the town of Davange in central Karnataka. These davangere dosas are not like normal dosas as the taste as well as texture is different. They are crisp and yet have a soft, light texture. Davangere bene dosa is usually served with potato bharta (called alu paliya) and a spicy coconut chutney.
27. Paniyaram recipe – These are savory, spiced dumplings made from rice and urad dal batter or idli batter, onions, spices and herbs, with the occasional addition of fresh coconut. This South Indian cuisine delicacy makes a good way to use up leftover idli batter. They are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
28. Mangalore Bun Recipe – They are sweet fried bread made from banana, flour, sugar and spiced with a touch of cumin. This sweet banana bun or puri as it is known is a specialty of the Mangalore region of Karnataka. They can be eaten as a sweet breakfast or even as a snack.
29. Malabar paratha recipe – Kerala paratha is a layered flaky flat bread popular all over South India. This is a variation of the North Indian Lachcha Paratha.
You can serve kerala paratha with any vegetable curry like veg korma or aloo kurma or veg kolhapuri or veg curry or dal makhani with lentils or paneer makhan masala. Even plain dal goes well with Kerala paratha.
30. Mysore Masala Dosa – The recipe is similar to the Mysore Masala Dosa served in Bangalore and Mysore restaurants. Mysore masala dosa is a spicy red chili-garlic red chutney and alu paliya stir fried served with coconut chutney and sambar.
This South Indian Breakfast Recipes post was republished and updated in January 2023 from the archives (December 2017).