Growing Love For Kerala Food In Pune
Over the years, Pune has seen a growing community of people from South India, especially Kerala. Along with them came the demand for authentic Kerala food in Pune that tastes just like home. Today, the city offers several places where traditional recipes are preserved and served with care.
From early morning breakfasts to hearty lunch meals and comforting dinners, Kerala food fits perfectly into Pune’s fast-paced yet health-conscious lifestyle.
Traditional Kerala Breakfasts You Must Try
Puttu and Kadala Curry
Steamed rice flour layered with coconut, served with spicy black chickpea curry, is a classic Kerala breakfast combination loved across generations.
Appam with Stew
Soft, lacy appams paired with vegetable or chicken stew cooked in coconut milk offer a perfect balance of mild sweetness and gentle spice.
Idiyappam (String Hoppers)
Delicate rice noodles served with coconut milk, egg curry, or vegetable kurma make for a comforting and satisfying meal.
Iconic Kerala Lunch: The Legendary Sadya
No discussion about Kerala cuisine is complete without mentioning the Kerala Sadya. Served traditionally on a banana leaf, Sadya is a vegetarian feast featuring more than 20 dishes.
Typical Sadya items include:
Avial
Thoran
Olan
Sambar
Rasam
Pachadi
Kootu Curry
Payasam
The Sadya is a perfect example of how Kerala food achieves harmony between flavors—sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy—on a single plate. In Pune, Sadya meals are especially popular during festivals like Onam and Vishu, attracting food lovers from all backgrounds.
Seafood Delights: The Soul of Kerala Cuisine
Kerala’s long coastline has deeply influenced its food culture, making seafood an integral part of everyday meals. Many restaurants offering authentic Kerala food in Pune bring this coastal magic to the city.
Kerala Fish Curry
Prepared with kokum or tamarind and coconut, this curry is bold, tangy, and unforgettable.
Meen Pollichathu
Fish marinated in spices, wrapped in banana leaf, and pan-fried to perfection.
Prawn Roast and Squid Fry
These dishes highlight Kerala’s mastery of spice blending and cooking techniques.
For seafood lovers, discovering the best Kerala food in Pune often means finding a place that gets these recipes just right.
Popular Kerala Non-Vegetarian Specialties
Beyond seafood, Kerala cuisine offers a wide range of meat dishes that are rich, aromatic, and deeply satisfying.
Malabar Chicken Curry – A coconut-based curry with subtle spices
Kerala Beef Fry – Slow-cooked beef with pepper and curry leaves
Mutton Ishtu – A mild, flavorful stew perfect with appam or idiyappam
These dishes reflect the diversity of Kerala’s culinary influences, including Arab, Portuguese, and local traditions.
Vegetarian Kerala Food: Simple Yet Flavorful
Vegetarian dishes are at the heart of Kerala cooking. Prepared using seasonal vegetables and minimal processing, these dishes are ideal for those seeking healthy and traditional meals.
Popular vegetarian options include:
Avial
Kalan
Erissery
Vegetable Thoran
Moru Curry
Many people searching for healthy South Indian food in Pune naturally gravitate toward Kerala cuisine because of its plant-forward approach.