South Indian Cuisine Trivia Quiz

Answer: Rasam

Rasam is one of the important dishes in South Indian cuisine. Rasam is a soup-like dish which is eaten with rice or drunk as a soup. Rasam is also known as Saaru in some parts of South India. This dish is prepared using lentils and tamarind or tomato. Optional ingredients include lemon juice, curry leaves, coriander leaves, coconut, pepper, mustard seeds, etc. Pulao and Chole Bhature are predominantly North Indian dishes and Fried rice is a general dish not unique to South India.

Answer: Biryani

Biryani is a popular rice dish in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It may be vegetarian or non-vegetarian which is more popular. The dish is prepared using rice and a number of spices like cinnamon, bay leaf, cardamom, etc. Chitranna (Lemon rice) and Mosaranna (Curd rice) are rice dishes popular in the state of Karnataka.

Answer: Payasam

Payasam is the South Indian equivalent of Kheer. Payasam is a sweet dish prepared using milk, rice, lentils, cashew nuts, almonds, raisins, etc. The other three options Sambhar, Papad and Gojju are not sweet dishes

Answer: Mysore Pak

Mysore Pak is a popular sweet dish in South India. It originated in the palace city of Mysore as a sweet dish prepared for the King. It is prepared using flour, ghee and jaggery. Rasagulla, Sandesh and Rabri are popular sweets of the Eastern part of India (mainly Bengal).

Answer: Masala Dosa

The Masala Dosa is a special dish popular in South India. The dosa is a dish prepared by using a batter prepared using lentils. The Masala dosa is a dosa which contains chutney and a curry in it. It is a very popular snack in South India and usually eaten for breakfast. Samosa, Pav Bhaji and Bhel puri are snacks which are not unique to South India.

Answer: Bisi Bele Bath

Idli, Upma or Uppit and Chapathi are dishes eaten for breakfast in South India. Bisi Bele Bath is also a South Indian dish, but this is a rice item which is usually eaten for lunch/dinner.

Answer: A fruit salad

Rasayana is a fruit salad, which is usually made using banana, apple, mango, grapes, milk and coconut. It is eaten after a meal. Rasayana is also prepared in many temples/during festivals as a prasad (offering to God).

Answer: Kolambu

Aviyal is a gravy dish made using coconut, spices and vegetables. Appam is a pancake-like dish. Puttu is a dish made using rice powder. All these dishes are unique to the cuisine of Kerala. Kolambu is a dish popular in Tamil Nadu and is a gravy which uses curd as the main ingredient.

Answer: It is always vegetarian

A traditional South Indian meal (in all the four South Indian states) is served on a banana leaf. It is usually eaten using one's fingers, forks and spoons are not used. It comprises a sweet dish, rice (which is the staple food of the South), different types of curries and pickles. Most South Indian meals ends with curd rice or a dish made of curd.

However, South Indian food is not always vegetarian. Particularly in the coastal areas (Mangalore, Kerala), fish is a part of the meal. Similarly, the Biryani in Andhra Pradesh is made using chicken or mutton.

The Chettinad cuisine of Tamil Nadu is predominantly non-vegetarian.

Answer: Mulligatawny soup

Mulligatawny soup is a popular dish worldwide. This dish had its origins in South India, in the state of Tamil Nadu. It originated from the Tamil word 'Millagu Thani', which means Pepper water. All the other options are dishes that are popular in both South and North India.