By Afiur
March 01, 2026
South Indian cuisine is not just about soft idlis and crispy dosas. The cuisine also boasts a wide range of deep-fried delights that pair well with filter coffee and chai. Here's a list of 9 deep-frie
Medu Vada is one of the most famous south fritters, made with doughnut-shaped urad dal batter and deep-fried till crisp on the outside and deep-fried till the inside turns gooey.
They are similar to medu vada but are made with added spices like fennel, curry leaves, and onions, which makes them a flavourful option for snacking during winters.
Punugulu are small, round fritters made from a flavourful batter of rice and urad dal. They are often served with a spicy chutney and filter coffee on the side.
These fritters are made with a batter of ground lentils, usually urad dal, and freshly chopped spinach.
Paruppu vadai refers to crunchy lentil fritters made with chana dal. They have a unique flavour from ginger, curry leaves, and green chilies and are best served with green chutney.
This is an authentic Tamil Nadu fritter made with a mixture of toor dal, chana dal, and spices, shaped into small patties and fried to perfection.
These are thin, crispy discs made from rice flour, urad dal flour, and spices, typically deep-fried, making them a must-try snack best served with filter coffee.
Vazhakkai Bajji is a delicious fritter-like snack made with slices of raw banana dipped in gram flour batter and deep-fried, and are best served with coconut chutney.
This refers to large green chillies stuffed with spices, dipped in gram flour batter, and deep-fried to perfection.