Chettinad Cuisine

Chettinad cuisine comes from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu in South India. It is closely associated with the Nattukottai Chettiar community.

Chettinad masalas often use fennel, star anise, dried red chilies, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and kalpasi, also called stone flower. The spices are usually roasted and ground, which gives dishes a deep, layered flavor.

Chettinad chicken is one of the best-known dishes internationally, especially in restaurants outside Tamil Nadu. The cuisine also includes dishes like kuzhi paniyaram, pepper preparations, seafood curries, and the black-rice sweet kavuni arisi.

It is often bold and peppery, but it is not only about chili heat. A real Chettinad dish balances heat with roasted aromatics, coconut, curry leaves, tamarind, and sometimes fennel sweetness.