The gateway to many stunning destinations in Tamil Nadu and other parts of South India, Coimbatore is one of the largest cities in the state and is known for its picturesque views. The city offers many exciting opportunities to satisfy your taste buds with the most delicious desserts.
Below we have researched some city’s special sweet recipes that you can’t find anywhere else. These are Coimbatore’s traditional sweets that you can find at any restaurant or local eatery. If you are not in the mood to go out, you can order them on Swiggy and enjoy these scrumptious desserts after your meals. So, are you on the hunt for some sweet dishes in Coimbatore? Let’s check out the 7 must-try Coimbatore famous sweets that no traveller or local should miss out on.
1. Payasam
Payasam in Coimbatore and other parts of the South is just like Kheer in North India. Our meals are incomplete without a sweet dish, and Payasam is just that for South Indians. Payasam has a milky and creamy texture with dry fruit garnishing and unique colour, depending on the type of Payasam you make.
This dessert comes in many variations, and each involves unique ingredients. Rava Payasam is the most popular. It’s made of Rava, cardamom powder, ghee, sugar, cashews, almonds, dates, and condensed milk. Then, there’s Coconut Milk Payasam, which is prepared by adding grated coconut to the coconut milk and mixing it with jaggery. Other variations include Pasi Paruppu Payasam, Aval, Rice, Paal, and Javvarisi Payasam.
2. Rava Kesari
Rava Kesari, also called Sheera or Kesari Bath, is another popular South Indian recipe that’s famous for its bright orange colour and its high nutritional value. High in folate, protein, and fibre, Rava can keep you full for a long time, thus preventing those hunger pangs after meals. Rava Kesari is prepared during special events, like weddings or birthdays. It’s also cooked in temples to be offered to the deities and as prasad to the visitors.
Some people cook Rava Kesari for breakfast in Coimbatore. Thanks to its simple recipe. First, you need to roast cashew nuts and raisins in a saucepan. Remove them and then add Suji to the dry pan and cook it until it doesn’t look raw. Add hot, boiling water to Suji slowly while stirring continuously to prevent lumps. Cook it for some time, and add sugar and ghee to the mixture. Once all the ghee is absorbed, garnish it with roasted dry fruit, and your Rava Kesari is ready to be served.
3. Thaen Mittai
Kids in Coimbatore love it, and so do adults. Thaen Mittai is a bright orange candy-like sweet dish that has a chewy texture and is made of rice flour, jaggery, and cardamom. Also known as Honey Candy, Thaen Mittai has always been the kids’ favourite candy. The ‘80s and ’90s kids can remember savouring these candies during bell time and for snacks. These are also reasonably priced and come in two popular flavours—saffron and cardamom. If you want to relive your childhood days or simply want to taste South’s candy, buy a bunch of these candy balls in Coimbatore and have them after your meals. You will surely love their sweet and soft texture.
4. Palkova
Palkova is believed to have been cooked by Rajputs who travelled to South India and prepared this delicious, white, milk-based dessert. Prepared with minimal ingredients, Palkova gained immense popularity in no time and soon became the most popular dessert to have in Coimbatore. The sweet dish is made by boiling cow milk and stirring it until it achieves a thick consistency. Today, Palkova has become a staple food in Coimbatore and different parts of Tamil Nadu. Given its simple recipe, you can prepare it at home too.
5. Mysore Pak
The King of Sweet in South India, Mysore Pak, holds a special place in every local’s heart. The best part about this sweet dish is its variations. Some sweet shops in Coimbatore offer Mysore Pak in a crunchy texture, while others offer easy-to-melt recipes, both of which are perfect.
Like Palkova, Mysore Pak is prepared with a few ingredients that are available in almost every household. For this recipe, you need Besan (gram flour), ghee, sugar, and cardamom for garnishing. Once you have prepared the batter, empty it into the greased pan and keep it aside for cooling. You can cut small Barfi-like pieces and garnish them with your favourite dry fruits.
6. Athirasam
Prepared with jaggery and rice flour, this simple sweet dish is famous in Coimbatore during Diwali, Ganesh Pooja, and other special occasions when you exchange sweets with neighbours and family. This disc-shaped sweet dish is made of doughs, which are made of rice flour and jaggery and are deep-fried in hot oil.
This gives it a very crunchy layer on the outside while the inner portion of the dessert remains soft. You can taste the sweetness of jaggery and the delicious flavours of cardamom in this Coimbatore-special sweet dish. The next time you have guests or need a quick dessert recipe for a special, unexpected event, consider preparing Athirasam.
7. Ukkarai
At last, we have Ukkarai, Coimbatore’s special sweet that is prepared during Diwali and auspicious occasions. The key ingredients used in the recipe are Chana Dal, jaggery, coconut, and ghee. Ukkarai is famous for its powerful aroma and unique taste. Garnished with cashew nuts, cardamom, and other special spices, Ukkarai is South Indians’ favourite, and it’s not hard to see why. You can order Ukkarai on Swiggy if its recipe sounds too complex. Or, you can take a stop at a local eatery and order this delicious dessert after your meal.
Bottom Line
So, are you ready to surprise your taste buds with the distinct yet incredibly delicious taste of Coimbatore? Try these 7 popular South Indian recipes and enjoy a great time savouring Tamil-special food. Some of these dishes have easy recipes, so you can try them at home too. Or, you can order online on Swiggy and have the fresh dessert delivered to your home.
