Chettinad is a region of southern Tamil Nadu, India and is famous for its culinary delicacies. The repertoire of food spread is famous and includes sea food, chicken and lamb apart from the mouth watering vegetarian preparations. Oil and spices like cinnamon, bay leaves, cardamom; green and red chilies etc are liberally used which add to the taste and aroma in Chettinad delicacies.
Some of the popular dishes in Chettinad menu are Varuval -- a dry dish fried with onions and spices (chicken, fish or vegetables sautéed), pepper chicken, Poriyal -- a curry, and Kuzambu which has the ingredients stewed in a gravy of coconut milk and spices. The food is always served on fresh Plantain leaves, which is a typical Chettinad tradition.
The Tamil variation of Mughlai food can be savored in Biryani and Paya. The latter is a kind of spiced trotter broth and is eaten with either Parathas or Appam.
If you are craving for the spiciest, aromatic food, then Chettinad cuisine has it all.