What is the most popular "outsider dish" in your state?
I will answer this with respect to Tamil Nadu. Anbazhagan Sir already gave a great answer with Barotta. Now, I will write about an “outsider dish” which is not only famous in Tamil Nadu, but also famous all over Tamil Nadu. Even though it is famous all over India, I will answer this specific to Tamil Nadu.
The most popular “outsider dish” in Tamil Nadu in my opinion is none other than Biriyani. Here is an image of usual Biryani:
When I look at this image above itself, I feel so mouthwatering to eat Biryani especially when I feel hungry. I will now explain on how it is an “outsider dish” in Tamil Nadu.
According to history, Biryani originated in Delhi during the Mughal Empire and that gradually spread to other places where places with large Muslim Community started their own version of Biryanis like the Lucknowi Biryani, Hyderabadi Biryani, Kolkata Biryani et cetera.
In Tamil Nadu, three variations of Biryani are the most famous in the state, they are Ambur Biryani, Rawther Biryani, and Dindigul Thalappakatti Biryani. This is how a usual Ambur Biryani looks like:
This is how a usual Rawther Biryani look like:
This is how a usual Dindigul Thalappakatti Biryani look like:
Ambur Biryani is famous in Ambur which is a town in Tirupattur District. It originated in Ambur and Vaniyambadi when Arcot Nawabs ruled that region from 1692–1855. The unique aspect in Ambur Biryani is that Basmati Rice is not often used. The main type of rice used for Ambur Biryani is Jeera Samba Rice. Ambur Star Biryani is a famous Biryani chain which is a must-try even though I haven’t ate Biryani there yet.
Rawther Biryani is famous in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and Palakkad in Kerala. It is mainly made by the Rawther Families which is a Muslim Community in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The unique aspect in Rawther Biryani is that the main meat in Biryani is Goat Meat, making it into Rawther Mutton Biryani.
Dindigul Thalappakatti Biryani is famous in Dindigul in Tamil Nadu. It was originated in Dindigul in 1957 by Nagaswamy Naidu. Then in 2013, it rechristened as Dindigul Thalappakatti Restaurant where it became into a big chain of Restaurants in India and Overseas as well. The name “Thalappakatti” came because the Biryani is made by the Chef with a “Thalappa” (Tamil name for Turban) tied on head. Another unique aspect in this Biryani is that the rice used to make is Jeera Samba Rice unlike in other Biryanis where Basmati Rice is used. My father used to say that in his times, Thalappakatti Biryani (It was called Thalappakattu Biryani back then) used to run out in just 10 minutes and that’s how tasty it was.
Another Honorable Mention which is also a famous Biryani, but unknown beyond the place and also India is Sankarankovil Sultan Biryani. I used to hear from my maternal uncle that this Biryani’s taste is very unique and famous in Sankarankovil, Tenkasi District.
So yeah, the most popular “outsider dish” in Tamil Nadu in my opinion is none other than Biriyani. The famous Biryanis in Tamil Nadu are Ambur Biryani, Rawther Biryani, and Dindigul Thalappakatti Biryani with Sankarankovil Biryani being the underrated. I am yet to taste those Biryanis where I haven’t tasted any of those Biryanis so far. A plate Biryani with some raita will make a good date with the boy/girl whom you are dating. ;)! Thank You for reading my answer.
Thank You!
Footnotes:
Dindigul Thalappakatti Restaurant - Wikipedia
TheStory of Biryani: How This Exotic Dish Came, Saw and Conquered India!
Imagesare taken from Google Images.
Thanks for Reading
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