Chettinad Cuisine

Chettinad is a region located mainly in the Sivaganga district of Pandya Nadu and has a small portion extending into the Pudukottai District of Chola Nadu in Tamil Nadu, India.

The word "Chettiars" refer to the social caste of mercantile bankers. The word 'Chetti' is derived from Sanskrit word 'Shreshthi' meaning wealth. The chettiars are known to be traders in salt and spices and this is reflects in the Chettinad cuisine. Meals also consist of cooked lentils, Brinjal curry, drumstick sambar, ghee for flavouring rice, and sweet meats like payasam and paal paniyaram. In general, beef and pork dishes are not served. Some well-known local dishes are Chicken Chettinad (Spicy Chicken Curry), Vegetable Chettinad (a vegetable curry) and dishes featuring seafood.