A serving bowl of chennai fish curry, with some dried red chillies on the side.

madras

The city of Chennai was called Madras by the Raj during their time there. They established a trading post there in the early 1600s CE.

In modern usage, Chennai is always the name of the city, but the word Madras is still in common use to describe food and culture.

The cuisine is largely vegetarian, but given its proximity to the coast and a riverine system, fish and seafood figures in family food heritages.

fried eggplant curry

fried eggplant curry

Kathrikkai kulambu is fried eggplant in a simple tomato masala with a touch of tamarind.

Madras fish curry

Madras fish curry

A family dish from Chennai. Meen kuzhambu gets its flavour from the shallots, tamarind, and tomatoes. It features the taste of the lightly poached fish to perfection. Simple to prepare and cook, this is another dish that must go straight from the pan to the plate.