Sour Dishes Loved as Lunch Treats

May31,2025

South Indian tangy rice dish made with tamarind paste, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and peanuts.

Tamarind Rice

A spicy-sour South Indian soup often eaten with rice, made using tamarind, tomatoes, and pepper.

Rasam

Fermented rice gruel enjoyed with super-sour lime pickle, popular in Kerala and parts of Sri Lanka.

Kanji with Lemon Pickle 

Andhra-style lentils cooked with tangy gongura (sorrel) leaves, offering a deep sour punch

Gongura Pappu

A sour lentil dish made with raw mangoes or tamarind, often served in summer lunches.

Bengali Tok Dal

A Maharashtrian sour-spicy dal infused with kokum or tamarind for a refreshing sourness.

Aamti

A hearty tamarind-based sour soup with vegetables and meat (often pork or shrimp), loved for its bold tang.

Filipino Sinigang

A hot and sour Thai soup flavored with lemongrass, kaffir lime, galangal, and lime juice, often enjoyed with rice.

Thai Tom Yum Soup

Sour potatoes simmered with tamarind and spices, a favorite lunch item in many households.

Khatta Aloo