Celebrating Tamil Puthandu in lime tree

Tamil food is unique in that it is a product of the environment of Tamil people. Being in the South of India and parts of Sri Lanka, it is inspired by the hot sun, the fertile paddy fields growing rice, and years of international trade bringing spices, ingredients and culture. Traditionally, Tamil people were either farmers or fishermen, so the cuisine celebrates both.

This is most evident during Tamil Puthandu, the Tamil Calendar’s new year, which coincides roughly with the spring equinox. It is a time that signifies the start of the planting season for rice, where everyone comes together to celebrate, families reunite and serve one another, and everyone takes a moment to be grateful of what has been achieved over the past year.

To celebrate this important time, Bath Tamil Society aimed to create a menu for the No Plates Like Home initiative that shows off what Tamil New Year means to us as a community.

 

The menu: showing off both Indian and Eelam cuisine

The Tamil community is spread all over the world: in India, parts of Sri Lanka known as Tamil Eelam, parts of East Asia and all around the West because of the civil war. As such, we wanted to highlight the range of food available through our culture. 

 

Main dishes

பிரியாணி - Biriyani

While a familiar dish to most, Biriyani is a dish that has regional variation throughout India and even within Tamil Nadu. As such, we wanted to show off a traditional Tamil biriyani as made at home, flavoured and layered with spices, mint and ghee. The dish is available in Lamb, Chicken and Vegetarian throughout the week.

கொத்து - Kothu

A traditional street-side Tamil dish often sold in mobile foodshops called “Thalluvandi”s. It transforms the humble parotta, a traditional flatbread, into a flavourful mix with curry, spices and veg. This will be available in Lamb, Chicken and Vegetarian throughout the week.

இட்லி சாம்பார் - Idli Sambar

A traditional Tamil breakfast, familiar to most people as the fuel which starts their day. A soft lentil-rice steamed savoury cake is served with a flavourful lentil-based vegetable stew.

கத்திரிக்காய் குழம்பு - Kathirikai Kuzhambu (Aubergine Curry)

An Eelam Tamil dish that combines lightly fried aubergines into a flavourful, tangy tamarind-based curry with roasted spices. This will be served with rice.

சிக்கன் குழம்பு - Chicken Kuzhambu (Chicken Curry)

A traditional Tamil-style Chicken curry flavoured with aromatics and spices. This will be served with rice.

இறால் தொக்கு - Prawn Thokku (Prawn Curry)

A drier Tamil-style curry, made with prawns simmered in a tomato-based masala. This will be served with rice.

 

Side dishes

மட்டன் ரோல்ஸ் - Mutton Rolls

A traditional Tamil snack where spicy mutton potato curry is wrapped, coated in breadcrumbs and fried till golden-brown.

மீன் பஜ்ஜி - Fish Patties

A traditional Tamil snack where flaky, buttery pastry is stuffed with a fish-potato filling and fried till golden-brown.

கட்லெட் – Cutlets

A traditional Tamil snack where a meat filling is formed into round balls and deep-fried in breadcrumbs.

பருப்பு வடை – Parripu Vada

A traditional Tamil snack where lentils and spices are combined to form small discs and deep-fried

மெது வடை – Medhu Vada

A traditional Tamil snack where a lentil-based spiced batter is deep-fried till golden brown

அப்பளம் – Appalam

A thin and crispy deep-fried lentil disc, eaten alongside other dishes

ஊறுகாய் – Lime Pickle

Limes pickled in a spicy, salty spiced mix, eaten alongside other dishes

 

Desserts

கேசரி – Kesari

An indulgent dessert made with roasted semolina and cardamom, reminiscent of halwa. Topped with fried raisins and nuts.

பாயசம் – Payasam

A milk-based sweet with vermicelli and ghee-fried fruits and nuts, spiced with cardamom.

 

For many, Tamil New Year is a time for people to reconnect and celebrate what has happened over the past year. We hope that we are able to share a small part of our culture, and you enjoy the food we have to offer.

This menu is available for Tamil New Year 2026, with dishes available at our Global Plates counter in lime tree on 13 April to 17 April.