"Healthy" and "Indian food" don't often get used in the same sentence in the UK, mostly because the most familiar style – rich, cream-based North Indian cooking – genuinely isn't built with that in mind. Kerala cuisine is a different story.
Why Kerala cooking tends to be lighter
Kerala food is built on rice, lentils, vegetables and coconut rather than cream, ghee and deep-frying. Curries are tempered with curry leaves and mustard seed rather than thickened with dairy, and coconut oil is used in place of ghee throughout. None of that is a diet modification – it's just how the cuisine has always been cooked.
What that means on the plate
- Vegetable-forward curries – built on coconut milk, not cream, and genuinely dairy-free rather than dairy-free "on request."
- Rice and lentil dishes like dosa and idli – naturally gluten-free, with no wheat flour involved.
- A fully vegetarian menu – every dish plant-based, with the majority vegan or easily made so.
Not "diet food" – just a different tradition
None of this comes at the cost of flavour – Kerala cooking uses a lot of spice and aromatics precisely because it isn't relying on cream and butter to carry a dish. If you're eating with wellness in mind but don't want to feel like you're eating "diet food," it's a genuinely different way in.
What to order
A coconut-based vegetable curry with rice, or a dosa with sambar, are both good examples of the style – light but properly flavoured. See our guide to Herb's vegan dishes for more specific recommendations.
Visit Herb in Leicester
96 Granby Street, Leicester, LE1 1DJ – see the full Leicester restaurant page for hours and booking.
FAQ
Is Kerala food healthy?
Kerala cooking leans on vegetables, lentils, rice and coconut rather than cream and deep-frying, making much of the menu naturally lighter than a typical curry-house meal.
Does Herb have lighter options for health-conscious diners?
Yes, dishes like coconut-based vegetable curries, dosa and idli are naturally lighter and can be paired to suit a health-focused meal.
Is Herb's food low in dairy?
Much of the menu is naturally dairy-free, since Kerala cooking uses coconut oil and coconut milk rather than ghee and cream.
Visit Herb Restaurant
Authentic vegetarian and vegan South Indian & Kerala food in Leicester and Leamington Spa.
Herb Leicester Herb Leamington Spa Order Online