Beerakaya Pachadi

Chutney is a main part of Andhra meal  no traditional meal in Andhra is complete without a chutney. Hot rice with a spoon of ghee and a chutney is a heavenly  treat to our taste buds. I made chutney using beerakaya ( ridge gourd) it is a very common vegetable found throughout India and Andhra Pradesh.

INGREDIENTS:

Beerakaya – 1 medium( chopped into small pieces)

Tomato-  1 medium ( chopped into small pieces)

Green Chillis – 2-3 (depending on your taste)

Coriander leaves – 1/4^th cup chopped roughly

Chana Dal- 2 tbsp

Coriander seeds- 1 tbsp

Red Chillis- 1

Jeera – 1/4^th tsp

Oil- 4 tbsp

Salt to taste

METHOD:

-Heat  ½ tsp oil , add the chana dal fry for 2min , add the coriander seeds , jeera , chopped green chillis , and red chillies. Fry till a nice aroma is released.Finally add the coriander leaves and fry for 30secs. Keep aside.

-Heat 1tsp oil , once hot add the beerakaya pieces and fry till they are cooked , it will take around 5min to cook. Once done keep aside to cool.

- Finally add another tsp of oil to the same pan once hot add the tomato and cook till the tomato turns mushy. Keep aside to cool.

-Once everything is cool , take a mixie jar first add the masala and grind till fine powder , now add the beerakaya and tomato and salt and grind till they mix well. Dont grind it to a very smooth consistency.

-Serve with hot rice and ghee.

I am sending this to Traditional and Native Recipes Event Hosted 

by Sara at Sara's Tasty Buds

Bagara Rice

Bagara Rice is a famous rice preparation of Hyderabad. Any party be it a wedding, birthday or a casual one is never complete without this mildly flavoured basmati rice. The best combination with this is a spicy curry like bagara baingan, chicken curry , mutton or prawns curry. I made Prawns Curry to go along with this.I have already posted the Prawns Curry so now its the turn of Bagara Rice.

INGREDIENTS:

Basmati rice – 2 cups
Cinnamon- 1” pieces 2
Cloves - 3
Bay leaves - 2
Shahi jeera - 1 tbsp
Onion- 1 medium sliced
Green chillies- 2-3 slit

Pudina leaves- 15-20 leaves
Ginger garlic paste- 1 tbsp 
Oil- 4 tbsp
Salt- acc to taste

Water – 3 cups

METHOD:

-Wash the rice and keep aside.

-Heat oil in a pressure cooker , once hot add the shahjeera ,cinnamon, cloves and bay leaves. Let them fry for a few seconds till the aroma is released.

-Add the onion, green chillies and ginger garlic paste and fry for 1-2 min till raw smell of ginger garlic paste is gone. Now add the mint leaves. Fry for a min.

-Now add the drained rice and fry till the moisture goes off from the rice.

-Now add water i used 1:1.5 measure for rice to water. Add salt mix well.

-Close the lid and cook for 2 whistles. Once the pressure goes down open the lid and mix carefully so that the rice grains don’t break.

- Serve with a spicy curry.

I am sending this to Traditional and Native Recipes Event Hosted 

by Sara at Sara's Tasty Buds

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Daddojanam

Daddojanam is served in temples as prasadam .It’s a quick and easy recipe that can be finished in 10min if you have pre cooked rice. Whenever i have some left over rice and i don’t want to eat pulihora i make this daddojanam. This is also a convenient dish to take during travelling. Daddojanam is best when served at room temperature and in summer it acts as a coolant to our body.

INGREDIENTS:
Boiled rice or left over rice - 2 cups
Curd - 2 cups
Mustard seeds - 2 tsp
Jeera - 1 tsp
Chana dal - 2tbsp
Whole red chillies - 2
Green chillies - 2-3 finely chopped
Onions - 2 medium finely chopped
Curry leaves - 2 sprigs
Pepper corns - 10
Salt as required
Oil - 2 tbsp

METHOD:
-Mix rice , curd , chopped onions and green chillies and salt and keep asideheat oil.
-Then add chana dal and let fry for about 30 secs.
-Then add mustard seeds , jeera, pepper corns and broken whole red chillies and fry.Lastly add curry leaves.
-Add all the fried ingredients to the curd rice mixure and mix well.

Cauliflower Curry

We are not that found of cauliflower but i do make it occasionally , i either make a simple stir fry or a masala curry that is mildly spiced to go with rice and rasam.

INGREDIENTS:

Cauliflower florets – medium sized florets 1 cup

Onion – 1 medium( finely chopped)

Tomato- 1 medium ( microwaved andmade into a rough paste)

Green Chillies-  2 finely chopped

Ginger Garlic Paste- 1 tsp

Red Chilli Powder – 1tsp

Coriander Powder – ½ tsp

Garam Masala – ½ tsp

Turmeric Powder – ½ tsp

Salt – acc to taste

Curry Leaves – 2 sprigs

Oil- 3 -4 tbsp

METHOD:

-Clean the florets in running water and soak them in cold water with salt for 15-20 min.

- Heat oil , add the jeera and ginger garlic paste. Fry for 1 min.

-Add the green chillies and onion and fry for 3-4 min.

-Add the pureed tomato and cok for 5 min more till oil separates from the mixture.

-Add the salt, turmeric powder, coriander powder , red chilli powder and garam masala and mix well. If the mixture is too dry add 1/4^th cup of water and cook till the masala is cooked well.

-Add the cauliflower , mix well and let the cauliflower cook in the masala for 3-4 min.

-Add ½ cup of water close with a lid and let the gravy thickens.

-Serve hot with rice and rasam.

Masala Dosa

Ask an Indian whats your favorite breakfast , 3/4^th of the people’s response would be Masala Dosa so popular is this simple south indian breakfast dish. Crisp dosa served with simple Potato Masala is the most comforting breakfast.

INGREDIENTS:

For Dosa Batter:

Urad Dal – 1cup

Dosa Rice- 2 nd ½ cups

Methi  Seeds – 1tsp

Thin Poha – ½ cup

For Potato Masala:

Potato – 2 medium boiled and crushed into big chunks.

Onion- 1 large thickly sliced

Green Chillis- 2-3 slit

Oil- 3 tbsp

Mustard seeds – 1tsp

Jeera – ½ tsp

Curry Leaves-  1 sprig

METHOD:

For Batter:

-Take a large bowl , add the dal ,  and rice and clean them with water twice.

-Soak them in water for 5-6 hrs with methi seeds.

-After the dal and rice is soaked well grind them into fine paste in a wet grinder. Clean the poha and add it to the batter and mix well.

-Let the batter ferment overnight.

For Potato Masala:

-Heat oil , add the mustard seeds and jeera , let them splutter.

-Add the curry leaves , add the green chillies and onion , fry for ½ min. Add salt and turmeric and cook for 1min. (The onions should not turn soft they should retain the crunch in them , that gives this masala its real flavour).

-Finally add the potato chunks mix well and cook for 5-6 min till the potato absorbs the flavour.

Make the Masala Dosa:

-Mix the fermented batter well with a ladle , add 1tsp of salt and mix well.

-Heat a non stick tawa at medium heat. Pour a ladle full of the batter and spread it in a circular pattern to get a thin round .

-Cook for 2-3 min on medium flame the dosa will slowly start turning brown at the bottom.

-Reduce the flame add a tsp of oil around the dosa and let it cook till crisp.

-Spread the potato masala on the centre of dosa and fold it sideways.Serve hot.

Sending this to Mission Breakfast Hosted by Sowmya at Nivedhanam's and started by Pallavi and Sheelu.

Anapagaya Pulusu

Pulusu is a typical Andhra preparation which is a tamarind based gravy dish that provides a tangy flavor to vegetables.Jaggery or sugar is added along with methi seeds powder that give this dish a tangy, sweet and sour flavour. This medly of flavours bring out the best in the dish.

INGREDIENTS:

Anapagaya (Bottle Gourd) - medium sized pieces 2cups

Onion - 2 medium chopped finely

Green Chillis - 2 chopped

Tamarind - 1/2 lemon size

Curry Leaves - 2 sprigs

Jeera - 1tsp

Mustard Seeds -1 tsp

Garlic - 1-2 crushed

Methi seeds - 15-20 roasted and powdered

Red Chilli Powder - 1 and 1/2 tsp

Haldi Powder - 1/2 tsp

Sugar - 2tbsp

Salt as required

Oil - 2tbsp

METHOD:

-Soak the tamarind in water for 10min and extract 2 cups of tamarind water.

-Heat oil , add the garlic and let the garlic fry for 1 min.

-Add the jeera, mustard seeds,curry leaves and red chillis , fry for 2min.

-Now add the onions and green chillis and cook till the onion turn transleucent.

-Now add the salt , haldi, red chili powder and sugar and cook till the sugar caramelizes nicely.

-Add the anapagaya pieces and mix well. Cover and cook for 5-6 min.

-Add the tamarind extract and let it boil for 3-4 min.

-Now add the methis seeds powder , mixx well cover and cook till the gravy thickens.

-Serve with hot rice, dal and ghee.

I am sending this to Traditional and Native Recipes Event Hosted by Sara at Sara's Tasty Buds. 

                                             

Vegetable , Paneer and Sausage Pizza

Pizza is everyone's favourite.I started making pizza at home once i got the base recipe correct. I use store bought pizza sauce. I used paneer , mixed vegetables and chicken sausage as toppings and the pizza turned out delicious.

INGREDIENTS:

For the base:
Maida / All purpose flour  - 2 and 1/2 cups
Yeast - 2 tsp
Sugar - 1/2 tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Olive oil - 3 tablespoons

For toppings:
Paneer - Chopped into small cubes 
Capsicum- 1 medium (chopped into julliennes)
Onion - 1 medium (chopped into thick slices)
Tomato - 1 medium (chopped into julliennes , remove the seeds)
Chicken Sausages - 2 chopped into 1" pieces
Pizza Sauce - 3-4tbsp
Pizza Cheese- 1cup grated
Salt - as required
Red Chilli powder -1/2 tsp
Garam Masala- 1/2 tsp
Chat Masala- 1/2 tsp
Lemon juice- 1tsp
Thick curd- 1tbsp

METHOD:

Make the Base:

-Heat 1/2 cup water to lukewarm. Add sugar , salt, few drops of olive oil and yeast and mix well till everything dissolves well. Keep aside for 10 minutes for proofing. 
-In a big mixing bowl, take the flour and add the proved yeast sugar mixture. mixwell to make a soft dough.
-Knead it well for 10 minutes. Apply little olive oil and cover with a damp cloth. Keep this bowl at warm place till the dough doubles or for an hour.
-After the dough has doubled punch out the air out of the dough and mix well again. Leave aside for 1/2 hr
-After the second proofing take the dough onto a floured surface and make a 1/2" thick disc.
-Prick the base with a fork and bake in to oven at 220 degrees celcius for 7-8 min.

Make the Topping:

-Take the cubed paneer , add required salt , red chilli powder , garam masala , chat masala , curd and lemon lemon juice.
-Marinate for 1/2 hr. After that heat a kadai with 2 tbsp oil and add the marinated paneer and cook till dry.
-Keep the cooked paneer aside and let it cool.

Assemble the pizza:

-Take the base , spread the pizza sauce. Now spread the paneer mixture. 
-Top with vegetable julliens , sausage pieces.
-Sprinkle little salt and red chilli flakes on the toppings.
-Finally spread the cheese evenly on the toppings.
-Bake at 230 degrees Celcius for 5-10min till the cheese melts ( timing depends on the oven we are using so keep an eye).

Sending this Pizza to the Flavours of Italy Hosted by Divya of Divya's Culinary Journey.

 

Vankaya Kothimera Karam

Stuffed Brinjals are famous throughout Andhra. Each region has its own different stuffing for the baby brinjals.Once such stuffing is called Kothimera Karam ( coriander masala paste).

INGREDIENTS:
Baby White Brinjals : 8
Coriander leaves : 1 big bunch
Garlic : 3 medium pods
Ginger : take the piece that is same as garlic.
Coconut : 2 tbsp ( i used the dry powder , fresh coconut can also be used)
Green chillies : 3 ( can be adjusted acc. to taste)
Salt :acc to taste
Oil : 3 tbsp

METHOD:

-Clean coriander leaves grind ginger , garlic , green chillies , coconut , coriander leaves, little salt to a fine paste. If required add few drops of water while grinding .Do not add more water.
-Put a plus slit on each brinjal on opposite side of the stem till half the length.I removed the stems and
-Stuff this coriander mixture in brinjals.
-Heat a non stick kadai, add oil and once the oil is hot add the stuffed brinjals and saute them for 5 min.
-Fry brinjals till 3/4 th done and then add remaining coriander paste and cook for some more time , adjust the salt. 
-Add little water and cook till oil leaves the edges and the 
gravy is cooked well.
-If you want you can leave it as a gravy or cook more till 
the mixture dries up.
-Serve with hot rice and ghee.

                                        
I am sending this to Traditional and Native Recipes Event 
Hosted by Sara at Sara's Tasty Buds.

Paneer Buns

INGREDIENTS:

For dough:

Maida / All purpose flour  - 2 and 1/2 cups
Yeast - 2 tsp
Sugar - 1/2 tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Olive oil - 3 tablespoons
Milk - 3 tablespoons, for brushing 

For paneer stuffing:

Oil - 2 teaspoons
Garlic Ginger  paste- 1tbsp
Onion - 1 very small no, finely chopped
Mixed vegetables( potato,beans and carrot) - 1cup finely chopped
Paneer - chopped into small cubes or grated
Chat masala - 1 1/2 tsp
Salt - to taste
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp

METHOD:

For paneer stuffing:

-Heat oil  add onion and fry for 1 min , add the ginger garlic paste and fry till raw smell goes. 
-Add the vegetable, salt and turmeric powder and cook for 3-4 min.Add little water cover and cook for few minutes till the vegetables are cooked.
-Once the vegetables are cooked, add the paneer and cook for 3-4 min now add the chat masala,red chilli powder and coriander powder , Mix well.Cook for another 5 min.The paneer stuffing is ready and allow it to cool.

For dough and making bun:

-Heat 1/2 cup water to lukewarm. Add sugar , salt, few drops of olive oil and yeast and mix well till everything dissolves well. Keep aside for 10 minutes for proofing. 
-In a big mixing bowl, take the flour and add the proved yeast sugar mixture. mixwell to make a soft dough.
-Knead it well for 10 minutes. Apply little olive oil and cover with a damp cloth. Keep this bowl at warm place till the dough doubles or for an hour.
-After the dough has doubled punch out the air out of the dough and mix well again. Leave aside for 1/2 hr. Divide the dough into medium balls.
-Take a dough ball and make a small disc. Place stuffing in the centre of disc and bring the edges closer to seal.
-Once all the ball are stuffed cover them with a damp cloth and leave aside for 30-40min.
-Line the baking tray with aluminium sheet. Preheat the oven to 230 Degrees C. After the buns rise again, brush buns with milk.
-Bake it for 20 minutes or till the buns turns golden brown in colour.

Sending these buns to Bake Fest #15 

Quick Vegetable Pulao

I prepared this quick pulao with potato, carrot and beans along with prawns curry (royyala iguru) as side dish.If you have the vegetables ready, this pulao can be done in half hour's time. It is less spicy and tastes awesome and kids will definitely love it.

INGREDIENTS:
Basmati Rice -1 cup (washed in running water and strained)
Carrot -1 medium
Beans -3-4
Potato -1 medium
Onion -1 medium
Green chilli -2-3 acc to taste
Oil -4 tbsp
Salt as required
Cinnamon - 1" piece
Cloves- 2
Shajeera- 1 tsp
Ginger Garlic Paste- 1 tsp

METHOD:
-Cut the vegetables lengthwise, i chopped the green chillis also lengthwise.
-Heat oil in a pressure cooker, add the shajeera , cloves and cinnamon. Fry for 1 min.
-Add the ginger garlic paste and fry for 2 min till the raw smell goes.
-Now add the onion and cook till they turn light pink.
-Add the vegetables and mix well , add little salt and fry the vegetables for 5 min.
-Add the drained rice and mix well , add water and adjust the salt.
-Let the water come to boil and close the lid. Cook for 3 whistles.
-Once the pressure is down open the lid mix well and serve with the choice of side or even a simple raita.