French Beans Fry - Andhra Style#Alphabet Challenge

This is a tasty, which is every easy and delicious to make, is a delicious Andhra Style french beans cooked in mildly spiced masala called Pappula Podi. Healthy, hearty and flavorful Andhra style beans fry goes well with rice and sambar or with rotis. You can add a bit of fresh coconut as a final garnish.

Ingredients
250 Grams French Beans
Salt To Taste
1 Tablespoon Oil
2 Tablespoons Pappula Podi Masala
1 Tablespoon Fresh Coconut - grated
For The Pappula Podi Masala
2 Dry Red Chillies
¼ Teaspoon Cumin seeds
1 Tablespoon Dry coconut - grated
1 Tablespoon Split Roasted Gram /Phutane/Chutney Channa
2 Cloves Garlic
A pinch of Salt
For The Tempering
½ Teaspoon Mustard seeds
A Sprig Curry Leaves
2 Dry Red Chilies - de-seed and cut into two
2 Cloves Garlic - crushed (I used garlic)
OR
¼ Teaspoon Asafoetida

Method
To Make Pappula Podi Masala

Dry roast dry red chilies and cumin seeds for a minute. Add grated dry coconut and roast for half a minute. 

Cool and grind to a fine powder along with garlic, split roasted gram (phutane/chutney channa) and salt. 

Wash, stringed and chop the French beans into small pieces. Then boil it with salt, turmeric and water enough to cook the beans till done, ( make sure that there is at-least 3 tablespoons stock in the beans). 

Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and let them splutter, add curry leaves, crushed garlic clove and dry chillies and sauté for few seconds. Add the french beans, salt, pappula podi masala and mix well, then add the stock and place lid let it simmer for about 3 minutes. Turn off heat, add fresh grated coconut. Serve with rice and any curry of your choice. We had with simple dal and steamed rice and enjoyed this spicy French Bean fry.

Labels: Alphabet Challenge, Vegetarian, Healthy, Andhra Pradesh, Indian, Sabzi, Side Dish

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Murukulu Janthikalu#SundayFunday

Murukulu also known as Janthikulu is a savory snack of the Andhra cuisine. This Murukku is a mixture of urad dal flour and rice flour. Its easy to make and a addictive snack. We love the crispness and the buttery taste of this snack.

An ideal festival savory snack, these are vegan & gluten free, prefect for kid's tiffin. They stay crisp and fresh in your pantry shelf for a month or more if stored in an airtight container.

1 Cup Measurement = 200 Ml
Ingredients
4 Cups Rice Flour
1 Cup Urad Dal flour
2 Tablespoons White Butter or any
1 Cup Warm Water or as required
1 Teaspoon Salt or to taste
1 Teaspoon Red Chilly powder - optional
1 Teaspoon Each White & Black Sesame seeds
Oil for deep frying

Method
Take a pan dry roast urad dal flour lightly for a few minutes. See that it does not change color or burn. Keep aside to cool.

In a bowl add flours, sesame seeds, salt, butter, mix well till it represents bread crumbs. 

Then add warm water little by little as need to make a soft dough.

Take the murukulu press ( a disk with three holes)
add the dough into it and press on top into hot oil a make a 

Or this one, make a round murukku. 

Fry till light golden brown on medium flame, then remove. Keep it on an absorbent paper to remove the excess oil. When cooled store in an airtight container. 

This is a snack that can be made any time for children to have in the evening or to take as tiffin. My daughter use to take this as her tiffin to school.  

My Notes 

Grind 1 kg rice and 1/4 kg lightly roasted urad dal. Grind it in the flour mill. Make these any time in a jiffy.

Use white butter (this is homemade butter, which is used to make desi ghee) , it give a nice taste and make the murukulu more crispy.

You can add ajwain or coarsely ground cumin seeds.

Labels: Indian, Savory Snacks, Festival Sweets, Deep Fried, Rice flour, Urad Dal flour, Andhra Pradesh, Chakli, Murukulu, Vegan, Gluten free, Sunday Funday

For Sunday Funday our theme is "Picnic Recipes"     

• Bacon Broccoli Mac from Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Cucumber Mozzarella Salad from Palatable Pastime
• Spicy Avocado Mango Bean Salad from Cook with Renu
• Mango Pico De Gallo from Mayuri’s Jikoni
• Cowboy Beans from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Murukulu Janthikalu from Sneha’s Recipe
• Culinary Adventures with Camilla from Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Raw Mango Moong Dal Chutney/Mamidikaya Pesarapappu Pachadi#Improv

This is a Vegan & Gluten Free Moong Dal & Mango Chutney using raw mango, moong dal and other spices. Pachadi's in Andhra cuisine is mainly a chutney. This can be had with rice or dosa, this will actually pair well for sandwiches or even with rice. 

Ingredients

¼ Cup Yellow Moong Dal
1 Small Raw Mango- peeled & chopped
2 Dried Red Chillies
¼ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
Salt to taste
1 Teaspoon Oil
For the Tadka
¼ Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
¼ Teaspoon Urad Dal
A Sprig Curry Leaves
2 -3 Dried Red Chillies
1 Teaspoon Oil
A pinch of Asafoetida

Method

Heat a teaspoon of oil in a pan. Add the moong dal and fry it, stirring continuously on a low flame till golden brown. Transfer it to a plate and set aside. In the same pan add the cumin seeds and fry for a few seconds. Transfer it to the plate and set aside. After this add the red chillies and fry for a few seconds.  Let them cool completely.

In a small mixer jar first grind the cumin seeds, moong dal and red chillies into a coarse powder. Now add  the chopped mango, salt  to taste and grind it to a little coarse paste by adding water. Transfer the chutney into a bowl.

For the Tadka

Heat oil in a pan. Add the mustard seeds and urad dal and let them splutter and the urad dal turns brown, add the curry leaves, asafoetida and red chillies, mix it well and immediately pour this over the ground chutney.

Serve with rice or with Tadka Dosa, this is a quick, easy, tasty and delicious chutney.
My Notes

For this chutney, have used  semi ripe yet firm mango, can use raw mango too, just add the quantity mango according to its sourness. So taste it before you take it out from the mixer jar. 

Labels: Chutneys & Dips, Raw Mango, Lentils, Vegan, Gluten free, Healthy, Andhra Pradesh, Improv Cooking Challenge,South Indian

Improv Cooking Challenge: August 2019  

Theme - Chilly & Mango
Chileta Mango suckers by Pandemonium Noshery
Grilled Steaks with Mango and Jalapeno byA Day in the Life on the Farm
Raw Mango Moong Dal Chutney / Mamidikaya Pesarapappu Pachadi by Sneha's Recipe

Mango Avakaya / Andhra Avakkai Pickle

Summer and the king of fruit - Mangoes are in season. It'is time to make mango pickle so that we can relish throughout the year.

Andhra cuisine is popularly known for its hot and spicy foods. Mango Avakaya or Andhra Avakkai Pickle is a spicy, mango pickle from Andhra cuisine. I make this pickle every year along with my Mango Metham Pickle - East Indian .

This time I, made this Andhra Avakkai Pickle recipe with step by step pics and decided to post the recipe.

Ingredients 

600 Grams  Mango pieces - see notes

¾  Cup Sea Salt

1 Teaspoon Turmeric powder

Gingelly / Sesame Oil as required  

1 Big Pod Garlic  - cleaned

For the  Pickle Masala  

1 Cup Red Chilly  Powder  - see notes 

¾  Cup  Yellow Mustard Seeds
1 Tablespoon Sea Salt  

1 ½ Teaspoons Fenugreek Seeds  

¼ Teaspoon Asafoetida powder 

Method

For the  Pickle Masala 

Coarsely powder the yellow mustard and fenugreek seeds separately then mix all the ingredients well, in a big bowl and keep aside.  

For the Mangoes

Place the chopped mangoes add the turmeric, salt and mix well keep it overnight.  

Next morning place this in a strainer /colander and place weight over it it and keep it aside for 3 to 4 hours.

After 3 -4 hours.

In the meantime heat the oil till hot do not bring this oil to a boiling point.  Keep the oil cool completely.

To assemble the Pickle

Place the mango pieces in a big bowl add the  garlic ( if the garlic pods are big then cut them into smaller slice like  I did) 

Add the Pickle Masala, with little oil and give it a good mix.  

Pour  the mango pickle in a sterilized bottle and pour the cooled oil over it.  

The oil level should be at least an inch over the mango pieces.  Cover with the lid and tie a clean cloth over it,  let it remain covered for two days.  After two or three days check the oil level since the pickle masala will absorb little oil.  Pour more oil if needed ( again note that the oil level should always be an inch above).

After 2 to 3 weeks the pickle is ready to enjoy for the  year or till the next mango season.   Have this with Dal Rice or paratha or just anything you fancy. 

My Notes

I have used Rajapuri Mangoes to make this pickle.  Wash the mangoes and wipe  them with a clean cloth, then give them to  cut into medium small pieces.  

When they are cut, them remove the seeds and  skin the stems and then weigh the mangoes.  I got 600 grams of mango.

This mango pickle masala is sufficient for 600 to 700 grams of mangoes.

The beautiful color of chilly powder is got from the chillies that's a homemade chilly powder, I use equal quantity of Kashmiri and Bedki chillies.

Take good mature Mangoes/pickle mangoes and never go for tender mangoes. 

Always use a clean dry spoon to serve pickle.

There should be enough oil so that pickle can last long. 

Lables :  Pickle Masala, Homemade, Andhra Pradesh, Mango, Pickle

Ginger Chutney / Allam Pachadi #ImprovCookingChallenge

Ginger Chuteny or Allam Pachadi is  Andhra Pradesh cuisine  recipe.   This chutney main ingredient is Ginger  which gives that  punch to  this chutney.  It's  a sweet, spicy and tangy  which is perfect to have with Andhra's  famous crepes called  pesarattu or  dosa and even  idli, they also have this with their daily meals,  which are incomplete until they are served with this Ginger Chutney. 

Try it and you will definitely go crazy for this chutney.  One can adjust the spice and sweetness according to your taste.

Ingredients
A  Small Lemon size  ball of Tamarind
2 Tablespoon Oil
1½ Tablespoons Chana Dal / Bengal Gram

1 Tablespoon Urad dal / Split Beluga Lentil

15 Grams Dried Red chillies 
35 Grams  Ginger -  peeled & sliced
2 Teaspoons Jaggery
Salt to taste
For Tempering /Tadka 
1 Teaspoon Oil
½ Teaspoon Mustard Seeds 

2 Sprig Curry Leaves 
½ Teaspoon Chana Dal / Bengal Gram
½ Teaspoon Urad dal / Split Beluga 

½ Teaspoon Cumin seeds

2  Dried Red Chillies

Method

Take a tablespoon of  oil fry the  chana dal  till light pink.  Remove this on to a absorbent paper and like wise fry the urad dal.  Remove this too on a absorbent paper.

If necessary add the remaining tablespoon of oil and fry  the  Ginger  till it's golden and releases an aroma.  Remove this on to a absorbent paper.  Now fry the red chillies  and then remove this  to on to same  absorbent paper. Let it cool.

In the small mixer jar add the fried dals and chillies and powder them finely, without using a drop of water. If necessary add little oil to powder it. Then add the jaggery, tamarind and salt , now powder this together to fine powder.

Take this Ginger Chutney out on to the serving bowl.  

For Tempering /Tadka

Heat oil in a small tadka pan and then add the mustard, cumin seeds when then start crackling add the dried red chillies and  the urad and chana dal saute till it turn light brown.  Add the curry leaves and saute for a minute.  Pour this over the Ginger chutney and Enjoy ..

 Yummy,  sweet, spicy  and tangy Ginger Chutney is ready.

Labels : Chutneys & Dips, Ginger, Ginger Chutney, Andhra Pradesh, Improv Cooking Challenge 

The #ImprovCookingChallenge is a monthly blogging event where two ingredients are assigned to a month. Bloggers can make any recipe they like as long as it features the two ingredients. If you are a blogger and would like to join us, please visit our Facebook page.You can also read more about the event on our our home page
If you’d like to see previous creations, check out our Pinterest board.

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Andhra Chicken Pulao / Kodi Pulao

This is a Spicy Andhra Chicken Pulao called Kodi Pulao. In Telgu language Kodi means Chicken. In this pulao the rice is cooked in coconut milk.  The coconut in the rice gives an awesome and delicious taste to the spicy chicken, it actually balances the spiciness.  Yum yum ... try and you will love it.

Ingredients 
400 Grams Chicken
2 Cups Basmati Rice
2 Cups Coconut milk
2 Cups Water
3 Onions  - chopped
3  Green Chillies - chopped
1 Tablespoon Ginger Garlic paste
5 cloves
2  Green Cardamom

1 Big Brown Cardamom
1 Piece Cinnamon
2 Bay leaves 

5 Peppercorns
2 Tablespoons  Oil
2 Tablespoon Ghee
4 Baby Potatoes - halved
1 Tablespoon Mint leaves

Ingredients for chicken marination

Juice of Big Lemon
1 Tablespoon Red chilly powder
1 Tablespoon Ginger Garlic paste
1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1 Teaspoon Garam masala powder
1 Tablespoon Coriander powder Salt to taste 

Method

To make the chicken

Clean and wash chicken. 

In a big bowl add chilly, turmeric, coriander and garam masala powders, salt to taste,  lemon juice, and  the chicken,  mix well,  leave it for an hour to marinate in the refrigerator. 

In a kadai heat  add 2 tablespoons of oil,  add the marinated chicken  and potato  stir fry on high flame for 2 minutes then reduce the flame, add a cup of water and cover and  cook till the chicken and potatoes are cooked.   Sprinkle the chopped mint leaves over it and keep it aside.

To make the rice

Clean, wash and drain rice, keep it aside. 

In a big thick bottomed vessel, heat  oil and  ghee together ,  add cloves, cardamoms, cinnamon, peppercorns and bay leaves.  Saute onions and green chillies, until the onions turn translucent.  Add ginger garlic paste, stir, fry till oil leaves the sides then add the rice to it stir it lightly for 2 minutes.  Add  coconut milk and 2 cups water.   Add salt, mix well, bring the water to a rolling boil, cover with a lid.  Cook on  medium low flame until the rice is 3/4 cooked.  Stirring lightly occasionally.

Remove half of the rice into a bowl.  On the  rice that is in the vessel, sprinkle 1/4 cup water then spread evenly the chicken pieces along with the gravy over the rice. Now cover the chicken  with the remaining rice which you have taken into the bowl.   Cover and it on very low flame for 15 minutes or until the rice is completely cooked. Switch off the flame and let is stand covered for at least 15 to 20 minutes.  Then  take the Chicken pulao into a serving platter,  garnish with fresh mint leaves.  Enjoy this delicious and yummy  Kodi Pulao with a raita of your choice. 

Labels : Rice, Coconut Milk, Andhra Pradesh