Brinjals play an important role in a typical Andhra vegetarian meal. Its the revered vegetable of Andhra cuisine and a family favorite. I tried Dahi Baingan, a North Indian style preparation to go with rotis and it didn’t disappoint. There are a couple of versions of Dahi Baingan one of which is this particular recipe that I noted in my recipe files. A creamy style sabji that makes for a lovely side with rotis. Goes well with plain rice too. Next on my to-try list is another yogurt based curry, Kashmiri Dahi Baingan.

I have a lot of childhood memories associated with this savory snack. My Ammamma and Amma would prepare huge quantities of Maida Biscuits (the name they go by at home) and store them in large containers. Back from school, we would head straight to the pantry and grab a plateful of maida biscuits and savor them like there was no tomorrow. Maida chips, maida biscuits, diamond cuts, maida squares, khara biscuits, whatever the name, they were extremely popular among us kids and friends.

Lemon Cucumber aka Dosakaya is a cherished vegetable in Andhra cuisine. Pachadi (Chutney), Pappu (Dal) and Avakai (Pickle) are the common preparations. I have blogged a pickle as well as a pappu recipe using Dosakaya. Armed with firm, farm fresh Dosakaya, we prepared a tangy spicy pachadi that makes for a memorable side with rice and a dollop of ghee.

One of nature’s best health food which is a valuable source of omega 3 and dietary fiber is flax seed. Known for its nutritional benefits which include lowering of cholesterol, protection against cancer and regulating of blood pressure, there is a growing popularity of flax seeds among the health conscious. I try to incorporate flax seeds into my family’s diet on a regular basis and relish it in a South Indian style avatar, Podi.

Nankhatia is a fabulous eggless shortbread style butter cookie without the baking soda aftertaste. These cookies that have their origins in Surat make for a delicious tea time treat that please the young and old alike. I love the addition of semolina which imparts a marvelous texture to the cookie.

There are numerous versions of carrot soup. I enjoy carrot soup when combined with thick coconut milk. This orange shaded warm pot of goodness is light, nourishing and comforting for a rain filled wet day.

Vizag is experiencing pleasant weather conditions with light drizzles and cool breeze. Its hard to resist the temptation of savoring hot off the stove snacks with a cup of hot chai. Handful of ingredients and a simple recipe come together into an incredibly magical monsoon snack. The invigorating flavor and amazing aroma of fresh carom leaves in bajji avatar is hard to resist and you are sure to reach out for more than your fair share of bajjis.

Panchratan translates to ‘five jewels’. Panchratan dal is an exotic amalgam of five lentils that are simmered, in a delicately spiced onion-tomato base, to a creamy consistency. A cold weather, crowd pleasing favorite, works great as a thick soup too other than serving as a rich accompaniment to roti or rice.

Must-have item on special occasions and a stir fry that is bound to convert hard core skeptics. It’s the sort of thing you should make only when you come across fresh, tender, bright green tindora. Tender Indian gherkins are turned into a deeply roasted delicious stir fry that is simple yet elegant to serve as part of a special meal.

If you are a fan of Indo Chinese fusion cuisine, you’ll love this appetizer recipe that is well loved by many Indians. The Gobi Manchurian recipe, I blogged last year was well received by many of you and I am quite certain that you will impress your family and guests with Baby Corn Manchurian too.