Among Vegetable salad recipes, a healthy and tasty one is Lettuce salad with garlic croutons. Simple salad dressing of vinegar, cumin, cinnamon and pepper.

Amaranth leaves are much loved in our home and take the form of stir fry, dal and stews in our daily meals. In recent past, I have used these nutritious greens along with chick pea flour (besan) to prepare fritters. They are easy to make, work great as appetizers for parties and also make for a wonderful tea time snack.

Lettuce salad is an all time favorite high raw food salad. I tend to go the raw food way once in a while to detox the body. I used what I had in the fridge to make myself a light and filling salad. I like the smoky flavor of roasted bell peppers and they make a great addition to today’s lettuce salad.

Palak Pakoda is a monsoon snack that is super easy and quick to make. I found the freshest farm grown spinach at the Farmer’s Market (rythu bazaar) and decided on making a North Indian style snack Palak Pakoda.

Last week was a rain filled week. On one such rainy day, I prepared spinach soup. I sat in the veranda relishing a bowl of vibrant green spinach soup, watching the rain and waiting for Nehal to come home from school.

Am blogging a favorite recipe today. It includes my favorite greens and vegetable – methi and carrot. Love the refreshing colors and flavor combination of carrot and fenugreek in a pachadi avatar. Clean, simple and delicious.

Bachala kura Pappu is a high protein, vegan, heart warming dish loaded with nutritious greens – Malabar spinach or Indian Spinach. These protein-rich, vibrant green, glossy leaves are thick with a spongy texture and when cut they ooze a slimy juice similar to okra. We usually cook them with masoor or tur dal or with yam (kanda bachali) and as mustard powder based stew (ava pettina pulusu).

It’s a green(s)-intensive menu this week. Yesterday, it was spinach soup and today I prepared an aromatic and flavorful stew featuring amaranth leaves, yogurt, coconut and green chilies. A classic healthy Andhra recipe that is sure to warm the body and soul.

The flavor combination of today’s recipe is intriguing and enticing. Simple everyday Andhra pulusu (tangy stew) prepared with amaranth greens, tamarind pulp and spices. The addition of a magical ingredient aka mustard powder elevates the flavor profile by leaps and bounds.

My vegetable vendor brought home some fresh red sorrel leaves this morning. Prepared a rice dish on the lines of tamarind rice and use sorrel leaves as the main ingredient to provide the tart flavor. A classic Andhra favorite among the ‘gongura’ lovers.