Indian food, Andhra recipes and Global cuisine inspired cooking

The very thought of home ground spice mix aka podi warms my appetite not to mention the aroma that emanates my kitchen during it preparation. Podis or spiced powders/blends are an essential part of South Indian cuisine with each home having their own versions of preparing it. We in Andhra share a fondness for [...]

I was craving something deep-fried last evening but stopped myself from preparing anything at that moment. So, I soaked some alasandalu (lobia/black-eyed peas/bobbarlu) this morning to make some fritters with our evening tea.
Absolutely crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy in the middle, these fritters have a wonderful mouth-feel and are an anytime [...]

Kootu is a popular South Indian lentil based vegetable stew that is thick in texture. Kootus usually comprise of lentils (channa dal/moong dal) and vegetables like bottle gourd, potatoes, plantains, brinjals, cabbage, carrots and beans that are cooked in a blend of fresh coconut and green chillis. There are many variations to the kootu in [...]

A dal with greens that is a breeze to prepare despite the long list of ingredients is Chukkakura pappu. The tangy flavor of Chukkakora offsets the earthiness of the dal with green chillis providing the spice to balance out the flavors. A classic, down to earth Andhra recipe that is nutritious, full of iron and [...]

Chole Bhatura, popular Punjabi street food fare is one of my favorite brunch items. Our Sunday brunch was Methi Chole and deep-fried indulgence, Batura. A comforting brunch you’d want to eat on a cold winter morning to nuture your body and soul. Its the first time I prepared this winning combination of kabuli channa and [...]

When I am in a hurry and rushed for time, I like to prepare one pot meals that are quick to prepare, filling and nutritious too. One such meal I made was with broken wheat (godhuma ravva/dalia), yellow moong dal and soya chunks. When a tin of soya chunks was staring at me, I decided [...]

I first prepared this Tex-Mex cuisine inspired dish from Nita Mehta’s ‘Mexican Vegetarian’ cookbook, a few weeks ago along side a meal consisting of home made corn chips with mango salsa, mexican rice and watermelon agua fresca. I made it again last week on a special request from my blog visitors.

The soft swollen dumplings [...]

There is nothing more comforting, wholesome and nutritious than a bowl of rice and dal cooked with greens. Simple, honest food at its best is what I’d describe lentils cooked with greens. It was thotakura pappu and beetroot vepudu (stir-fry) with rice for lunch today.

Thotakura (amaranth, chauli, mulakeerai)
Thotakura aka amaranth leaves are available in Vizag [...]

With some very basic ingredients usually available at home, you can whip up some comforting simple lentil based sweet dishes that are not high in calories yet delicious. One such traditional Indian dessert is Pesara pappu payasam prepared from good quality yellow moong dal, jaggery and milk. This humble earthy sweet dish was part of [...]

Chikkudu kaya happens to be a favorite vegetable in our household and I know there are quite a few of you out there who are not very fond of these mildly sweet plump beans. I always felt there is something addictive about the beans, especially during their non-availability in the local market and when those [...]