Our friends sent us loads of farm fresh tomatoes they harvested in their farm. Last week saw the making of a lot of tomato based recipes namely, tomato pickle, tomato rasam, tomato soup and Tamatar Pulao. Tomato Pulao is an extremely flavorful rice dish using ripe red tomatoes and rice.

Katte Pongali is a traditional Andhra style rice and moong dal recipe that is often served in temples as Prasadam (Prashad). Nothing like a creamy, fragrant, warm bowl of Pongali especially during winters. There is something unique about the blending of earthy lentils with starchy creaminess of rice. Its pure comfort food.

Curd Rice is a comforting South Indian rice recipe that makes for a filling complete meal with pickle. During Navratri, Daddojanam (the name Yogurt rice goes by in Andhra) is prepared as a festival food and offered to Goddess Durga.

Yesterday, I prepared Vegetable Fried Rice and had some left over white rice and chopped mixed vegetables. Decided to use the left over rice and veggies to prepare an Indo Chinese appetizer. Very easy and quick to bring together and makes for a great evening snack when your kids come home hungry after play. Interesting combination of flavors and textures.

Yesterday we had chicken roast with a quick capsicum rice for our mid day meal. The butter flavored rice had lot of crunch due to capsicum and cashew nuts and it hardly needed any other ingredient to enhance its taste. One pot meal that is a total keeper!

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.

Many frown upon the plain ‘pulao’ considering it inferior to the pampered ‘biryani’. The chicken pulao that we make at home is no less than any saffron laced biryani in spite of its simplicity. A straightforward and quick pulao recipe that features basmati rice, chicken, coconut milk and fragrant spices. As this decadent one pot dish simmers, the khushboo (aroma) that emanates the kitchen, will put the glamorous biryani to shame.

There is something really good about Vizag weather since the past few days. Pleasant cool weather during peak summer season is very unusual and called for leisure vegetarian cooking with warming flavors. Aloo Biryani and Capsicum Tomato curry was our meal this afternoon.

Light, aromatic and immensely flavorful rice dish that uses very few ingredients. The mint flavor is subtly infused in the rice without being overpowering. Tinted with a light green shade, smelling of warmth and sunshine, pudina pulao makes for an endearing meal to serve family and friends.

Comfort food, Egg biryani, makes for a perfect weekend meal with raita and curry. Yesterday, I was inspired to make a flavored rice and since our family loves eggs, I decided on Egg biryani which has a striking resemblance to Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani. Its easy to put together, substantial and full of flavor.