Gongura Mamsam (Andhra style Gongura Mutton)

 

          Gongura Mamsam or mutton curry is a traditional and a very popular Andhra cuisine. In this recipe, mutton is cooked with gongura leaves. Gongura is also known as sorrel leaves, chukka or ambada bhaji. It is very much a part of a meal served in Andhra / Telangana restaurants. 

          Coming to this amazing dish, it is both spicy and tangy. But you can adjust it depending on your taste buds. It is a great party dish, which can be prepared during special occasions. You can relish this yummy and finger licking delicacy with hot steamed rice, jeera rice, pulao, plain biryani, naan, tandoori roti, rumali roti or just plain chapati. So check out a step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this regional dish.

• 500 gms. mutton with bones
• 2 bunches gongura leaves, chopped
• 1 tbsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 2 tbsp. oil to marinate
• 2 sprigs curry leaves
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp. turmeric powder
• 2 tbsp. red chili powder
• 1 tbsp. coriander powder
• 1 tsp. cumin powder
• 1 tsp. garam masala powder
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 2 onions, chopped
• 1 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped

         Marinate the mutton with ginger-garlic paste, 1 sprig curry leaves, 2 tbsp. oil and all the dry spices overnight or for a minimum of 3 hours. 

          Heat oil in a pan and sauté the onions and 1 sprig curry leaves till light brown. Add the marinated mutton and 1/4 cup water. Cook, covered on a low flame till dry. Keep stirring at intervals.

          Add 1 cup water and pressure cook for 20 minutes on a low flame after the first whistle. 

          When done, add the chopped gongura leaves and continue to cook for 2-3 minutes till the leaves are wilted and the oil separates. Switch off the flame and garnish with coriander leaves.

          Serve along with hot steamed rice, jeera rice, pulao, plain biryani, naan, tandoori roti, roomali roti or just plain chapati. 

   Marinate the mutton with ginger-garlic paste, 1 sprig curry leaves, 2 tbsp. 

oil & all the dry spices overnight or for a minimum of 3 hours. 

                              Heat oil & sauté onions & 1 sprig curry leaves till light brown.

                                  Add marinated mutton....

                                  & 1/4 cup water. Cook, covered on a low flame till dry. 

                       Add 1 cup water & pressure cook for 20 minutes on a low flame after 

                       the first whistle. 

                       Then add the chopped gongura leaves & cook for 2-3 minutes till the 

                       leaves are wilted & the oil separates.

                                  Switch off the flame and garnish with coriander leaves.

                       Serve along with hot steamed rice, jeera rice, pulao, plain biryani, naan, 

                       tandoori roti, roomali roti or just plain chapati. 

Gongura Chicken (Chicken Cooked with Sorrel Leaves - Andhra Style)

 

             This is a traditional Andhra delicacy. It is generally cooked with mutton. However, I used chicken instead, as lean meat is far more healthier than red meat. Coming to this dish, it has a tangy taste because of the use of gongura (sorrel leaves). You can make it a bit chatpata by increasing the quantity of red chili powder as it will enhance the taste and flavor. You can relish either with rice or Indian bread. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

• 500 gms. chicken, curry cut
• 1 bunch gongura leaves (sorrel leaves), finely chopped
• 1-2 onions, chopped
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 2-3 green chilies, slit
• 2-3 tbsp. oil
• 1 tbsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tbsp. red chili powder 
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. coriander powder
• 1 tsp. cumin powder
• 1 tsp. garam masala powder
• 1 tsp. salt or to taste
• coriander leaves to garnish

          Heat oil in a pan and sauté the onions, green chilies and curry leaves till light brown. 

          Now add the ginger-garlic paste and all the dry spices mixed with some water. Fry till the oil separates from the sides of the pan. 

          Add the chicken and mix well so that it combines with all the masalas. Cook, covered on low flame till dry. Add 1 cup water and simmer till the chicken is tender.

          Now add the gongura leaves and continue to cook till the leaves are wilted and the gravy is thick. Serve, garnished with coriander leaves.

                                   Chop finely the gongura leaves.

                 Heat oil in a pan & sauté onions, green chilies & curry leaves till light brown. 

                     Add ginger-garlic paste & all the dry spices mixed with some water. Fry 

                     till the oil separates from the sides of the pan. 

                 Add the chicken & mix well so that it combines with all the masalas. Cook, 

                 covered on low flame till dry. 

                              Add 1 cup water and simmer, covered till the chicken is tender.

                    Add the gongura leaves & cook for 2-3 minutes or till the leaves are wilted. 

                                 Serve, garnished with coriander leaves.

Pachi Mamidikaya Pachadi (Raw Mango Chutney - Andhra style)

 

          Mango season is incomplete without preparing chutneys and pickles. So go ahead and try this classic Andhra style lip smacking Raw Mango Chutney called as Pachadi. You can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a couple of days. In that case, increase the quantity of oil for preserving it in the form of a pickle. Enjoy it with hot steamed rice and ghee. You can also relish it with dosa, idli, uttapam, appam, pongal or chapattis. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

   

         This mango pachadi is very commonly found in every Andhra household and is enjoyed by the family. There are many ways of preparing this yummy and easy side dish. In this recipe, I sautéed the mango in oil first with other ingredients, ground to a smooth paste and then poured a tempering over the finished product. 

          Be a bit more adventurous and try this amazing homemade chutney as a spread on sandwiches, pizzas and burgers for an Indian touch. It will turn into a finger licking and delectable meal. 

• 1 medium size firm raw mango, chopped into small pieces
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp. coriander seeds
• 1 tsp. urad dal
• 1 tbsp. chana dal
• 2 tbsp. peanuts
• 5-6 garlic cloves, chopped
• 8-10 dry red chilies
• 2 tbsp. fresh grated coconut
• salt to taste
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder

Tempering - 

• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
• 2 dry red chilies
• 1/4 tsp. asafoetida
• 1 tsp. urad dal (split black gram)
• 1 sprig curry leaves

           Dry roast the grated coconut till light brown and keep aside. Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a pan and sauté the cumin seeds, coriander seeds, urad dal, peanuts, chana dal, garlic and dry red chilies till it turns slightly brown in color.

          Add the chopped mango, salt and turmeric powder. Stir fry for 2-3 minutes on a medium flame. 

          Switch off the flame and add the dry roasted coconut. Leave aside to cool. Then grind with very little water into a smooth paste.

          Tempering - Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a pan and temper with the mustard seeds and dry red chilies. After it stops spluttering, add the asafoetida, urad dal and curry leaves. Fry for a few seconds till the dal changes color and switch off the flame.

          Pour this tempering over the ground chutney. Mix well and serve as a side dish with dosa, idli, uttapam, appam, khichdi, rice-ghee combo, paratha or chapatti.

                                 Dry roast the grated coconut till light brown and keep aside.

                      Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a pan and sauté cumin seeds, coriander seeds, urad

                      dal, peanuts, chana dal, garlic & dry red chilies till light brown.

                    Add the chopped mango, salt & turmeric powder. Stir fry for 2-3 minutes.

  Add the dry roasted coconut. Leave aside to cool. 

Then grind with very little water into a smooth paste.

                             Heat 1 tbsp. & temper with the mustard seeds and dry red chilies. 

                    After it stops spluttering, add asafoetida, urad dal & curry leaves. Fry for

                    a few seconds till the dal changes colour and switch off the flame.

                                 Pour this tempering over the ground chutney and mix well.

                   Serve with dosa, idli, uttapam, appam, khichdi, rice-ghee combo, paratha or

                   chapatti.

Gutti Vankaya Fry (Stuffed Eggplant Fry - Andhra Style)

          This is a classic Andhra delicacy and a very popular dish, where baby eggplants are stuffed with a medley of aromatic spices and shallow fried. It can also be made into a curry. So both ways, it tastes just as tasty and yummy. Spicy and tangy, this appetizing side dish can be enjoyed with ghee rice, curd rice, rasam rice or any Indian bread. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this flavorful dish.

           The unique blend of spices and lentils along with some garlic, fresh grated coconut and peanuts are first dry roasted (you can also sauté them in a bit of oil) and then ground along with some tamarind. 

          The eggplants are then stuffed with this chatpata masala and cooked, covered, on a low flame till done. The dish turns out just lip smacking. The original recipe calls for a bit of jaggery to balance the taste. So all eggplant lovers, this is a must try recipe. 

• 12-15 baby eggplants
• 3-4 tbsp. oil 
• 1 sprig curry leaves 
• 1 tsp. coriander leaves
• 1 tsp. tamarind paste 
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1/4 tsp. asafoetida

Stuffing - 

• 6-7 dry red chilies
• 2-3 tbsp. coriander seeds 
• 1 tbsp. cumin seeds
• 2 tbsp. tuvar dal 
• 2 tbsp. urad dal
• 3 tbsp. peanuts
• 2 tbsp. fresh grated coconut
• 1/4 tsp. fenugreek seeds 
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
• 3-4 garlic cloves
• 1 sprig curry leaves

          Slit each of the eggplants, keeping the stem intact. Dip them in salted water to avoid discoloration. 

           Dry roast all the ingredients for the stuffing. Switch off the flame and add turmeric powder and asafoetida. Give it a stir and keep aside to cool down. Add salt, tamarind paste and some water and grind to a paste. 

          Stuff a little of the paste in each eggplant. Heat oil in a pan and arrange the stuffed eggplants. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and cook, covered on a low flame till one side is done. 

           Gently flip them over and add the curry leaves. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and cook, covered till done. Switch off the flame and add coriander leaves. 

          Serve with ghee rice, curd rice, rasam rice or any Indian bread. 

                        Dry roast all ingredients for the stuffing.

                     Switch off flame & add turmeric powder & asafoetida. Give it a stir &
                     keep aside to cool down. 

                        Add salt, tamarind paste & some water & grind to a paste. 

                       Slit each of the eggplants, keeping the stem intact. Dip them in salted 
                       water to avoid discoloration. 

                        Stuff a little of the paste in each eggplant. 

                     Heat oil & arrange stuffed eggplants. Sprinkle a pinch of salt & cook, 
                     covered on a low flame till one side is done. 

                      Flip them & add curry leaves. Sprinkle a pinch of salt & cook, covered
                      till done. 

                              Switch off the flame & add coriander leaves. 

                  Serve with ghee rice, curd rice, rasam rice or any Indian bread.