Bottle Gourd Chutney (Sorakaya Pachadi - Andhra / Telangana Cuisine)

 

         Bottle Gourd Chutney or Sorakaya Pachadi in the local Telugu lingo is a very delicious chutney that is full of flavors. Thinly sliced bottle gourd is sautéed along with garlic, green chilies and a handful of coriander leaves. It is then coarsely ground and tempered with mustard seeds, urad dal, asafoetida and curry leaves. Roasted sesame, roasted peanuts and fresh grated coconut can also be added for enhanced flavor. 

         

           This simple and easy to prepare Pachadi is best relished with hot steamed rice-ghee combo, with chapatis, as a spread on toasts / parathas, with any South Indian breakfast like idli, dosa, vada, and finally as a dip along with some vegetable crudités or chips. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare my version of this amazing chutney

• 1 medium size bottle gourd
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 5-6 garlic, chopped
• 2-3 green chilies, chopped
• 1 tsp. salt or to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. roasted coriander powder
• handful of coriander leaves, chopped
• 1 tsp. lime juice

Tempering - 

• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1 dry red chili
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1/4 tsp. asafoetida
• 1 tsp. urad dal

          Peel the bottle gourd and slice them. Soak in water to prevent from discoloration. 

          Heat oil in a pan and temper with cumin seeds. Sauté for a few seconds. 

          Add the chopped garlic and green chilies. Sauté till light brown.

          Now add the sliced bottle gourd, salt to taste, turmeric powder and roasted coriander powder. 

          Mix everything well and cook, covered till it is tender. Sprinkle water at times if needed.

          Add the chopped coriander leaves and continue to sauté for a minute. Switch off the flame and keep aside to cool down. Then blend coarsely in a mixer grinder. 

          Tempering - Heat oil in a pan and temper with mustard seeds, dry red chilies, curry leaves, urad dal and asafoetida. Sauté for a few seconds.

          Then add the coarsely ground paste and stir fry for 4-5 minutes. 

          When done, switch off the flame and add lime juice. Serve with hot steamed rice, paratha or chapatti. 

Peel the bottle gourd & slice them. Soak in water to prevent it from discoloration. 

       Heat oil in a pan  temper with cumin seeds. Sauté for a few seconds. 

                Add the chopped garlic & green chilies. Sauté till light brown.

Add the sliced bottle gourd, salt to taste, turmeric powder & roasted coriander powder. 

Mix everything well & cook, covered, till it is tender. Sprinkle water at times if needed.

Add the chopped coriander leaves & continue to sauté for a minute. Switch off the flame && keep aside to cool down. Then blend coarsely in a mixer grinder. 

Tempering - Heat oil in a pan & temper with mustard seeds, dry red chilies, curry leaves, urad dal & asafoetida. Sauté for a few seconds.

Then add the coarsely ground paste & stir fry for 4-5 minutes. When done, switch off the flame & add lime juice. 

                  Serve with hot steamed rice, paratha or chapatti. 

Goru Chikkudukaya Pachadi (Cluster Beans / Gawar Beans Chutney - Andhra style)

 

               Goru Chikkudukaya Pachadi is an Andhra style spicy and tangy chutney made of Cluster Beans or Gawar Beans. It is best enjoyed with steamed rice and a dollop of ghee. However, you may also enjoy with paratha or chapatti. In fact, Cluster Beans tastes better if prepared in a chutney form than any curry form. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this classic and lip smacking regional delicacy.

                

                 Chutney typically holds an important place in a South Indian platter. So this Tindora chutney is very popular in many regions of Andhra and Telangana, where it is enjoyed by the local folk.

           It simply tastes awesome with just rice and ghee and you don't need anything else to satiate your hunger. A simple meal like this brings a deep satisfaction beyond compare. 

           Among the varieties of chutneys found in this region, this Cluster Beans chutney holds a prominent place in an Andhra / Telangana menu platter. It tastes both spicy and tangy with a simple tempering of mustard seeds, asafoetda, red chilies, curry leaves and urad dal.         

• 300 gms. Cluster beans, cut into 1" pieces
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 3-4 garlic, chopped
• 3-4 green chilies, chopped
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. roasted coriander powder
• handful of coriander leaves
• 1 tsp. tamarind paste

Tempering - 

• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
• 4-5 dry red chilies
• 1 tsp. urad dal 
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1/4 tsp. asafoetida

          Heat oil in a wok / pan and sauté the cumin seeds for a few seconds. Add the chopped garlic and green chilies. Sauté till light brown.

          Now add the cluster beans, salt to taste, turmeric powder and roasted coriander powder. Mix everything well. 

          Add 1/2 cup water and cook, covered till it is tender and the water evaporates.

          Add the coriander leaves and tamarind paste. Sauté for a minute. Switch off the flame and set aside to cool down. Then blend coarsely in a mixer grinder. 

          Tempering - Heat oil in a pan and temper with mustard seeds and dry red chilies. 

           After it stops spluttering, add curry leaves, urad dal and asafoetida. Sauté for a few seconds.

          Then pour this tempering over the prepared chutney. Give it a stir and serve with hot steamed rice, paratha or chapatti. 

                  Heat oil & sauté the cumin seeds for a few seconds. 

         Add the chopped garlic & green chilies. Sauté till light brown.

         Add cluster beans, salt, turmeric powder & coriander powder. 

         Mix well. Add 1/2 cup water & cook, covered till it is tender.

          Add coriander leaves & tamarind paste. Sauté for a minute. Switch

          off the flame and set aside to cool down. 

                     Then blend coarsely in a mixer grinder. 

                Heat oil & temper with mustard seeds & dry red chilies. 

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

            Sauté for a few seconds.

                  Pour this tempering over the prepared chutney. Give it a stir.

                     Serve with hot steamed rice, paratha or chapatti. 

Keema Bagara Baingan

 

              Bagara Baingan  is a signature dish of Hyderabad and is generally served with Dum Biryani. It also goes well with bagara rice, jeera rice, naan or tandoori roti. So check out my version of bagara baingan cooked with mutton keema to come up with this fusion combo. The end result was a super yummy, spicy and a tangy curry. Just perfect for a weekend lunch. It is also a great party recipe and just the right one for any Eid festival. So do give it a try by checking out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

• 1 cup mutton keema / mince
• 3-4 tbsp. oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 2 tbsp. red chili powder
• 1 tsp. turmeric powder
• salt to taste
• 1 tbsp. coriander-cumin powder
• 2 tbsp. peanuts
• 1 tbsp. sesame seeds
• 2 tbsp. fresh grated coconut
• 1-2 sprig curry leaves
• 6 baby eggplants, washed, drained & slit
• 1 tsp. tamarind paste mixed with 1/2 cup water
• 1 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped

          Dry roast the coconut, sesame seeds and peanuts till golden in colour. Keep aside to cool. Then grind and keep aside. 

          In a small bowl, mix together ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander-cumin powder and salt with some water. Keep aside.

 

          Wipe the eggplants well and keep aside. Heat 1 tbsp. oil and fry them till light brown. Drain and keep aside.

          Heat remaining oil and sauté the onion till light brown. 

          Add the ginger-garlic paste and sauté till the oil separates.

          Now add the ground coconut and fry on a low flame till well combined.

          Add the mutton keema and curry leaves. Sauté till the oil separates. 

          Then add 1 & 1/2 cups water and the fried eggplants. Cover and simmer on a medium flame for 4-5 minutes or till the eggplants are tender and the gravy is thick to a desired consistency.  

                 
          Add the tamarind water and simmer further for 2 minutes. 

          When done, switch off the flame & garnish with coriander leaves. Enjoy with biryani, jeera rice, pulao, naan or tandoori roti.

                            Dry roast the coconut, sesame seeds & peanuts till golden in color. 

                            Keep aside to cool. Then grind and keep aside. 

                       In a small bowl, mix ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric 

                       powder, coriander-cumin powder & salt with some water. Keep aside.

                   Wipe the eggplants well and keep aside. Then heat 1 tbsp. oil & fry them till light                             brown. Keep aside.

                                  Heat remaining oil & sauté the onion till light brown. 

                                 Add the ginger-garlic paste and sauté till the oil separates.

                            Add the ground coconut & fry on a low flame till well combined.

                         Add the mutton keema & curry leaves. Sauté till the oil separates. 

                                  Then add 1 & 1/2 cups water.....

                         and the fried eggplants. Cover & simmer for 4-5 minutes or till the 

                         eggplants are tender & the gravy is thick to a desired consistency.  

 

                                  Add tamarind water & simmer further for 2 minutes. 

                                  When done, garnish with coriander leaves. 

                                Enjoy with biryani, jeera rice, pulao, naan or tandoori roti.

Beerakaya Pachadi (Turai / Ridge Gourd Chutney - Andhra style)

 

             Beerakaya Pachadi is an Andhra style spicy and tangy chutney made of Ridge Gourd or Turai. It is best enjoyed with steamed rice and a dollop of ghee. However, you may also enjoy with paratha or chapatti. In fact, Ridge Gourd tastes better if prepared in a chutney form than any curry form. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this classic and lip smacking regional delicacy.

           Chutney typically holds an important place in a South Indian platter. So this Turai chutney is very popular in many regions of Andhra and Telangana, where it is enjoyed by the local folk.

           It simply tastes awesome with just rice and ghee and you don't need anything else to satiate your hunger. A simple meal like this brings a deep satisfaction beyond compare. 

           Among the varieties of chutneys found in this region, this Ridge Gourd chutney holds a prominent place in an Andhra / Telangana menu platter. 

           It tastes both spicy and tangy with a simple tempering of mustard seeds, cumin seeds, red chilies, curry leaves, asafoetida and urad dal.         

• 2 medium size Ridge Gourd, peeled & chopped
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 3-4 garlic, chopped
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. roasted coriander powder
• handful of coriander leaves
• 1 tsp. tamarind paste

Tempering - 

• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
• 4-5 dry red chilies
• 1 tsp. urad dal 
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1/4 tsp. asafoetida

          Heat oil in a wok / pan and temper with cumin seeds. Sauté for a few seconds. Then add the chopped garlic and green chilies. Sauté till light brown.

          Now add the Ridge Gourd, salt to taste, turmeric powder and roasted coriander powder. Mix everything well and cook, covered till it is almost done.

          Add the coriander leaves and tamarind paste. Continue to sauté for a minute. Switch off the flame and keep aside to cool down. Then blend coarsely in a mixer grinder. 

          Tempering - Heat oil in a pan and temper with mustard seeds, cumin seeds, dry red chilies and urad dal. Sauté for a few seconds. 

          Then add the curry leaves and asafoetida. Switch off the flame. 

           Pour this tempering over the Pachadi. Mix well and add lime juice. Serve with hot steamed rice, paratha or chapatti. 

                                  Peel the ridge gourd and chop them.

                                Heat oil & temper with cumin seeds. Sauté for a few seconds. 

                        Then add the chopped garlic & green chilies. Sauté till light brown.

                       Add the Ridge Gourd and all the dry spices. Mix well & cook, covered

                       till it is almost done.

                       Add coriander leaves & tamarind paste. Sauté for a minute. Switch off

                       the flame and keep aside to cool down. 

                                 Then blend coarsely in a mixer grinder. 

                      Heat oil & temper with mustard seeds, cumin seeds, dry red chilies & 

                      urad dal. Sauté for a few seconds. 

                                Then add the curry leaves & asafoetida. Switch off the flame. 

                         Pour this tempering over the Pachadi and mix well.

                        Serve with hot steamed rice, paratha or chapatti.