KARAM PACHADI

INGREDIENTS

Chana dal – 4 tbsp

Urad dal – 1tbsp

Coriander seeds – 1 1/2tbsp

Cumin seeds – 1tsp

Dry red chillies – 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup [adjust according to your level]

Oil – 1tbsp

Garlic – 8 mashed

Curry leaves – few

Salt to taste

Tamarind juice- 1 1/2 tbsp [ semi liquid]

Water for grinding

METHOD

1. Heat oil in a pan and add all the ingredients one by one expect salt ,tamarind paste and water.
2. Fry on low flame till the dal becomes light brown colour.
3. Switch off the flame and cool it.
4. Grind it to a paste with water, salt and tamarind paste.
5. Adjust seasoning.

BACHALI KOORA SENAGA PAPPU

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INGREDIENTS

Chana dal – 1 cup washed and soaked for 1/2 an hour

Finely chopped bachali koora – 4 cups washed and keep it aside.

Medium size onions -2 cut into 2 pieces

Green chillies – 3 slit

Water – 4 cups

Tamarind juice- 4 tbsp semi thick liquid

Jaggery – 3/4 cup to 1 cup according to your taste

Red chilli powder – 2 tsp

Salt – 1 tbsp

Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp

Talimpu

Ghee – 2tbsp

Oil – 1 tbsp

Mustard seeds – 1/4 tsp

Urad dal – 1/4 tsp

Mustard seeds 1/4 tsp

Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp

Garlic – 6 mashed

Dry red chillies – 8 pieces

Curry leaves – 1/4 cup

If you want to cook this recipe in karthika masam for puja, you can avoid onions and garlic.

Method

1. Boil senagapappu with 2 cups of water in a pressure cooker on high flame for 1 whistle.
2. Reduce flame to low and cook for 4 minutes and switch off the flame.
3. Allow the pressure to release. Add washed bachali koora, onions, green chillies and 2 cups of water.
4. At this stage, if you want to add kanda [yam] pieces, you can add.
5. Pressure cook on high flame for 1 whistle and reduce flame to low.
6. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes and switch off the flame. Allow the pressure to release.
7. Add tamarind juice, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, salt and jaggery.
8. Mix well and bring it to a boil. Cook on medium flame for 5 minutes.
9. Meanwhile, heat ghee and oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.
10. Add all the remaning ingredients one by one. Fry for few seconds and add cooked dal over talimpu. Mix well.
11. Adjust seasoning and cook till the water evaporates.
12. Dal should be semi liquid. Serve with hot rice and ghee. Adjust sweetness according to your taste.

SENAGAPAPPU PULUSU

INGREDIENTS

Senagapappu [chana dal]- 1/2 cup (soak for 1/2 an hour and cook with 2 cups of water.)

Onion – 2 medium size cut into 2 pieces

Green chillies – 4 slit

Finely chopped ginger – 1 1/2 tsp [mashed]

Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp

Red chilli powder – 2 tsp

Jaggery – 1/3 cup [ adjust according to your taste ]

Tamarind juice – 3 to 4 tbsp [semi thick juice]

Water – 2 cups

Salt – 1 1/2 tsp

TALIMPU

Oil – 2tsp

Mustard seeds – 1/4 tsp

Fenugreek seeds – 1/4 tsp

Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp

Dry red chilli pieces – 4

Garlic – 4 mashed

Curry leaves – few

*This recipe was handed over to me by my Mother-in-Law.

METHOD

1. Boil the soaked senagapappu with 2 cups of water in a pressure cooker for 8 minutes.
2. When the pressure releases mash it to a coarse paste.
3. Add 2 cups of water, onions, green chillies, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, mashed ginger, salt, tamarind juice and jaggery.
4. Mix well and pressure cook for 2 to 3 whistles. Switch off the flame and let the pressure release.
5. Heat oil in a kadai. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter and add all the remaning ingredients one by one.
6. Fry for few seconds and add the cooked pulusu over the talimpu.
7. Mix well and bring it to boil. Adjust the seasoning and cook on medium flame for 5 to 6 minutes.

CORIANDER POWDER

INGREDIENTS

Coriander seeds – 1cup

Dry red chillies pieces – 1 cup to 1 1/2 cup [ adjust according to your spice level ]

Garlic cloves – 10 mashed

Cumin seeds – 2 tbsp

Urad dal – 2 tbsp

Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp

Tamarind – small lemon size

Curry leaves – 1/2 cup loosely packed

Oil – 1 tbsp

This podi mixed with hot rice with generous amount of ghee can be taken before starting your meals. Good for health.

METHOD

1. Heat oil in a wide pan , add broken red chilli pieces. Fry on low flame for one minute.
2. Then add all the remaning ingredients. Stir continuously and fry on low flame till the coriander seeds release their flavour and turn golden.
3. Remove and cool. Place the cooled spice mixture along with salt in a blender and grind to make a coarse powder.
4. Store in air tight container and serve with hot rice or idly with generous amount of ghee.

UGADI PACHADI

INGREDIENTS:

Tamarind – 100 grams makes one cup of thick paste

Water – 1 1/4 cup

Jaggery – 2 1/2 cups

Finely chopped sugarcane – 2 tbsp

Finely chopped coconut – 2 tbsp

Finely chopped banana – 1/2 cup

Finely chopped mango – 1 tbsp

Neem leaves – 1/2 tbsp

Salt, red chilli powder, black pepper powder – 1 pinch each

Each home has their own way of preparing ugadi pachadi.

METHOD:

• Soak the tamarind in 1 1/2 cups of water for 1-2 hours and extract the pulp.
• Grate the jaggery or you can powder it in a mixer.
• Separate the neem flowers from the springs. Then gently rub the neem flowers between your two palms to separate the petals and put them in a plate. Use only petals for this process.
• Keep finely chopped coconut, finely chopped bananas, finely chopped sugarcane and finely chopped peeled mangoes to a side.
• Take a wide bowl. Add tamarind extract and 2 1/2 cups of grated jaggery. Mix well using your hand till the jaggery melts.
• Then add the finely chopped ingredients mentioned in step four and mix well.
• Lastly add neem petals, salt, red chilli powder, black pepper powder. Mix well.
• Offer ugadi pachadi as naivedyam (offerings to god during the festival of ugadi).

SUGGESTIONS:

Ugadi pachadi should be like a sauce. Do not taste it if you intend to offer it to god. The recipe for ugadi pachadi may vary according to family beliefs and customs. All the ingredients in this pachadi recipe can be adjusted to suite your taste. Ugadhi pachadi goes well with curd rice.

PAPPULUSU

Pappulusu is a simple stew made with toor dal. It is a staple in andhra homes and can be considered a spice less version of sambhar.

INGREDIENTS

Toor dal (kandipappu) – 1 cup (pressure cooked and mashed)

Tomato – 3 (medium size, cut into quarters)

Onions – 1 (large size, cut into quarters)

Green chillies – 5 (slit length wise)

Ginger – 1 inch piece (crushed)

Red chilli powder – 1 1/2 tsp

Tamarind – lemon sized ball (extract juice)

Salt to taste

Butter – 1tsp

Bottle gourd – 8 to 10 pieces peeled and cut into big size pieces

Curry leaves – few

Coriander leaves – 2 tbsp

TALIMPU

Ghee – 1 tsp

Oil – 1 1/2 tsp

Mustard seeds – 1/3 tsp

Cumin seeds – 1/4 tsp

Fenugreek seeds – 1/3 tsp

Garlic – 7 to 8 crushed

Broken red chillies – 5 to 6

Curry leaves – few

Sambhar powder – 1/4 tsp (optional) – check out my previous post

METHOD

• In a pressure cooker, add mashed dal. Add all the remaning ingredients expect butter. Add 3 cups of water and bring to boil. Then add butter.
• Check out the seasonings. Close the lid, cook on high flame for up to 2 whistles.
• Reduce flame and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Switch off the flame. Allow the pressure cooker to cool down on its own. Open the lid and mix thoroughly.
• Check out the pappulusu. If pappulusu is thick add more water.
• Talimpu:  Pre heat oil and ghee in a pan. Add garlic and fry for few seconds. Add mustard seeds and fry for few seconds.
• Then add cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds. Let it fry  for a few seconds. Add red chillies and sambhar powder. Fry for 1 to 2 seconds.
• Immediately, add curry leaves. Pour the boiled dal mixture into the talimpu and cover it for few seconds.
• Remove the cover,  add finely chopped coriander leaves. Simmer for 4 to 5 minutes and turn off the heat.
• Keep covered until served. Serve hot with hot steamed rice with vadiyalu or appadam.

AMMA’S KARAM PODI

This recipe has been handed down to me by my mother. Perfect for Idlis. A dollop of ghee will greatly enhance its taste.

INGREDIENTS

• Coriander seeds – 1 1/2 cups
• Chana Dal – 1/4 cup
• Urad Dal – 1 tbsp
• Cumin Seeds – 1 tbsp
• Broken red Chillies – 2 cups
• Crushed Garlic – 1 cup
• Curry Leaves – 1 cup
• Tamarind – small lemon sized
• Oil for frying – 4 tbsp
• Salt to taste

 

METHOD

• Dry roast coriander seeds until light brown. Repeat the same process with chana dal, urad dal and cumin seeds.
• Heat 1 1/2 tsp of oil and fry the broken red chillies until light brown. Let it cool.
• Repeat the same procedure with crushed garlic and continue to fry until the raw smell fades away.
• Lastly add tamarind and switch off the flame.
• Heat another 1 1/2 tsp of oil and fry curry leaves until crisp. Cool down all the ingredients.
• Start by grinding the chana dal, urad dal and cumin seeds to a coarse powder and put it aside.
• Next, grind the coriander and put it aside. Grind red chillies, curry leaves and tamarind.
• Grind the garlic.
• Now mix all the grinded ingredients together with salt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MENTHULU PULUSU (FENUGREEK SEEDS)

INGREDIENTS

Fenugreek seeds – 1 1/2 tbsp (soaked for 4 hours and drained)

Finely chopped onions – 2 cups

Green chillies – 4

Salt to taste

Tamarind paste – 1 tbsp

Red chilli powder powder – 1 1/2 tsp  

Water – 1 cup

MASALA PASTE

Garlic – 4

Coriander seeds – 1 tsp

Cumin seeds – 1/3 tsp

TALIMPU

Oil – 3 tbsp

Crushed garlic – 3 pods

Broken red chilli –  4

Curry leaves – 2 springs

METHOD

1. Grind garlic, coriander seeds and cumin seeds into a fine paste. Heat oil in a pan add all talimpu ingredients one by one. Fry for a minute.
2.  Add soaked fenugreek seeds and fry for 3 to 4 minutes. Add finely chopped onions and green chillies. Mix well.
3. Add turmeric powder and salt. Cover and cook on low flame till the onions become soft. Add red chilli powder and tamarind paste. Mix well.
4. Grind all the masala paste ingredients together.
5. Add one cup of water. Bring to a boil and then add the grinded masala paste. Mix well.
6. Cover and cook on medium flame for 8-10 minutes.

SUGGESTIONS

You can also add jaggery while adding the tamarind paste.

CURRY LEAVES PACHADI

INGREDIENTS

Curry leaves – 1 1/2 cup, loosely packed

Coriander seeds – 1 tsp

Chana Dal – 1/2 tbsp

Urad dal -1/2 tsp

Cumin seeds -1/3 tsp

Mustard seeds – 1/4 tsp

Crushed garlic – 4 pods

Broken red chilles – 1/2 cup

Tamarind paste – 1 tbsp

Jaggery – 1 1/2 tbsp

Salt to taste

Oil -3 tbsp

METHOD

1. Heat 1 1/2 tbsp of oil in a pan . Add Chana Dal, coriander seeds,urad dal ,cumin seeds, and mustard seeds fry on medium flame for 1 minute.
2. Add crushed garlic and broken red chilles. Fry till they turn crispy . Cool them.
3. In the same pan , add 1 1/2 tbsp oil fry curry leaves till crispy . Cool them .
4. Grind every thing together with salt ,tamarind paste and jaggery using little water to a coarse paste.

Suggestion

You can store this pachadi for about a week in the refrigerator. Adjust seasonings.

TOMATO RASAM

This recipe is handed down from my mother in law who is a wonderful cook.

Ingredients

Oil -2 tsp

Garlic cloves-3 (crushed)

Cumin seeds -1/2 tsp

Mustard seeds – 1/4 tsp

Fenugreek seeds -1/4 tsp

Red chillies  -2 broken into pieces

Curry leaves -2 springs

Salt – to taste

Tomatoes -2 medium size (cut into small pieces)

Tamarind – small lemon size

Turmeric powder – 1/3 tsp

Rasam powder* – 1/2 tsp

Water – 3 cups

Coriander leaves – 2 tbsp (finely chopped)

Method

1. Heat a pan with oil. Add crushed garlic and fry for 5 seconds. Add cumin, mustard and fenugreek seeds.
2. When they begin to splutter, add red chillies, curry leaves and fry for a minute.
3. Add finely chopped tomatoes, salt, turmeric and tamarind.
4. Fry the tomatoes for about 2 minutes. Cover and cook on medium flame. Tomatoes should turn mushy and soft.
5. Pour water and bring to a boil.
6. Taste it and adjust salt. Check sourness as well.
7. Add rasam powder. Allow it to boil well for about 5-6 minutes on medium flame.
8. Switch off the stove. Add the coriander  leaves and keep the pan covered.
9. Serve hot with dal and rice.

* Any rasam powder can be used.

I use my own recipe but I would recommend MTR Rasam powder. You can find it in       any super market.