Sorakaya Bajji/Bottle Guard Curry

Soraka Bajji/Bottle Guard Curry, this is one of the regional cuisine of Andhra.............this is simple and comfort food ........enriched with flavours of curry leaves and Seasoning......

Ingredients: 1medium sized bottle gourd (peeled, cut into small pieces), 1tomato(cut into pieces), 3 green chillies(cut length wise), 3tsp.tamarind pulp, 1/4tsp.turmeric, 1onion(roughly chopped ), salt to taste, 2tsp.coriander leaves for garnishing

Seasoning: 3-4tsp.oil, 1/2 tbsp.mustard, 1/2tsp.jeera, 2springs curry leaves, 1tbsp.channa dhal, 1tbsp.urad dhal, a pinch of asafoetida.
Preparation
Cook bottle gourd pieces/soraqkaya mukkalu, tomato, green chillies, turmeric in to 1 cup of water until soft, then add salt, tamarind and again it for 5 min., now remove it from the heat and mash it a little with ladle or serving spoon( it should not be mussy but, semi paste) and keep it aside. In a pan take oil, once it is hot add mustard seeds, jeera, channa dhal, urad dhal, curry leaves, asafoetida, once they start to spread aroma add the onions and cook till they are soft and pink, now add this seasoning to the mashed curry and cook it for 3min. on medium heat, garnish with coriander leaves(optional).........serve it with steamed rice...

Onion Pakoda

Kandi Pachadi/toor Dal Chutney

This is one of the authentic delicacies of Andhra......Mostly famous in the of Coastal regions of Andhra.....This is one of my favorites to have on a rainy day meal......

Ingredients:

1/4cup.kandi pappu/toor dal, 4no.dry red chillies, 1tsp.cumin seeds, tamarind (small berry sized), 1tbsp.oil, 3 garlic cloves, 1/2onion(roughly chopped) salt to taste.

Method :

Heat the oil in a pan and fry the dry chillies for two minutes on low flame, then add cumin seeds, garlic cloves and tamarind and fry for one minute, transfer them into a bowl and fry the toor dal till a nice aroma spreads throughout the kitchen, now turn off heat and allow it to cool. Grind all the ingredients into a fine paste by adding sufficient water and salt, now add the onions and mix well(do not grind).Serve it with steamy rice and ghee.