Qabuli Biryani#Alphabet Challenge

Qabuli Biryani is a vegetarian layered rice dish from Andhra, this biryani has layers of basmati rice, chana dal in a yogurt gravy and saffron milk & kewra water! I made this for our friends get together and they all were amazed with the flavor and taste.
Serves 6
Ingredients
For The Chana Dal Gravy
150 grams Chana Dal / Bengal Gram Lentil - soaked
1½ Teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste
½ Cup Oil
1 Cup Thick Yogurt - whisked
3 Green Chilies - slit
3 Tablespoons Chopped Coriander Leaves
1 Teaspoon Red Chili Powder
1 Teaspoon Kitchen King Masala
½ Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
1 Teaspoon Cumin Powder
½ Cup + ½ Cup Brown Onion - crushed
1 Teaspoon Salt
A Juice of One Lemon juice
1 Large Potato - boiled and fried
Whole Spices
½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1 Bay Leaf
2 Cloves
4 Whole Black Peppercorns
1" Stick Cinnamon
1 Brown Cardamom
2 Green Cardamoms
For The Rice
300 Grams Basmati Rice
2 Tablespoons Sea Salt
Whole Spices
½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1" Stick Cinnamon
3 Cardamoms
5 Cloves
8 Black Peppercorns
1 Brown Cardamom
Method
To Boil The Rice

Wash and soak the basmati rice for 15 minutes
Boil 6 -8 cups of water and salt. Add the whole spices. Drain the excess water from the soaked rice. When the water comes to roll boil,add the rice and boil for about 10 minutes on medium flame. Remove the rice when it is just cooked but the grains should be firm. Drain the water, let it cool completely.
For The Chana Dal Gravy
Wash and soak the chana dal for 2 hours.

Heat oil in a kadai / pot fry add all the whole spices and sauté for a minute then add ginger garlic paste, and sauté till the raw aroma vanishes. Switch off the flame, add then ½ cup room temperature water and then the whisked yogurt mix well. Place the pot back on to the flame and on high flame stirring continuously with a whisk, whisk this till it comes to a rolling boil, then reduce the flame ( the yogurt will not curdle if you try this method, this is a tried and tested method). Now add the dal mix well, ½ cup crushed brown onions and place this on the flame and cook covered on low flame till the dal is just done but still whole. Add green chilies and half the coriander leaves, give it a stir. 

This gravy should be thick, do not dry this completely. Switch off the flame add lemon juice. Keep aside. 

Assemble The Biryani 

In a heavy bottom pan add ¼ cup water, & ¼ cup oil mix well and then half of the boiled rice with a sprinkle of pinch of salt and then add all of the cooked dal mixture. 

A sprinkle coriander leaves, potatoes cubes and brown onions.

Then the remaining rice top it with yellow color, fried onions, coriander leaves, slices of tomatoes and few drops of kewra and a few dollops of butter all over. Cover it with a foil tightly and leave it on dum on high flame for 5 minutes then very low flame for 15 minutes. Switch off the flame. 

Let it rest for 10 minutes. 

Lightly mix the rice and serve hot. We enjoyed this with raita.
Labels: Alphabet Challenge,Chana Dal, Biryani, Rice, Indian, Andhra Pradesh,Main course, Vegetarian

Let's take a look at the recipes being shared today with Alphabet Challenge 2026 - Alphabet "Q"

• Baked Quail Egg XO Sauce Appetizers from Food Lust People Love
• Cauliflower, Onion, and Pancetta Quiche from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Fresh Corn Quiche from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Fresh Summer Corn & Zucchini Sausage Quiche from Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Jalapeño Popper Quesadillas from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
• Mughlai Paneer Qorma from Mayuri’s Jikoni
• Qabuli Biryani from Sneha’s Recipe
• Quatre Quarts from Culinary Cam
• Queen Elizabeth Cake from A Messy Kitchen
• Western Omelette Quiche from Blogghetti

French Beans Fry - Andhra Style#Alphabet Challenge

This is a tasty, which is every easy and delicious to make, is a delicious Andhra Style french beans cooked in mildly spiced masala called Pappula Podi. Healthy, hearty and flavorful Andhra style beans fry goes well with rice and sambar or with rotis. You can add a bit of fresh coconut as a final garnish.

Ingredients
250 Grams French Beans
Salt To Taste
1 Tablespoon Oil
2 Tablespoons Pappula Podi Masala
1 Tablespoon Fresh Coconut - grated
For The Pappula Podi Masala
2 Dry Red Chillies
¼ Teaspoon Cumin seeds
1 Tablespoon Dry coconut - grated
1 Tablespoon Split Roasted Gram /Phutane/Chutney Channa
2 Cloves Garlic
A pinch of Salt
For The Tempering
½ Teaspoon Mustard seeds
A Sprig Curry Leaves
2 Dry Red Chilies - de-seed and cut into two
2 Cloves Garlic - crushed (I used garlic)
OR
¼ Teaspoon Asafoetida

Method
To Make Pappula Podi Masala

Dry roast dry red chilies and cumin seeds for a minute. Add grated dry coconut and roast for half a minute. 

Cool and grind to a fine powder along with garlic, split roasted gram (phutane/chutney channa) and salt. 

Wash, stringed and chop the French beans into small pieces. Then boil it with salt, turmeric and water enough to cook the beans till done, ( make sure that there is at-least 3 tablespoons stock in the beans). 

Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and let them splutter, add curry leaves, crushed garlic clove and dry chillies and sauté for few seconds. Add the french beans, salt, pappula podi masala and mix well, then add the stock and place lid let it simmer for about 3 minutes. Turn off heat, add fresh grated coconut. Serve with rice and any curry of your choice. We had with simple dal and steamed rice and enjoyed this spicy French Bean fry.

Labels: Alphabet Challenge, Vegetarian, Healthy, Andhra Pradesh, Indian, Sabzi, Side Dish

• Sneha’s Recipe: French Beans Fry - Andhra Style 
• A Day in the Life on the Farm: Chicken Fajita Bowl 
• Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Fruity Baked Oatmeal 
• Mayuri’s Jikoni: Turkish Fig Pudding 
• Blogghetti: Homemade Fajita Seasoning 
• Palatable Pastime: Fake Fatty Pastrami 
• Food Lust People Love: Baked Chicken and Feta Meatballs 
• Magical Ingredients: Fava Fennel Paratha 
• Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Butternut Squash Soup with French Herbes

Murukulu Janthikalu#SundayFunday

Murukulu also known as Janthikulu is a savory snack of the Andhra cuisine. This Murukku is a mixture of urad dal flour and rice flour. Its easy to make and a addictive snack. We love the crispness and the buttery taste of this snack.

An ideal festival savory snack, these are vegan & gluten free, prefect for kid's tiffin. They stay crisp and fresh in your pantry shelf for a month or more if stored in an airtight container.

1 Cup Measurement = 200 Ml
Ingredients
4 Cups Rice Flour
1 Cup Urad Dal flour
2 Tablespoons White Butter or any
1 Cup Warm Water or as required
1 Teaspoon Salt or to taste
1 Teaspoon Red Chilly powder - optional
1 Teaspoon Each White & Black Sesame seeds
Oil for deep frying

Method
Take a pan dry roast urad dal flour lightly for a few minutes. See that it does not change color or burn. Keep aside to cool.

In a bowl add flours, sesame seeds, salt, butter, mix well till it represents bread crumbs. 

Then add warm water little by little as need to make a soft dough.

Take the murukulu press ( a disk with three holes)
add the dough into it and press on top into hot oil a make a 

Or this one, make a round murukku. 

Fry till light golden brown on medium flame, then remove. Keep it on an absorbent paper to remove the excess oil. When cooled store in an airtight container. 

This is a snack that can be made any time for children to have in the evening or to take as tiffin. My daughter use to take this as her tiffin to school.  

My Notes 

Grind 1 kg rice and 1/4 kg lightly roasted urad dal. Grind it in the flour mill. Make these any time in a jiffy.

Use white butter (this is homemade butter, which is used to make desi ghee) , it give a nice taste and make the murukulu more crispy.

You can add ajwain or coarsely ground cumin seeds.

Labels: Indian, Savory Snacks, Festival Sweets, Deep Fried, Rice flour, Urad Dal flour, Andhra Pradesh, Chakli, Murukulu, Vegan, Gluten free, Sunday Funday

For Sunday Funday our theme is "Picnic Recipes"     

• Bacon Broccoli Mac from Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Cucumber Mozzarella Salad from Palatable Pastime
• Spicy Avocado Mango Bean Salad from Cook with Renu
• Mango Pico De Gallo from Mayuri’s Jikoni
• Cowboy Beans from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Murukulu Janthikalu from Sneha’s Recipe
• Culinary Adventures with Camilla from Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Raw Mango Moong Dal Chutney/Mamidikaya Pesarapappu Pachadi#Improv

This is a Vegan & Gluten Free Moong Dal & Mango Chutney using raw mango, moong dal and other spices. Pachadi's in Andhra cuisine is mainly a chutney. This can be had with rice or dosa, this will actually pair well for sandwiches or even with rice. 

Ingredients

¼ Cup Yellow Moong Dal
1 Small Raw Mango- peeled & chopped
2 Dried Red Chillies
¼ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
Salt to taste
1 Teaspoon Oil
For the Tadka
¼ Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
¼ Teaspoon Urad Dal
A Sprig Curry Leaves
2 -3 Dried Red Chillies
1 Teaspoon Oil
A pinch of Asafoetida

Method

Heat a teaspoon of oil in a pan. Add the moong dal and fry it, stirring continuously on a low flame till golden brown. Transfer it to a plate and set aside. In the same pan add the cumin seeds and fry for a few seconds. Transfer it to the plate and set aside. After this add the red chillies and fry for a few seconds.  Let them cool completely.

In a small mixer jar first grind the cumin seeds, moong dal and red chillies into a coarse powder. Now add  the chopped mango, salt  to taste and grind it to a little coarse paste by adding water. Transfer the chutney into a bowl.

For the Tadka

Heat oil in a pan. Add the mustard seeds and urad dal and let them splutter and the urad dal turns brown, add the curry leaves, asafoetida and red chillies, mix it well and immediately pour this over the ground chutney.

Serve with rice or with Tadka Dosa, this is a quick, easy, tasty and delicious chutney.
My Notes

For this chutney, have used  semi ripe yet firm mango, can use raw mango too, just add the quantity mango according to its sourness. So taste it before you take it out from the mixer jar. 

Labels: Chutneys & Dips, Raw Mango, Lentils, Vegan, Gluten free, Healthy, Andhra Pradesh, Improv Cooking Challenge,South Indian

Improv Cooking Challenge: August 2019  

Theme - Chilly & Mango
Chileta Mango suckers by Pandemonium Noshery
Grilled Steaks with Mango and Jalapeno byA Day in the Life on the Farm
Raw Mango Moong Dal Chutney / Mamidikaya Pesarapappu Pachadi by Sneha's Recipe

Mango Avakaya / Andhra Avakkai Pickle

Summer and the king of fruit - Mangoes are in season. It'is time to make mango pickle so that we can relish throughout the year.

Andhra cuisine is popularly known for its hot and spicy foods. Mango Avakaya or Andhra Avakkai Pickle is a spicy, mango pickle from Andhra cuisine. I make this pickle every year along with my Mango Metham Pickle - East Indian .

This time I, made this Andhra Avakkai Pickle recipe with step by step pics and decided to post the recipe.

Ingredients 

600 Grams  Mango pieces - see notes

¾  Cup Sea Salt

1 Teaspoon Turmeric powder

Gingelly / Sesame Oil as required  

1 Big Pod Garlic  - cleaned

For the  Pickle Masala  

1 Cup Red Chilly  Powder  - see notes 

¾  Cup  Yellow Mustard Seeds
1 Tablespoon Sea Salt  

1 ½ Teaspoons Fenugreek Seeds  

¼ Teaspoon Asafoetida powder 

Method

For the  Pickle Masala 

Coarsely powder the yellow mustard and fenugreek seeds separately then mix all the ingredients well, in a big bowl and keep aside.  

For the Mangoes

Place the chopped mangoes add the turmeric, salt and mix well keep it overnight.  

Next morning place this in a strainer /colander and place weight over it it and keep it aside for 3 to 4 hours.

After 3 -4 hours.

In the meantime heat the oil till hot do not bring this oil to a boiling point.  Keep the oil cool completely.

To assemble the Pickle

Place the mango pieces in a big bowl add the  garlic ( if the garlic pods are big then cut them into smaller slice like  I did) 

Add the Pickle Masala, with little oil and give it a good mix.  

Pour  the mango pickle in a sterilized bottle and pour the cooled oil over it.  

The oil level should be at least an inch over the mango pieces.  Cover with the lid and tie a clean cloth over it,  let it remain covered for two days.  After two or three days check the oil level since the pickle masala will absorb little oil.  Pour more oil if needed ( again note that the oil level should always be an inch above).

After 2 to 3 weeks the pickle is ready to enjoy for the  year or till the next mango season.   Have this with Dal Rice or paratha or just anything you fancy. 

My Notes

I have used Rajapuri Mangoes to make this pickle.  Wash the mangoes and wipe  them with a clean cloth, then give them to  cut into medium small pieces.  

When they are cut, them remove the seeds and  skin the stems and then weigh the mangoes.  I got 600 grams of mango.

This mango pickle masala is sufficient for 600 to 700 grams of mangoes.

The beautiful color of chilly powder is got from the chillies that's a homemade chilly powder, I use equal quantity of Kashmiri and Bedki chillies.

Take good mature Mangoes/pickle mangoes and never go for tender mangoes. 

Always use a clean dry spoon to serve pickle.

There should be enough oil so that pickle can last long. 

Lables :  Pickle Masala, Homemade, Andhra Pradesh, Mango, Pickle