Chutney podi |Andhra style putnala podi|Roasted gram spiced powder

Andhra is famous for its chutney's and podi's.What is a podi?Podi is a ground mixture(powder) of lentils and spices.It is usually referred to as gunpowder.It can be a mixture of 2 to 3 lentils/Dal's or simply coconut or peanut.Hence the podi's are named appropriately after that.If you have ever visited a typical south Indian restaurant for lunch then you may have seen an array of pickles and podis adorning the table along with ghee.India is a country of diverse culture and food.food changes for every few kilo meters as you travel.If you travel southern India every house has a unique podi recipe. 

Kairi ka dopyaza| Kairi gosht |Green mango and mutton curry

Kairi ka dopyaza/Kairi gosht /Green mango and mutton curry  is a traditional recipe from the states of Andhra and Telengana.As the name suggests dopyaza means loaded with onions.If you love the tang in your curries or you are a green mango lover then this curry is for you .Mutton is cooked with onions,spices and green mango(kairi) .Apart from the onions there are no supporting actors for this curry like coconut or cashew nut paste that give thickness to curries.So you cant expect thick makhni or a coconut  style gravy.You can always adjust the quantity of green mango based on how tangy you want this curry to be.It can be served with plain rice or any flat bread but I would highly recommend it with the former .Kairi dopyaza is literally "dump everything " style curry.The only part that is laborious is chopping the onion but a food processor makes the work easier.Try to cut onion as thinly as possible to reduce the cooking time. If you are looking for a vegetarian option with green mango then this Kari dal would perfectly fit in the menu. 

Kairi dal |green mango dal|How to make kairi dal

Kairi dal /green mango dal is one of the tastiest variations of dal cooked with green mango .Do you remember the green mango on your chat that tantalises your taste buds. tttttt!!! that must be the sound as soon as you hear the word kairi/ green mango .Come summer and our daily after school affair would be to nibble these mango pieces with salt and chilli powder.

Soya chunks pepper masala |How to make soya chunks curry from scratch|Meal maker curry

Soya chunks /meal maker/soy meat/soya nuggets  is an excellent source of plant protein.Its made from defatted soya,it means oil is extracted from soya beans and processed to form a meaty textured soya meat.Its a stiff competitor to any meat and can be easily mistaken to animal protein(meat).Soya chunks curry is a  no fuss curry with minimal ingredients almost available in an Indian kitchen.An excellent vegetarian/vegan option to be enjoyed.I have used fresh turmeric but it can be substituted with powder too.TO MAKE IT COMPLETELY VEGAN USE COCONUT MILK WHILE SOAKING THE SOYA CHUNKS.It is a south Indian style curry using coconut .If you are trying to avoid it replace it with cashews.Use the smaller version of soya chunks,smaller the better they absorb the flavours.It tastes equally good with plain rice or chapati ,but i would prefer the later.Can be served for lunch or dinner.If you are in a hurry pressure cooker too can be used to ease the process.Use the peppercorns to your liking.