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India is known for its rich culture and amazing culinary heritage. Each region of the country is gifted with a plethora of delectable dishes that are loved by everyone. Talking particularly about Andhra Pradesh, this state is known for its exotic and spicy foods. The cuisine is popular for its appetising biryanis, tangy pickles, and flavourful chutneys.
They serve both mouthwatering vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Chicken, prawns, and mutton dishes from Andhra Pradesh are loved all over the country. But how many vegetarian dishes have you tried from the state? The cuisine of Andhra Pradesh is a lot more than biryanis and other non-vegetarian foods.
Here are the top ten dishes from Andhra Pradesh you must try:
Gutti Vankaya Kura
This is a brinjal curry that is commonly made in every household in Andhra Pradesh. It is prepared by using eggplant or brinjal stuffed with roasted herbs and spices. This curry is extremely delicious in taste and is also flavoured with tamarind and mustard seeds. Gutti vankaya kura is best served with hot rice or ghee rotis. It can be prepared with any kind of eggplant, but if possible, use greenish-white eggplants instead of purple ones as they have delicate skin, which is easier to cook.
Panasa Pottu Koora
This is an Andhra-style shredded jackfruit dish. Jackfruit is popularly used as a vegetable when raw in South Indian cuisine and is used to prepare a variety of dishes. The vegetable is marinated in spices like red chillies, cumin seeds, and mustard seeds and then tossed with masalas. Panasa pottu koora is best served with steamed rice and rotis. Tamarind water and cashew nuts are also used in the dish to enhance its flavour.
Pesarattu
If you are bored of your regular breakfasts, then this yummy variety of dosa is perfect to kickstart your day. Popular in Andhra Pradesh and nearby regions, pesarattu is made with green moong dal, which makes it extremely nutritious. This dish can be found in almost every authentic Andhra eatery across the country. It is commonly served with coconut chutney, peanut chutney, tamarind chutney, or chilli-tomato chutney. This thin, crispy, and tasty variant of dosa is packed with protein.
Punugulu
Talking about the snacks of Andhra Pradesh, punugulu is a classic delight that is a must-try. They are fritters made from idli batter, which is deep-fried till golden brown. This mouthwatering snack is popularly served with coconut-ginger chutney. But you can also enjoy this crunchy and crispy snack with your cup of coffee on rainy evenings. Punugulu can be commonly seen on the streets of Vijayawada and a few coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh.
Dondakaya Fry
Ivy gourd, or kundru, is one of our least favourite vegetables, and we don’t like adding it to our meals. But this healthy vegetable is packed with several vitamins. Give it a delicious twist by combining kundru with various nuts and spices. This is basically a stir-fried dish that has a crispy and nutty taste. Dondakaya fry is best served with roti or rice and rasam. Also known as tindora fry, this crispy dish can be prepared within twenty minutes.
Bobbatlu
Andhra cuisine is not only about spices and fiery chillies; this state also offers some mouthwatering desserts like bobbatlu. Also known as puran poli, obbattu, or poli, this classic dish can satisfy all your sweet cravings. Bobbatlu is prepared with chana dal, jaggery, maida, cardamom powder, ghee, and salt. It is also served on various celebratory occasions, like the Ugadi and Deepavali festivals. This mouthwatering flatbread is very popular in the state of Maharashtra as well.
Ulava Charu
The term ulava in Telugu means horse gram. Ulava charu is a traditional dish that is very similar to rasam and is enjoyed all across the state, especially in the districts of Guntur and Krishna. Prepared with horse gram, this soupy dish also uses fresh cream to enhance the taste. Other ingredients in ulava charu are tamarind, mustard seeds, and curry leaves. It goes well with steamed rice. This dish is rich in protein and dietary fibre and low in fat.
Gongura Pachadi
This is a classic Andhra pickle or chutney that tastes incredible when paired with steamed rice and onions. This lip-smacking side dish is prepared from sorrel leaves and can amp up any boring meal. Gongura pachadi is flavoured with red chillies, garlic, mustard seeds, cumin, and curry leaves. You can also enjoy it with dosa and roti. Sorrel leaves are rich in carbohydrates and fibre, which may boost your energy levels.
Boorelu
Also known as poornalu, this sweet dish is made with rice flour, jaggery, lentils, cardamoms, and dry fruits. Boorelu is specially made during festive occasions like Ugadi and is also served in traditional Hindu marriages. Prepare this mouth-melting sweet at home and treat your family. Be they children or adults, everyone is going to love it. It is also very famous in the state of Telangana. Boorelu requires extra skill to get the shape right. If your batter becomes runny, you can give it the right consistency by mixing in a little rice flour.
Uppudu Pindi
Unlike the other dishes, this is an easy and quick recipe that can be prepared within minutes. Similar to upma, uppudu pindi is mostly enjoyed as a light breakfast. It is prepared with rice rava, lentils, and a variety of spices like cumin, asafoetida, and red chillies. It has a savoury and tangy taste and is perfect to prepare on those crazy rush mornings. Earlier, this dish used to be prepared with broken rice. Uppudu pindi can be paired with pickles or yoghurt.
