Tomato Rasam

Ingredients:

Tomatoes - 2 (medium)/3 (small)
Pepper Corns - 1/2 tsp
Jeera powder - 1/2 tsp
Green chillis - 2
Rasam Powder - 1tsp
Garlic pods - 3
Coriander leaves -  for garnishing

For popu/tadka:

Ghee - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Hing - pinch
Methi seeds - 6 or 7

Procedure:

• Boil tomatoes in 3 glasses of water for 5 to 10 mins till they are soft.
• Now take only the tomatoes from the water and peel the skin, mash them soft and then add this mixture, salt, rasam powder into the water above again.
• Course grind the garlic pods, green chillis with hand grinder and keep aside.
• Heat oil,ghee in a separate skillet and add all the tadka items and when the mustard seeds started spluttering add the above grinded mixture, pepper powder, jeera powder and fry for 2 mins and add this to the boiling rasam and let it boil for 5 to 10 mins.
• Lastly add the coriander on top and serve it hot with rice. 

Simple Nilava Tomato Pachadi/Pickle Andhra Style

Ingredients:

Tomatoes- 3lb (around 11-12 medium size tomatoes)
Mustard seeds- 1tsp
Turmeric- 1/2 tsp
Chilli Powder- 2 1/2 tbsp
Salt - 3tsp
Tamarind - small piece (add only if the tomatoes are not so tangy)
Vinegar- 1tsp (optional)
Methi seeds - 2tsp
Oil- 2tbsp

For tempering/popu:

Oil - 1/8cup
Mustard seeds- 1tsp
Red Chillis- 5
Curry leaves - 15 to 20
Hing- Pinch
Garlic- 6 whole pods (cut into rounds)

Procedure:

• Dry roast methi seeds till they are lightly brown in color and when slightly the aroma of the seeds comes out and transfer it into the blender. Let it cool and make into powder.
• Cut tomatoes by removing the upper part and keep aside.
• Heat the pan and add oil, mustard seeds and when they start spluttering add cut tomatoes. Cook the tomatoes on high heat till they are soft and reduce the flame to medium low.(make sure the tomatoes are cooked without the lid on it)
• Meanwhile add chilli powder, salt, tamarind, vinegar and keep mixing. 
• Cook it till oil separates from the tomatoes. For this it may take around 45mins to 1hour on medium flame.
• When all the water evaporates and oil oozes from the puree add the methi seed powder, mix well, switch of the flame and let it cool. 
• Heat oil in a separate pan and add all the tadka items mentioned above and when mustard seeds starts spluttering switch off the flame. Add this to the tomato mix and let them cool completely. 
• Transfer it into a dry, air-tight container and store it in refrigerator. 
• This pickle goes well idlis, dosas and also with hot rice.

Tip: 
To make it into chutney you can add 1tbsp of pickle into 1cup of yogurt and mix well.

Chegodilu

Ingredients:

Rice flour: 2cups
Water: 2cups
Chilli Powder: 2tsp
Sesame seeds: 2tbsp
Ghee: 1tsp
Ajwain seeds: 2tsp
Salt to taste
Oil for deep frying

Procedure:

1. Add salt, ajwain seeds, sesame seeds and chilli powder, ghee in water and boil it.
2. Once the water starts boiling add the rice flour into it and mix once, off the stove.
3. Now mix it after 5 mins and keep it aside.
4. Make small balls from the dough and roll it into rope in between the two palms or on a rolling pan till the ends are thin. 
5. Now press the two end of the rope tightly and keep aside
6. Make chegodilu in this manner with rest of the dough.
7. Heat oil for deep frying and fry all the chegodilu till golden brown in color and store them in an air tight container.

Vaangi Bhaat

Ingredients:

Rice - 2cups
Vankayalu/Brinjal - 1/2 kg or 8
Onions - 1/2 small
Chillis -2
Jeera - 1/2 tsp
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 2tsp
Salt to taste

For powder:

Chana dal- 3tsp
Urad dal- 1 1/4 tsp
Ground nut - 8
Sesame seeds - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - 10
Dhaniyalu/Coriander seeds - 1/2 tsp
Red Chillis -3
Dry Cocunut powder - 2tsp
Turmeric - Pinch
Salt pinch
Hing - pinch

Procedure:

1. Cook rice in 3 1/2 cups of water in pressure cooker and transfer it into a bowl.
2. Add 1 tsp oil, salt and let it cool.
3. Heat a small skillet and to it add chana dal, urad dal, red chillis, ground nut, coriander seeds and dry roast them on low flame. 
4. When they are lightly brown in color add all the other ingredients mentioned in powder section and switch off the flame. 
5. Let it cool and make it a powder and store it in an air tight container.
6. Cut brinjal into long thin slices and add some oil and salt to it and keep it aside.
7. Heat a big skillet to it add oil, mustard seeds, jeera and when they start spluttering add thinly sliced onions and chillis and fry till brown in color.
8. Add the brinjal pieces and let them cook til they are slightly soft. Do not overcook.
9. Now add 4tbsp of the powder to the fried brinjals and mix well.
10. Add the cooked rice the mixture and mix well. Cover it with the lid and cook for another 5 mins and serve hot with raitha.