Cuisine of Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh is a land where many dynasties have ruled leaving their ineffaceable mark on the cultural heritage of Andhra. A significant impact of Mughals is evident in Cuisine of Andhra Pradesh. Andhra cuisine is identified with the cultural influences on the state. Andhra Pradesh Cuisine is a sovereign heritage of 'Nizams', a fusion of Mughal and Persian culture.

Tourists and locals both relish the savories of Andhra. A plethora of lip smacking delicacies are something not to be missed when visiting Andhra. A 'shahi' platter of Andhra Pradesh cuisine is inevitable to miss out. And who can afford to miss the mouth watering 'Hyderabadi Biryani'. The spicy preparations of Andhra Pradesh are a perfect fusion of many styles of cooking. The inner cities of Andhra mostly relish vegetarian dishes. But the coastal parts of the state prefer non vegetarian dishes and sea foods. On special days, ceremonies, festivals the Nizam savor is at its best with wide variety.

You will love an Andhra platter where dishes are served on a banana leaf with tangy pickles and chutneys. Rice is the base of many preparations of Andhra cuisine. Andhra cuisines are the princely recipes with a liberal use of oil (sesame and coconut oil), chilly, and tamarind. Also added are coconuts, condiments, spices and fresh herbs to give aroma and enhance flavor of these preparations.

Pulihara, the tamarind rice, is the main food of people of Andhra. Among other vegetarian dishes the popular ones are Pesarattu, Gongura, Avakkai (raw mango pickle). Start your day at Andhra with a breakfast of Dosa, Pesarattu, and Upma along with Patchadi (Chutney). And pamper your taste buds at meal by Kodi Iguru (fry), Kodi Pulusu (gravy), Chepa Pulusu and Hyderabadi Biryani. Curd is an integral part of Andhra meal to moderate the spices. You can have 'Murku' (roundels of rice flour paste deep fried) and 'Appadams'. Onion pakodas (fried), vadas (spicy lentil doughnuts soaked in hot sambar) and idlis (steamed rice muffin-like dumplings) in snacks and do check out the desserts like 'Putharekulu', 'Kakinada Kaja', 'Bobbatlu', 'Booralu', 'Payasam', 'Sheer Khurma' and 'Bandhar Ladoo' . Wow! Yummy!

Visit the state and these savories will have an everlasting impression on your taste buds.

Swati