Chuppulu, Chekkilalu (Rice flour snack)

Chuppulu or Chekkinalu as they are famously known. This is a snack with rice flour and mostly in Andhra Pradesh state in india in Srikakulam dstrict these are known as chuppulu and are a favourite for most people. Chupplulu Recipe: Ingredients: 250 gms Rice flour,75grms seaseme seeds,75grms Ajwain/bishop's weed seeds(known as waamu in telugu), warm water 1/2 cup.Salt to taste and oil for frying. Tools: One heavy bottomed pan, muruku press(choose the one with a single round whole in order to be able to make the shapes as in the picture). Method: In a dry bowl mix all the ingredients except water. Then knead by add warm water slowly anf little by little in order to make into a smooth dough. Put this dough into the muruku press little at a time and roll out into the shapes as in the picture on to a dry cloth/plate.Roll out the entire dough and leave it in the sun to dry atleast for an hour.After an hour heat oil in a pan and deep fry them on a medium flame until they are done. Note that these need not turn golden brown you can take them out when they are still looking white. Butfry them until they cook enough so that they come out crisp. if you are doing it for the first time i suggest cook one first and then try the remaining. Cheers, Chandini

Spicy Chicken Biriyani

Spicy Chicken biryani recipe: Ingredients: Boneless Chicken (cleaned and chopped bite size)(500gms), rice for 3 people/1.5 cups (soked for half hour), hot water 2.5 cups 5-6 tblspns of ghee, spice masala, 8-10 green chillies (slit lenght wise), 1spn red chilli powder, 2 big onions (long slit), 2 spns ginger garlic paste, 2 spoons yoghurt, 1 cup Coconut milk, 1/2 spn turmetic powder, 1/2 a lime and salt to taste. Method: Marination: Clean and cut the chicken into bite size pieces, Add little salt, a pinch of turmeric powder, 1 spn ginger-garlic paste, yoghurt, chilli powder and 1 tea spn lime juice. Spice Masala: 6-7 cloves,2 bay leaves, 2 sticks of cinnanmon, 1 black cardamom, 2 green cardamoms, 1 flower, 1 tspn jeera, 1 tspn dhania, 1/2 tspn Khus khus. 1/4th tspn pepper corns. Dry Roast all the ingredients and grind into a fine powder. Biriyani Take a heavy boottomed big pan. Heat ghee.Add chillies and stir for 2 mins. Add onions and fry till golden brown. Add the spice masala, the remaining ginger-garlic paste and stir for a min. Now add chicken and fry until its golden brown. Add turmeric powder, rice, Salt, coconut milk and water. Stir and give it a taste. Cook on a very low flame for 10 mins add the lime and cook further for 10 more mins until the rice is done. Serve hot and enjoy!! This is delicious to eat just like that but can be served with raita or chicken gravy curry. "This is my favorite biriyani its my mom's signature dish. I am very happy sharing this with everyone. Hope you enjoy it". Cheers, Chandini