Have you ever heard of Pachadi? If not, here is a brief introduction: Pachadi is an ancient South Indian dish of some vegetables or greens and a variety of spices like cumin, red chilli, coriander powder, black pepper powder, turmeric powder, clarified butter, fennel seeds, asafetida and dried red chillies. Andhra Pradesh is one of the best places in Southern India where you can find this famous side dish.
There are many recipes that have been handed down through generations. Pachadi Paneer is a famous preparation made using coconut meat, onions and some Massala. It is prepared using chickpea paste and is considered to be one of the tastiest and healthiest side dishes of all. The ingredients used in this preparation are; black gram, red gram, clarified and oiled coconut, onions, . Andhra Pradesh is home to some of the best restaurants that specialize in serving this delicious side dish.
The greens and vegetables are first marinated in coconut oil and then deep fried. The rest of the ingredients used in the preparation of this dish are; red chili powder, cumin powder, clarified butter, fennel seeds, asafetida and coconut.
Apart from being served at traditional restaurant’s Pachadi Paneer has now been transformed into countless different versions. Some of these versions include Pachadi Bhel, Pachadi Biryani, Pachadi Kebabra and even Pachadi Paruppu. All these preparations are cooked using the same recipe but with slight variations to make them more delicious. Asafetida is the main ingredient that is added in almost all the recipes of south India. Asafetida is a great flavoring agent in south Indian masala. This spice is a mixture of dried mint, cumin and red chili powder that is used to impart a tangy taste to the food.
Another famous version of Pachadi for Non vegetarians is Pachadi Biryani. In this preparation the chicken is marinated in yogurt and then cooked in a clay oven. After the preparation is over the meat is cooked inside the clay oven. This preparation is cooked using a pachadi which is a special clay oven that is made using an inner fire. The outside of pachadi is sealed with the help of an inner foil.
It is believed that Pachadi was originated in the state of Tamil Nadu. However, it has spread across various parts of India. This Indian delicacy has caught the fancy of people from all age groups. Today this dish is preferred during lunch and dinner.