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Alongside Tirupati, Vijaywada is one of the most revered sacred sites in Andhra Pradesh as well as all of India. Being the site of the famous Kanaka Durga Temple, millions of Goddess Durga devotees are drawn to the city annually. Vijaywada is also home to the renowned Undavalli Caves, making it a religious as well as a cultural hotspot. These aspects of the city are further enriched by its culinary offerings, with delicacies such as Andhra biryani and kaja being among its staples. Visit the local joint Sweet Magic to indulge in some authentic Vijaywada kaja.
Generally, it has been observed that the cuisine of Vijaywada is rich in wholesome vegetarian ingredients, including lentils and vegetables; the city’s proximity to the celebrated Krishna River as well as its agricultural prowess have also made rice a fixture in local households, serving as the foundation for a range of beloved recipes of Vijaywada. Additionally, many of the local dishes are characterised by an extensive use of spices, such as red chillies, which imbue the food with smoky and robust bursts of flavour
Check out some of the most famed culinary gems of Vijaywada.
Sweet Corn Vadai
Image Credits: By Ashok Kumar P S - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons
Sweet corn vadai is a lip-smacking snack that’s local to Andhra Pradesh. Sweet corn is combined with herbs and a host of spices, including green chillies, ginger, and coriander leaves, to craft this deep-fried delicacy. Onions, mint leaves, and chana dal are used to infuse the dish with additional flavours and a crunchy texture. This dish can be enjoyed as an evening snack with a cup of masala chai or as a breakfast item; it’s usually accompanied by a spicy red chutney.
Recommendations: Welcome Tea & Fast Food
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹200, approx.
Gongura Pachadi
A quintessential Andhra condiment, gongura pachadi is a flavour-packed chutney made from sour gongura leaves. The dish is treasured for the seamless manner in which it incorporates the gongura leaves with ingredients like red chillies, garlic, and cumin to form a mouthwatering side dish that can be relished with flatbreads or eaten by itself. Gongura features significantly in other Andhra dishes as well, such as gongura pickle; it is also used in local dishes, including chicken fry and chicken curry, to enhance their flavours.
Recommendations: Aha Pickles And Spices
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹200, approx.
Karam Dosa
Karam dosa is ubiquitous throughout Andhra Pradesh, including in the city of Vijaywada. This crispy dosa stands out from other dosas because of its use of a special ingredient known as “Erra Karam,” which is essentially a red chilli onion chutney. The dosa is also seasoned with “Pappula Podi,” or chutney powder, to give it an added kick of spice. Other main ingredients include tamarind, gram flour, and garlic. A popular Andhra street food, this dosa can be relished with an onion chutney or a coconut chutney.
Recommendations: Seetaiah Hotel Idly Dosa Corner
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹200, approx
Pesarattu
Image Credits: By Jit.roy.chowdhury - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons
Also known as “pesara dosa,” pesarattu is a type of dosa originating from Andhra Pradesh. What sets this dosa apart from other dosas is that it doesn’t use urad dal in its batter; rather, it’s made of green gram, that is, moong dal, batter, which infuses it with a slightly vibrant green colour. Pesarattu is commonly consumed as breakfast in Andhra households, although it makes for a filling lunch and dinner option as well. Local Andhra joints usually serve pesarattu alongside a ginger chutney and rava upma.
Recommendations: Sri Sathya Sai Tea And Tiffin
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹200, approx.
Andhra Biryani
Andhra biryani is a succulent and fiery rice-based dish that is composed of ingredients such as green and red chillies, tamarind, and curry leaves. These ingredients lend the biryani bold flavours that help distinguish it from other regional variations of biryani. Traditional Andhra biryani recipes are usually infused with meats, including chicken and mutton. However, Andhra locals also make this biryani preparation with vegetarian ingredients, including vegetables such as potatoes and cottage cheese, for vegetarian consumers.
Recommendations: Minerva Grand Restaurant
Type: Vegetarian, Non-Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹400, approx.
Rasam
Rasam is a type of soup that is savoured throughout Andhra Pradesh, including in Vijaywada. This dish comprises a tomato base, which is crafted by combining tomatoes with a collection of ingredients, such as tamarind juice and whole spices, in the vein of mustard seeds, cumin seeds, black pepper, and fenugreek. A beloved comfort food, rasam boasts tangy and sweet flavours. The dish is typically garnished with fresh coriander leaves and served with a helping of rice.
Recommendations: Lakshmi Vilas Brahmana Bhojanam
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹200, approx.
Kaja
Image Credits: By విశ్వనాధ్.బి.కె. - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons
Kaja is a melt-in-the-mouth local Andhra sweet dish that’s prepared from refined gram flour and sugar syrup. This deep-fried treat boasts a delightfully crunchy texture; the crispiness of the base and the sweetness of the sugar syrup combine to form a multilayered dessert that enthralls one’s palate when bitten into. Kaja, widely considered the most popular dessert in Andhra Pradesh, is available throughout the state in most sweet-selling shops and bakeries.
Recommendations: Sweet Magic
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹200–₹400, approx.
