Quick Capsicum Curry

Capsicum is one of the yummy vegetable and it adds aroma and taste to the food we love to have.
It is used as raw and cooked too. Here is a simple recipe which I tried long back and thought will put up here. It is one of the quick and simple dish but definitely you will end up eating more than what you usually eat.

I have used capsicum and tomatoes with home prepared sambar powder. This curry goes well with all the main dishes.
Let us see some benefits of having capsicum in our diet.
Capsicum is an excellent source of vitamin A and C. It has a rich source of dietary fiber. It has Vitamin E, B6 and folate.  Capsicum helps to get relief from stomach issues, back pain, headaches, skin aging, peptic ulcers, menopause problems. It is good for diabetes. It has anti inflammatory properties.
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Capsicum : 3 to 4
Tomatoes : 2 to 3
Sambar Powder : 1 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
To Season :
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
Green chilly : 2
Oil : 2 Teaspoons
To Add :
Methi /Fengrik Seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoons
Grated Ginger : 1 Teaspoon (An inch)
Turmeric powder : A pinch
Jaggery : 1 Tablespoon.

Method :

1. Wash and remove the seeds from capsicum and cut into small pieces.

2. Wash and cut tomatoes and cut into small pieces.
3. Wash and slit green chilly, cut coriander leaves and curry leaves.
4. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger and grate it.
5. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add 2 tsp of oil
6. Add mustard seeds, jeera and fry. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add slit green chilly
7. Add ingh and curry leaves. Add cut capsicum and fry nicely for 2 minutes.
8. Add cut tomatoes, a pinch of turmeric powder and stir nicely. Add methi seeds and glass of water.

9. Let the capsicum and tomatoes cook till they turn soft.
10. Add required salt, grated ginger and mix it well.

11. Add Sambar powder /curry powder, jaggery and stir the curry well.

12. Let it boil nicely for 3 to 4 minutes.

13. Shift the capsicum curry to a serving dish.
14. Add cut coriander leaves and serve with the main dish of your choice.

Note :

Before You use vegetables it should be washed and kept in plain water for at least 10 minutes.
Wash and Dip full capsicum and tomatoes in water at l east for 10 minutes.
Use of jaggery is optional. Use of any sambar powder is optional.
I have used home made Sambar powder.
Time : 20 Minutes
Serves : 2 to 3

Home Made Sambar Powder

Dry roast 2 to 3 tbs of coriander seeds, 1/4 tsp of methi seeds, 1/2 tsp of jeera, 1 tsp of urid dal, 6 to 8 byadagi chilly and 1 tsp of channa dal separately. (One by one).
Dry grind once it is cooled.
Mix it well and use fresh Sambar Powder to have good aroma.

For 1 time use.

Brinjal Gojju

Brinjal Gojju / bartha is a side dish done with Brinjal/Egg plant. The big brinjal really adds taste to this curry.

It is a quick, easy, yummy and simple dish that you can prepare when you are in a hurry.
Brinjal Gojju goes well with almost all the main dishes.
Let us see the recipe now :
No Onion OR No Garlic is used in Brinjal Gojju.

Ingredients :

To cook :

Brinjal  : 1
Green chilly : 2
Tomatoes: 2 ( Small )
Capsicum : 1
Carrot : 1
Ginger : An inch
To Season :
Coconut Oil : 2 Tablespoons
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera / Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8 leaves
To Add :
Turmeric powder : A pinch
Sambar /Rasam Powder : 1 Tablespoon
Salt : As required
Jaggery : 1 Teaspoon
Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoon

Method :

1. Wash and cut brinjal and soak the pieces in a big bowl at least for 10 minues.
2. Wash and cut tomatoes, carrot and slit green chilly.
3. Wash and cut capsicum and keep it aside.

4. Wash ginger, peel of the skin and wash it again. Grate it and keep it aside.
5. Keep a pan on the fire and put oil. Add mustard seeds, jeera and let mustard splutter.
6. Add ingh, curry leaves and fry for a second.

7. Add cut carrot pieces, capsicum, and tomatoes. Add grated ginger and green chilly.

8. Fry nicely for s minute. Remove brinjal from water and wash it again. Add these brinjal pieces with carrots.
9. Fry for a minute and add salt, turmeric powder, rasam powder and salt.
10. Mix all the vegetables nicely and put 1/2 cup of water and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. ( I used pressure cooker to cook ). Allow it to cool.
11. Keep the cooked gojju on the fire. Add jaggery and mix it well. Add coriander leaves.

12. Shift the ready Brinjal Gojju to a serving dish and serve with the main dish you have prepared. We had it with plain red rice.

Note :

Soaking brinjal pieces in water helps to remove the bitterness in brinjal. Use of any brand of
 rasam /sambar powder is optional. I have used MTR. rasam powder.
Use of any cooking oil is optional. You can use tamarind pulp instead of tomatoes.
Discarding tomato seeds is optional. Use of pressure cooker is optional. You can cook in a pan instead of pressure cooker. Use of onions and garlic is optional.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 5.
Brinjal Bajji/Fried fritter with Brinjal Gojju.
 Mix channa flour with little water, jeera, chilly powder and salt. Let the batter be idly consistency.
Wash and cut brinjal in to circle shape and wash it again. Squeeze out the water and dip brinjal pieces in channa batter. Keep a cup of oil on the fire and heat. Fry channa flour dipped brinjal one by one in hot oil. Remove from the oil and put it on the kitchen tissue.
Serve as one of the side dish.

Carrot - Capsicum Chutney

Carrot Capsicum Chutney /dip is a simple side dish and it goes well with dosa, idli, upma , plain rice and all types of rotis and naan. It can be used as dip for bajji /fried fritter or can use it for bread sandwich.

It is an easy dish and good for all age group.
Eating fresh coconut is good for health. It helps to keep our skin soft and smooth.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Capsicum : 1 (Medium size)
Carrot : 1 ( Big )
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Fresh grated coconut : 1 Bowl
Tamarind : 1 Small Marble size
Ginger : An inch.
Methi seeds/Fenugrik seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Pepper Pods : 3 to 4
Salt : As required
For seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh/Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6

Method :

1. Wash and remove the seeds from capsicum and cut into small pieces.
2. Wash and scrape out the outer layer of carrots and cut into small.
3. Wash and slit green chilly and keep it aside. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger and wash it again.
4. Wash curry leaves and keep it aside. Grate coconut and keep it aside.

5. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add coconut oil, pepper pods and methi seeds. Fry till they turn golden brown.

6. Add cut carrots, capsicum, ginger and chilly.. Fry for 1 to 2 minutes.
7. Put off the fire and add grated coconut and tamarind.

8. Grind it with required water and salt. ( Add water little by little).
9. Grind it til it turn as required consistency and remove from the mixi jar.

10. Add coconut oil, mustard seeds, ingh and curry leaves seasoning and serve.

Note :

Slightly frying the vegetables adds taste. Grinding chutney either coarse or into fine paste is optional.
Use of more / less coconut is optional. Use of more /less chilly is optional.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3 

Baby Potatoes & Capsicum Curry

Baby potatoes are loved by all age group these days. It is nice to have for curries and even as snacks.
Here I have tried baby potatoes with capsicum which is a very good combination for curd rice and goes well with chapatis, roties, bread and most of the main dishes.

It is easy, quick and simple stir fry. Try and enjoy.
All I have used is baby potatoes, capsicum and some simple spices.
Remember that do not load your food with lots of spices. It might effect your health.
Eating boiled potatoes are always good for health. They provide energy to our body. They are filled with carbohydrates.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Baby Potatoes : 10
Capsicum : 2
Pepper Pods : 4 to 5
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1 Teasppon
Green chilly : 2
Salt : As required
Garam Masala : 1/2 Teaspoon
To Season :
Cooking Oil : 2 Tablespoons
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh/Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6 leaves

Method  

1. Wash and boil potatoes and remove its skin.
2. Wash and remove the inner seeds of capsicum and cut into small pieces.
3. Dry grind pepper and jeera to powder.
4. Wash and cut green chilly into slice ( just slit).
5. Keep a big pan on the fire and heat. Put oil and mustard seeds and 1/2 Teaspoon of jeera.
6. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add slit green chilly, ingh and curry leaves. Fry it.
7. Add cut capsicum and fry till they turn slightly soft.
8. Poke baby potatoes with a knife edge slightly and make small holes.
9. Put baby potatoes to frying capsicum and stir slowly.
10. Add required salt, pepper jeera powder, garam masala powder and a pinch of turmeric powder.
11. Stir slowly and let it cook on low flame for 2 minutes. Stir in between.
12. Shift the ready baby potatoes and capsicum curry to a serving bowl and serve with the main dish.

Note :

Do not over cook potatoes. All it to cool and then remove its skin. Adding any spice is your choice. I have used MTR garam masala. Adding more oil helps the curry to be tasty. But not good for health.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3 .

Black Eyed Beans & Capsicum Uppittu.

Uppittu/Upma is one of the breakfast dish prepared using Rava/Rave/Semolina. It is one of the easy dish that can be prepared within minutes and it is yummy to have it for breakfast/snack.

Many people love to have Uppittu with a cup of coffee /tea and it is one of the good combination. Uppittu is prepared in varieties. Use of vegetables, onions, pulses are used to prepare uppittu.
We from Udupi normally prepare simple coconut uppittu. It has no onion and it does contain more of coconut. Any functions or weddings Uppittu is one of the dish that served as breakfast.
I have used black eyed beans, capsicum and medium sized rava for Uppittu/Upma.
I have heard people saying, they feel heavy when they eat uppittu and It is because of rava, rave/semolina. It has the quality of slow digestion. It keeps you full for a long time. That is the reason people who diet or work out (Gym) eat food that is prepared in Semolina/Rava.

NO ONION OR NO GARLIC is used in Black Eyed Beans & Capsicum Uppittu ".

I have used fresh black eyed beans which is available in the market.
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients : 

Fresh Black Eyed Beans  : 1 Cup.
Capsicum : 1 (Medium size)
Green chilly : 2
Ginger : An inch
Rava/Semolina  Medium sized : 2 Cups
Ghee : 2 Tablespoons
Coconut Oil : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Mustard seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 8 to 10
Salt : As required
Water : 4 1/2  Cup
Lemon : 1 ( 2 Teaspoons).
Grated fresh coconut : 1 Cup
Coriander leaves : 2 to 3 Tablespoons.

Method :

1. Remove and wash black eyed beans from its cover and cook till it turns soft. (Pressure cooker 2 whistles).
2. Keep water for boiling. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
3. Wash, green chilly, capsicum, coriander leaves and curry leaves. Cut them into small pieces.

4. Wash ginger and peel off its outer layer. Wash it again and grate it and keep it aside.
5. Keep a big pan on the fire and heat. Add oil, mustard seeds and urid dal. Let mustard seeds splutter.
6. Add cut green chilly and curry leaves. Add Rava /Semolina and fry till the raw smell goes off.

7. Add boiled water and mix it slowly. Add salt. Mix it well. Cover and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

8. Add cooked black eyed beans and mix it well. Add grated ginger. Mix it slowly. Let it be on low flame.

9. Keep a pan on the fire and put a tablespoon of oil. Fry cut capsicum nicely till it turns slightly soft.
10. Add this fried capsicum to Uppittu. Add lemon juice, mix  it well nicely and put off the gas.

11. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of ghee and grated coconut. Mix it again slowly and shift the ready Uppittu to a serving dish.

12.  Add cut coriander leaves and serve " Fresh black Eyed Beans & Capsicum Uppittu.

Note : 

Let the flame be very low while frying rava. Fry it nicely to get good texture of uppittu. Use of any cooking oil is optional. I used coconut oil. Use of more /less green chilly is optional. Use of ghee is optional. You can use little more oil instead of ghee. You can cook capsicum in little water and then add it instead of frying in oil. (Optional). Taste differ.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 .

Ghee Jeera Rice with Cauliflower Fritters

Ghee Jeera Rice is a simple dish which can be done easily. You can have this jeera/cumin rice with some vegetables and here I have prepared "Ghee Jeera rice with Cauliflower Fry". It is a healthy dish which is very simple and Cauliflower fry adds to the taste.

I have used Sona Masuri rice, jeera, tomatoes, capsicum, cauliflower and very simple spices which is in your kitchen. 

Let us see some benefits of eating " Cloves " in our diet.

Cloves are rich source of antioxidants, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti -flatulent properties. Cloves have essential oils in them. It is good for dental care. Cloves are good for digestion and gastric problems. They are very helpful for indigestion and constipation problems. They contain minerals like potassium, manganese, iron, magnesium. They are rich in Vitamin A, beta carotene properties, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C. 

" Ghee Jeera Rice with Cauliflower Fry " has No Garlic or No Onion Recipe. 

There are three steps to prepare this " Ghee Jeera Rice with Cauliflower Fry".

1. Ghee Jeera Rice preparation.

2. VegetableFrying 

3. Cauliflower s Fry.

Let us see the recipe step by step. Though the preparation looks long, You feel very comfortable to have this food. It is yummy and healthy dish.

 Let us see the recipe now :

1. Ghee Jeera Rice

Things Needed :

Cooked Rice : 2 Cups. 

Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon

Cloves : 2 to 3

Cinnamon : A small piece.  

Ghee : 2 Tablespoons

Salt : As required

Coriander leaves : Handful 

Method : 

1. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add ghee and let it melt. Add cloves and cinnamon piece.

2. Add Jeera /Cumin Seeds and fry for 30 seconds.

3. Add cooked rice and salt. Mix it well and let it cook on low flame for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in between.

4. Shift the ready " Ghee Jeera Rice to a serving dish. Rice is ready to serve.

5. Wash and cut coriander leaves and add it on the top of  Ghee Jeera Rice. 

2. Vegetables Fry.

Things Needed :

Carrots : 2 to 3 

Capsicum : 2 

Tomatoes : 2 

Garam Masala powder : 1 Teaspoon

Turmeric powder : A pinch

Oil : 1 Teaspoon

Jeera : 1/2 Teaspoon

Ginger : A small piece

Salt : As required 

Method 

1. Wash and remove the outer layer of carrots and grate it. Keep it aside.

2. Wash capsicum and remove the seeds and cut into small. ( Desired shape and size).

3. Wash tomatoes and cut into small. Remove the seeds before cutting into small.

4. Wash ginger and remove the outer layer. Wash again and grate it.

5. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil. jeera and let jeera turn slightly golden. 

6. Add cut capsicum and fry nicely. Add grated carrots and fry for a while.

7. Add cut tomatoes and fry till they turn soft. Add garam masala powder and stir.

8. Add salt and turmeric powder. Stir in between and let all the moisture disappear.

9. Put off the fire and keep Vegetable fry aside.

3. Cauliflower Fritters. (Pakodas)

Things Needed :

Cauliflower florets : 1 Bowl.

Rice flour : 2 to 3 Tablespoons

Corn flour : 1 Tablespoon

Wheat flour : 1 Tablespoon

Salt : As required 

Jeera /Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon

Chilly Powder : 1 Teaspoon

Oil to Fry : 1 Cup

Method :

1. Wash cauliflower and dip in warm water for 20 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of salt to it.

2. Wash cauliflower nicely using normal water.

3. Cut into small florets. (Each flower separate, if it is too big cut into 2). 

4. Dry roast wheat flour for 2 minutes. Put roasted wheat flour in a tray/plate. Let it cool completely.

5. Take a big bowl and put rice flour, corn flour and roasted wheat flour. Add salt and jeera.

6. Add chilly powder and mix it well. Add required water and prepare dough. (Idli dough consistency).

7. Keep a pan and heat. Put oil and let it get hot. Now dip cut cauliflower in mixed flour dough and leave it in the hot oil. (Medium flame and slow flame).

8. Fry cauliflower in medium and slow flame. Fry on both sides. Remove it from the oil and put it on the kitchen tissue.

9. Repeat the same and fry all the fritters same way.

10. Add fried cauliflower pakodas/fritters to the vegetable curry done.

11. Keep vegetable curry on the fire and stir it nicely. Let cauliflower mix with curry.

12. Now shift the curry to a serving dish. 

13. Put this fried curry cauliflower mixture on the top of Ghee Jeera Rice and serve.

14. You can mix all the three dishes nicely and serve  

                                          Or 

15. You can just top up cauliflower fritters mixture above the rice and serve.

Note :

Use cooked and cooled rice to get the perfect dish.

Adding any sambar powder, jeera -coriander powder, pav baaji masala powder or chenna masala powder is optional. I have used garam masala powder.  

You can also use any sauce while frying vegetables. ( I have not added any sauce).

You can use maida instead of wheat flour. Dry roasting wheat flour helps to reduce the gluten and it the fritter will not turn very soft.

Time :  30 to 40 Minutes. (if cooked rice is ready or you need another 30 minutes to cook rice).

Serves : 3 to 4.