Sweet Potato - Capsicum Dry Curry

                  Ready to Serve Sweet Potato - Capsicum Dry Curry

Sweet Potato - Capsicum Palya or dry curry is a side dish. I do love Sweet Potatoes so much and keep trying dishes using Sweet Potato. This time it is Sweet Potato with Capsicum. and it really a good aromatic tasty dish. We can have them with plain rice, chapati or poori or roti or dosa. This combination of Sweet Potato and Capsicum is a good combo. Not much of spices are used. This can be one of the side dish. Sweet potatoes are used in cooking and many varieties of dishes are prepared. For example, Sweet Potato Upma  Sambar, Dry curry, curd curry and salads and sweet versions with sweet potato are Holige ( Sweet Paratha), Payasa, Halva,  Papad (Happala in Kannada) and many more 
Lets see the benefits of having Sweet Potatoes and Capsicum in our diet. 

Sweet Potatoes are good source of vitamin C and B6 vitamins. They contain potassium and it is helpful for our heart and it lowers blood pressure by maintaining fluid balance and helps to regulate the heart beat. They also help to control blood sugar and maintaining the  energy. Sweet Potatoes contain Vitamin D and it plays an important role in our energy level, moods and helps to build healthy bones, heart , nerves, skin and teeth and it supports the thyroid gland. They contain Iron and iron plays an important role in our body, including red and white blood cell production , resistance to stress, proper immune functions and the metabolizing of protein. They are good source of magnesium also. Magnesium is necessary for healthy artery, blood, bone, heart, muscle and nerve function. They contain high source of fiber and good for digestion.
Adding Capsicum helps to keep our skin clear, prevents rashes and pimples. They contain Vitamin A and Vitamin A is good for eyes and helps to prevent eye diseases. Capsicum is a good pain reliever and it prevents the sensation of pain. It is helpful in treating pain related diseases. It helps to burn more calories. It helps to reduce weight and prevents indigestion. It regulates blood pressure and lower the cholesterol.
"Sweet Potato - Capsicum Dry Curry" do not contain Onions or Garlic and we can prepare this curry on special days and festival or feast. 
 Lets see the recipe.

Things Needed :

Sweet Potatoes : 3 to 4
Capsicum : 1 (Big)
Mustard seeds : 1/2  Tea Spoon
Urid Dal : 1/2 Tea spoon
Jeera : 1/2 Tea spoon
Chilly Powder : 1/2 Tea spoon
Garam Masala Powder : 1/2 Tea spoon

Oil : 1 Table spoon
Ingh : a pinch
Salt : Required
Coconut : 2 to 3 Table spoons
Coriander leaves : 1 Table spoon
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6 

Method :

1. Wash all the vegetables .(Sweet Potatoes, Capsicum, coriander leaves, curry leaves )

2. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
3. Remove the outer skin of Sweet Potato and cut it into small and put it in a bowl of water. Cut capsicum and keep it aside.

4. Now keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put oil, mustard seeds, and Urid dal. Let the mustard spurt. Add jeera and ingh
5. Add curry leaves and Capsicum. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes.

6. Add cut sweet potato pieces and fry for 2 minutes. Add 1/4 cup of water (or less also will do).
7. Add little turmeric powder and mix it well. Cover with lid and cook on low flame.

8. Let all the moisture disappear. Add salt, chilly powder, coconut and garam masala powder.

9. Stir slowly and mix the ingredients nicely on low flame. Add a tea spoon of fresh oil on the top.
10. Let it cook on low flame for 2 minutes. Now turn off the fire
11. Mix it nicely and shift the curry to a serving dish.

12. Add cut coriander leaves and serve with plain rice or chapati. Add a spoon of ghee to a plain rice just before serving.

Note :
Do not add much water. Add little water and just watch. It should not get burnt too. Adding more oil is optional. Adding coconut to the curry is also optional.  ( I have added coconut since it adds to the taste. Adding onions or garlic also an optional. ( I have not added).
Time : 15 Minutes.
Serves : 4.

Avarekaalu Saagu ( Field Beans Curry)

Ready to Serve  Avarekalu Saagu

Avarekaalu Saagu or Curry is a spicy gravy dish. Avarekai (field beans) is available plenty, during winter months and people do make use these  beans in cooking. There are varieties of food preparation using Avarekai.Avarekalu uppittu, huli , dosa, saaru, usali, idli , many rice items with Avarekai. So the list goes up with many items.
Lets see some benefits of having Avarekalu in our diet. 

Field beans contain Vitamin A, Vitamin B and C. Field beans are highly nutritious and supply vital nutrients to our body. They contain high fiber and regulates cholesterol level and help in proper functioning of our digestive system. They are rich source of iron which is helping in building of hemoglobin.Avarekalu Saagu goes well with chapatis, parotas, roti, dosa, idly and plain and masala rice.

There is no onion or garlic added in this recipe and we can prepare Avarekalu Saagu for any special days. 

 

 Things needed :

Avarekalu : 2 cups
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Tamarind : 1 marble size
Coconut : 2 Table spoons
Almonds : 10
Cloves : 3 to 4
Pepper pods : 6 to 8
Cinnamon :  2 small pieces.
Ginger : an inch.
Coriander seeds : 1 Table spoon
Jeera : 1 Tea spoon
Gasagase (Poppy Seeds) 1 Table spoon
Oil : 2 Table spoons
Coriander leaves : 2 Table spoons.
Salt : required

Method : 

1. Remove the pods from Averekai and wash it . Pressure cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Leave it for cooling.

2. Grate coconut and keep it aside. Wash coriander leaves,  ginger and remove the outer skin, wash it again and cut it into small pieces.
3. Now grind all the ingredients, like coconut, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, pepper pods, poppy seeds (raw),  coriander seeds, 1/2 a spoon of jeera, coriander leaves and tamarind using little water. (till paste).

4. Now keep a pan on the fire and put oil. Put 1/2 Tea spoon of jeera. Fry them for 10 seconds. Add ground paste.
5. Stir for 2 to 3 minutes. Add cooked Avarekai and salt. Mix it well and boil for 2 to 3 minutes.

 6. Put off the gas and shift the ready Avarekalu Saagu to a serving dish.

7. Serve with the main dish you prepared
8.  We had Avarekai Saagu with Methi Parota.

Note:
If you feel the spices are more you can reduce it. Adding more or less chilly is optional. Using onions and garlic is also an optional.
You can add more water and make it little more liquid. You can  add a table spoon of butter just before you shift the curry.
Time : 30 minutes
Serves : 4 to 5.