Capsicum~Bell Pepper Curry

Ingredients for making Capsicum/ Bell Pepper Curry:

• Capsicum - 1 large or 2 medium sized ( can use red/green,yellow
• Tomato - 2 small
• Onion - 1 medium size
• Ginger - 1 inch (peeled and chopped)
• Garlic - 2 cloves
• Potato - 2 medium size
• Red chili powder - 1/2 tsp
• Turmeric Powder - a pinch
• Sambar / Curry Powder - 1 tsp
• cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Water - 1 1/2 cups
• salt - to taste

Method for making Capsicum/ Bell Pepper Curry:

Step 1: Wash and cut the vegetables in to 1 inch cubes, finely chop Onion,Ginger and Garlic.

Step 2: In a Skillet add 1 Tablespoon of cooking oil and heat it then add 1/2 tsp of cumin seeds.

Step 3: Add the chopped Onion, Garlic,Ginger and fry for till the Onions become transparent.

Step 4: Then add salt, Red Chili Powder, Turmeric Powder, Sambar / Curry Powder and mix well. (till nice aroma comes out)

Step 5: Then add the cubed Tomatoes and mix well, till they become mushy.

Step 6: Then add the cubed Capsicum, Potato and water (1 1/2 cups) mix well and cook till the potatoes are done.

Step 7: Mix everything nicely, adjust salt to taste. Remove from heat. Capsicum Curry is ready to serve.( can make this curry with Little gravy or dry).(i normally make this curry with Little gravy --i.e i remove the curry when it has little water in it, if u like the other version i.e dry then keep stirring it till the water fully evaporates)

This is a nice side dish for Chapati, Naan, Paratha, (White )Steamed Rice

I served this Capsicum Curry as main dish with White Rice (Steamed Rice) for Lunch.

Lemon Rice

Lemon Rice ~ Elumicham Pazham Sadam
This is South Indian Dish. It has a nice Yellow Color, from the Turmeric Powder.It can also be made when you have left over rice and can be served with just Potato Chips or with any Indian Side Dish. Kids will love this Simple yet tasty Lemon Rice.

Ingredients for making Lemon Rice:

• 1 cup cooked rice (basmati rice or long grain rice)
• 2 Table Spoon Lemon Juice
• 1/2 Teaspoon Sesame Oil or Any Cooking Oil
• 1 Tablespoon Peanuts
• 1 Red Chili
• 1 Green Chili
• 1 Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
• 1 Teaspoon Black Gram Dal
• 1 Teaspoon Bengal Gram Dal
• 1/4 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
• Curry Leaves (optional)
• Cilantro Leaves (optional)
• half Carrot peeled and grated (optional)
• Salt to taste

Method for making Lemon Rice:

Step 1: Cook the rice and make sure that the cooked grains stay separate. Keep it aside , to cool.

Step 2: Heat a Skillet, add cooking oil then add the mustard seeds, let it splutter, then add the Bengal gram Dal, black gram Dal,Curry leaves, Red chili,Green chili, Peanuts and fry for a minute.

Step 3: Add the Turmeric Powder and mix nicely .

Step 4: Switch off the Heat and add the cooled Cooked Rice and then salt and mix everything nicely such that the rice is evenly yellow in color.

Step 5: Add the Lemon Juice to the Yellow Rice. Mix nicely. Let it stay for approx. 15 minutes. Remove to a serving Dish, Garnish with Grated Carrots and Cilantro Leaves. Is Ready to serve.....

Can be served with Potato chips or any side dish

I served my lemon Rice with Matar Paneer for Lunch.

Chole

The main ingredient for this recipe is Garbanzo Beans/ Chick Peas. They are a member of Pea family. Also known as ceci (Italy),Egyptian Pea, Gram, Kichererbse (Germany) and revithia (Greece). This is the most widely consumed legume in the world. This was originated in Middle East. They have a flavour in between Chestnuts and Walnuts.

Garbanzo Beans are pale in Yellow Color. In India there are Red, Brown, Black coloured Garbanzo Beans too.

1 cup of Garbanzo Beans has 361 Calories and is rich in Carbohydrates, Proteins, Phosphorus, Calcium and Iron. Since it has such nice properties, why not include this to our food diet.

This is how i make the recipe Chole using Garbanzo Beans.

Ingredients for making Chole :

• Garbanzo Beans/ Chick Peas - 1 cup ( soak in 3 cups of waters for approx 6 hrs)


• Onion - 1 medium ( peel and cut in to small pieces)
  
• Tomato - 2 medium ( cut in to small pieces)
  
• Ginger - 1 inch piece ( peel and cut in to small pieces)
  
• Coriander seeds - 1 Tablespoon
  
• 2 Dried Red Chili or 1/2 Teaspoon Chili powder( adjust according to the desired spiciness)


• Cardamom - 1
  
• Cloves - 2

Cinnamon - a small stick

• Cumin Seeds - 1 Teaspoon
  
• Anise Seeds - 1 Teaspoon
  
• Salt - to taste
  
• Cilantro a little (to Garnish)

Method for making Chole:

Step 1: Pressure cook the pre-soaked Garbanzo Beans for 20 minutes or until cooked. (such that it retains it shape).

Step 2: Cut the Onions and Tomatoes.

Step 3: In a pan add 2 Teaspoons of Oil and Add the cut Onions and Fry till they become transparent then add ginger and then cut tomatoes to it and cook till they become mushy. To that add the other spices -cumin seeds, coriander seeds, anise seeds, cardamom, Cinnamon, cloves. Fry for a minute or till a nice aroma comes. Remove from heat and let it cool.

Step 4: Grind the ingredients in the pan to a smooth paste.

Step 4: In the pan, add 1 Tablespoon of oil heat it, then to that add the grounded ingredients then add the cooked Garbanzo Beans add little water to adjust the consistency (the end result should be thick consistency)

Step 5: Add salt according to taste. Mix well. Let it boil for 10 minutes in medium heat.

Chole is Ready to Serve. This can be served as Main Dish garnished with fresh Onions and Cilantro Leaves and a piece of Fresh Lemon or as Side dish with Naan,Chapathi, or with Breads.

Yesterday i cooked Chole for dinner and i served this as a Side dish for Hamburgers Bun