There are times when you feel you have missed so many years of enjoying something! This is what happened when I chanced on eating Bell Pepper or capsicum recently. I never liked Capsicum from childhood. Even when I was baking pizzas and fried Rice every other day and this bell pepper would be a common item in the refrigerator, I never could get myself to eat this. I top the pizzas and once done, gently remove them off. I would even try to strip off any cheese that might be lingering on it.
This continued for many years. I never missed it and never thought that there might be a day when I will finally think it's delicious! I guess fate always has something else in store for you! What else do I assume? One fine morning, when I was getting things ready for lunch and I found I didn't have any vegetables for fry. All that was left was a lone Capsicum that was left out from a pizza party!
How so depressing right! Poor soul, I took pity on it and decided to make a subzi for the rotis that I planned to take for lunch! I had made something else for hubby dear's lunch box, so I knew that I will be the only privileged person to carry that lone bell pepper fry!
Well come lunch and I was dreading what's to happen for the lunch. Of course, I had a dal along with it and could always camouflage the taste. But who was I kidding! One bite and I was hooked. The dal was forgotten and the rotis were fast disappearing with the Capsicum Fry! Wow, that was sheer chemistry, to say the least.
The sad part was since it was so uninteresting a lunch, I never bothered to capture it. So I cursing for being such an idiot and finally had to prepare it again. I must say the capsicum fry in the first attempt was more green and lovely than these. Still, I couldn't pass off.
And the dal! that's another story. Necessity brings in a lot of innovation or to say rather a discovery for me. I believe this dal with tamarind is something my folks back home prepare regularly. It was a lean day for the fridge, and it was shiny with its empty racks when I opened it in the morning. So this dal is a rescue when you find, you don't have tomatoes on hand!
I am not even going to find excuses for not posting for my favorite series, blame it on lack of innovative or new combinations for the lunch box!
Today's Lunch Box had
Chapatis
Toor Dal with Tamarind
Capsicum Fry
Toor Dal with Tamarind
Ingredients Needed
To be pressure cooked
Tur Dal - 100 gms
Turmeric a pinch
Tamarind - marble size
Coriander leaves few
Garlic - 2 pods
Cumin Powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Seasoning
Mustard seeds + Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
Dried Red Chillies whole - 6 long ones
Onions - 1 small
Curry leaves
Garlic pods - 4
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 1 tsp
Method to prepare:
Pressure cook all ingredients under to be pressured cooked, with enough water except seasoning ones and salt.
Once the pressure is off, with a pappu guthi mix everything well.
Heat a pan with Oil and sputter with mustard, urud, cumin seeds. Once they splutter add curry leaves Onions, red chillies and crushed garlic. Sauté well. It can even be little brown.
Tamper this seasoning to the dal and again cook on high flame with salt.
Dal is ready to be served.
Capsicum Fry with Groundnut powder!
Ingredients Needed
Capsicum - 1 no
Onions - 1 medium
Red chili powder - 3/4 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder a pinch
Salt to taste
Groundnut powder - 1 tsp
Oil - 1 tsp
Seasoning
Mustard Seeds + Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves few
Method to prepare:
Chop capsicum into small pieces. Heat a pan with oil, add the seasoning items. Then sauté the onions till they are little brown.
Add the chopped capsicum and salt along with turmeric powder. Cover with lid, so that capsicum becomes soft with the stream. Simmer for 10 mins. Stir in between so that it doesn't get burnt.
Then add the chili powder, coriander powder. Mix well. Now you can either cover it or cook uncovered for another 5 mins, for the capsicum to absorb the spices.
When you find that capsicum is soft, you can sprinkle the groundnut powder and switch off. You need not cook it with groundnut powder. This takes about 15 mins to get done.
Well needless to say, I simply enjoyed my lunch box and well I have made this combo again, just to capture the beauty!
After finally discovering the wonderful taste of bell pepper, I am eager to try out another version, stuffed Capsicum!
lekhni says
Try making the capsicum fry in the North Indian style - with ginger, green chili, onion and tomato, and spices like cinnamon, cloves etc. It tastes even more delicious.
You can also add some potato cubes and make potato+capsicum fry..
Siri says
yeh yeh.. LBS is back..:) this series reminds me of my schooldays..the curry and dal look delish!
Siri
kamala says
capsicums with ground nuts is new to me.Like the dal with tamrind.Do check my blog for a surprise valli
sowmya says
nice recipe using peanut powder...nice entry..
Cilantro says
I made Capsicum too yesterday but with Potato... will try yours definetly. I am amazed by your energy and the no of recipes you post.
Uma says
Wow, srivalli! how do you come up with those lovely ideas for lunch boxes? Hat's off! Great array of food. Have a great weekend.
Asha says
I love Capsicums, specially spicy Indian ones! Colorful Bell peppers we get here is too sweet, great for juice or fresh soup and okay for curries etc. Peanut pd in there sounds great Sri, will try with green peppers which is slightly spcier than colored ones.
Have a peaceful weekend, see you on Monday a bit later, got to take Trisha to college at 8am on Monday, will be back in the afternoon. Hugs friend, enjoy the family!:))
Pooja says
that is indeed a very creative way to cook capsicum :). Loved the recipe.
Thank you Srivalli for this nice entry . I will surely be there with my entries for Rotimela 🙂 . I just love that event too .
Arundathi says
Valli - I'm so glad you've gotten over your dislike of capsicum - its such a great veggie. Btw, I have a similar recipe that I'm planning to make for the JFI too! lol! Only slightly different, but if you like this, you're gonna love that too! 🙂
Divya Vikram says
nice one..nice lunch box menu..
Madhavi says
Very nice dished, love the recipe of capsicum, mouthwatering!!!
Kalai says
Delicious, Valli!! I'm kind of like you... Never cared much for bell peppers until I got older. Now, I'm addicted! 🙂
Jayashree says
Capsicum with peanut powder looks good....u can also try adding green chillies and pottukadalai ground together to capsicum...that tastes good too....
Sukanya Ramkumar says
Hi Srivalli...
That was a nice lunch box food. Looks so good. Those pic reminds me abt my collage days. Lovely recipe for boxing. Love it!...
Suganya says
If this recipe converted you, then I gotta try it.
shriya says
I think am become a great fan of your lunch box series. Its really an awesome work srivalli. Love the dishes in this series. I already started waiting for your next series.
Laavanya says
Yummy lunchbox that is Srivalli.. and I see you have a roti mela going on now after the grand success of your dosa mela 🙂 Hope to get in an entry...
satya says
I just love capsicum in any form...'gutti vankaya' way is how family prefers....:)
Rajitha says
:)..can i just say you are truly a superwoman..making variety for lunch-box...sheesh..u make me look bad!
Anonymous says
For ground nut powder, do i roast the ground nuts n then powder them? or do we get readymade powder in the store?
Srivalli says
Anon, Yes you will have to roast and then powder them. I normally get the raw peanuts and roast at home. But these days roasted peanuts are also available but they might be salted. You will probably have to check it out.
btw would appreciate you leaving your name.