BellPepper Tofu

Bell Pepper Tofu is an easy to make tasty recipe from a dear friend. The nutritional goodness from vegetables and protein from Tofu with a side of roti or little brown rice makes this a healthy lite meal. Kasoori methi and coriander powder infuse loads of flavor into otherwise bland tofu.
Sauteed bellpeppers and tofu are simmered in tomatoes, coriander powder and kasoori methi for this scrumptious dish.
Ingredients:
2 bellpeppers cut into long strips
1 large or 2 medium tomatoes chopped fine
12 oz of extra firm tofu cut into long strips
2 tbsp coriander seeds
4 red chilies (adjust to taste)
1 tbsp crushed kasoori methi
2 tsp ginger garlic paste
2 tsp oil
Salt to taste
Turmeric a pinch

Procedure:
Make coriander and red chilies into a fine powder in a coffee grinder
Heat oil in a skillet, sear the tofu pieces. Set them aside.
Add ginger garlic paste to the oil, sauté till the rawness is gone but do not over fry
Add bell peppers and sauté till they are half cooked
Add coriander powder and sauté for a minute
Add tomatoes followed by turmeric and salt and sauté till the tomatoes disintegrate and form into gravy
Add kasoori methi
Cook till the bell pepper is almost cooked, don’t let it get mushy or loose the shape.
Add tofu and ¼ to ½ cup water so that the flavors are well blended. Cook till the water evaporates.

Eat it with rice or roti, or by itself for a carb free meal.

Bell Pepper Cabbage Pacchadi

2 bell peppers and left over ¼ cabbage were waiting there for me to decide what to turn them into. After a little contemplation I decided on pacchadi. Being a great fan of Andhra pacchadis, it is something I easily resort to. While bell peppers gave this pacchadi a wonderful flavor, cabbage added the right texture and together ended into a very satisfying side dish.

Ingredients
2 large bell peppers cut into small pieces
¼ cabbage chopped
7 – 8 green chilies chopped (adjust to taste)
2 garlic pods chopped
1 tsp cumin
1 tbsp black gram
1 tbsp coriander
Few curry leaves
Goose berry size tamarind
2 tsp oil
Salt to taste

In a pan heat 1 tsp oil, add green chilies and garlic, sauté for a minute, add cumin, black gram, coriander and curry leaves.

Sauté till the dals are roasted. Remove form flame and set aside.

In another pan, heat a tsp of oil and sauté the bell peppers and cabbage. Cook on medium heat, stirring frequently till the veggies are tender but not mushy.

Let it cool.

Soak tamarind in 2 tbsp of warm water.

Blend the roasted seasoning into coarse powder. Add tamarind and blend it into a paste.

Blend the roasted veggies into a coarse paste.

Add them together with the required amount of salt.

Eat it with hot rice and ghee (optional) or use it as a spread on bread.

Mirchi Ka Saalan --with Bell Peppers

Mirchi ka saalan is one of the culinary delights evolved in the kitchens of Nizams. It is a great accompaniment to the ever famous hyderabadi biryani.

Peppers simmered in peanut sauce with a touch of sourness from tamarind makes an intriguing dish. The coriander, cumin, sesame and coconut add a vibrant taste and rich texture.



You can choose from the wide array of peppers like Anaheim chili, banana pepper, bell pepper, Fresno pepper, jalapeno pepper, poblano pepper, Serrano pepper depending on how hot you like it.

I used a green and a red bell pepper, the mildest of all. Choose a pepper with thick skin. I recommend jalapenos if you enjoy spicy food. The spice level goes up my multiple notches with jalapenos.

Ingredeints:
2 bellpeppers cut into 1 inch squares
1 onion chopped, sautéed and coarsely ground
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
Juice extracted from walnut sized tamarind ball or 1 tbsp tamarind paste
2 tbsp oil
1 tsp chili powder
½ tsp turmeric
Salt to taste

Roast and grind:
1 tbsp coriander
1 tsp cumin
1 tbsp peanuts
½ tsp sesame seeds
1 tbsp dry coconut powder or fresh grated coconut
2 red chilies

For Seasoning:
1 tsp cumin
1 red chili
Curry leaves

Heat oil in a pan, sauté bell peppers with a pinch of salt for two minutes on relatively high heat, stirring constantly. Do not let the peppers wilt or loose color. Remove form pan with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Mix the ground masala, ground onion and ginger garlic paste.

In the same heated pan now at medium heat add seasoning followed by the mixed paste. Sauté for few mintues. Peanuts tend to stick to the bottom, stir often. Add chili powder, turmeric and salt. Sauté for couple more minutes.

Add tamarind juice or tamarind paste along with half cup water. Bring it to a boil.

Add bell peppers and also water (if required) to get the right consistency. Gravy should not be too thick or too watery.

Let it simmer for 8 to 10 mintues. Remove from heat when the bell peppers are just about cooked. Do not let them get mushy.

Enjoy it with biryani or naan.

Tips: Onions have to be sautéed until they aquire a brown hue. But do not let them burn. While roasting masala remember to add coconut at the end. I grind masala followed by ginger garlic and then onion in the same jar.