HOw to prepare Capsicum Rice

Capsicum Rice is a very colourful and falvourful rice dish which can be made for lunch box and even for a huge crowd.  Capsicum rice is very rich in flavour, colourful and is a very tasty rice variety.  The flavour and taste of capsicum makes this dish liked by people of all age groups.  Capsicum has health benefits too.  Capsicum is used to treat upset stomach, dirrohea, high cholesterol and prevents heart disease.  As the capsicum has medical benefits, this dish can be included in our day to day cooking if possible.   This articles gives step by step guide for preparation of Capsicum rice.

Ingredients

• Basmati rice - ⅔ cup
• Oil - 1 ½ tablespoons
• Cinnamon stick - 1 inch piece
• Cloves - 2
• Bay leaf - 1
• Green cardamom - 2
• Cumin seeds - ½ teaspoon
• Fennel seeds - ½ teaspoon
• Onion - ½ cup, sliced
• Ginger paste - 1 teaspoon
• Garlic paste - 1 teaspoon
• Green bell pepper (Capsicum) - ½ cup, sliced
• Red bell pepper - ½ cup, sliced
• Tomato - ⅓ cup, sliced
• Red chili powder - 1 ½ teaspoon
• Coriander powder - 1 teaspoon
• Salt - to taste
• Garam masala - ½ teaspoon
• Yogurt - ⅓ cup
• Water - 1 cup

Method of preparation

1. wash the rice and soak for 20 minutes. Meanwhile chop veggies. Drain the soaked rice and keep it aside.
2. Heat the oil in a deep pan. Once hot add whole spices and saute for a minute.
3. Then add cumin seeds and fennel seeds, let them sizzle.
4. Then cook onions in it for 2 minutes.
5. Mix in ginger paste and garlic paste, cook for 1 minute.
6. Stir in tomatoes and both peppers. Also mix in spice powders with salt.
7. Mix in yogurt.
8. Add soaked rice and water. mix well.
9. Cover the pan and cook for 18-20 minutes. Then let it rest covered for 10 minutes.
10. After 10 minutes open the cover, fluff up the rice with fork and serve.

The CApsicum rice can be a good dish for lunch box for kids as well as adults.

Vangi Bhaat - How to make vangi bhat

Vangi Bhat is a rice item made with brinjals is a very popular recipe of Karnataka state.  Vangi bhat is prepared in a similar way like a masala bhat.  Vangi Bhat masala powder  is added in this rice recipe and this spice blend gives the Vangi Bhat its unique flavour, taste and smell.  

It is very easy to prepare Vangi bhat recipe.  If you have goda masala readily available, it will not take much time to prepare vangi bhat.   The Vangi Bhat is a very popular recipe of Karnataka state.  The word VAngi means brinjal.  The cooked rice is mixed with home made spice powder and brinjals cooked in tamarind sauce to give birth to this excellent spicy Vangi Bhat.   In this article, you will see how we can make Vangi bhat of karnataka style. 

Ingredients required for Vangi bhat : 

• Cooked Rice(any rice brand or basmati rice) - 2 cups
• Brinjals /  Eggplants - 4-5 cut into 4 pieces
• Roasted Peanuts - 2 tbsp for garnish
• Thick tamarind extract - 1 tbsp
• Salt for taste

For Seasoning:

• Oil - 2 tbsp
• Mustaard Seeds - 1 tsp
• Urad Dhal - 1 tsp
• Curry Leaves few spring

For Vaangi Bath Masala Podi:

• Oil - 1tsp
• Black gram dal - 1 tbsp
• Channa Dal - 2 tbsp
• Coriander Seeds - 2 tsp
• Red Chilli - 4-5 nos.
• Sesame Seeds - 1 tsp
• Cinnamon Stick - 2" piece
• Cloves - 3

Method of preparation:

1. Heat a fry pan with 1/2  tsp oil, throw in cinnamon stick and cloves. Now add coriander seeds, curry leaves and  asefotida. Fry until aromatic for few minutes. Transfer to cool.
2. Fry channa dal, urad dal until golden color in the same pan.  Throw in the red chillies and fry for further one minute.  Add sesame seeds finally before turning  off the fire.
3. Cool all the roasted ingredients and grind them.  Store this powder in a air tight container and use it as needed.
4. Heat oil in a wok. Add mustard seeds and let it splutter. Throw in the cumin seeds,  split urad dal, curry leaves, one behind other. 
5. Add brinjals and turmeric powder a pinch. Sprinkle the ground powder . Pour in the 1/3 cup of water and tamarind extract. Cook covered for few minutes until brinjals are well cooked( but not mashed).
6. Add cooked rice to the prepared brinjal seasoning and saute well. Add the required salt.
7. Garnish with  roasted peanuts.
8. Dish out and serve with any raita and curry of your choice.

Note:

You can prepare this rice using this procedure : 

1. Saute the brinjals in seasoned oil to enhance its taste(water is not required) and add vaangi powder and rice, salt.
2. Replace lemon juice(1/2 of lemon) for tamarind at the end.
3. Roasted cashew nuts  or peanuts can be added as per taste.