Capsicum Rice

Ingredients:

Bell Pepper 1
Onion 1 Small
Basmati Rice 1 Cup
Raw Peanuts 1/3 Cup
Whole Red Chiles 3 – 4
Tamarind 2 inch Piece
Mustard Seeds 1 tsp
Curry Leaves 5
Cilantro few Sprigs
Salt to taste
Oil 3 tsps

Method of preparation:

Peel and slice the onion.
Wash, remove stem, discard seeds and slice the bell pepper into 2 inch long strips.
Soak tamarind in few tablespoons of warm water and extract all the juice discarding the veins.
Wash and finely chop the cilantro.

Cook basmati rice in 1 1/2 cups of water till all the water has been absorbed by the rice.

Heat two tsps of oil in a pan, add raw peanuts and fry till peanuts turn golden brown.
Remove the peanuts from heat, add broken red chiles, cumin seeds and fry till red chiles change color and crisp up.
Remove the red chiles from heat and cool the ingredients to room temperature.
Grind the peanuts, red chiles, cumin seeds and salt into fine powder.

Heat tsp of oil in the pan, add mustard seeds and curry leaves.
When mustard seeds start spluttering, add bell pepper and onion.
When onion turns translucent and the bell pepper turns little soft, add the peanuts powder.
Stir well and add tamarind extract and salt.
Mix well and stir in cooked basmati rice and cilantro.
Serve capsicum rice with any raita of your choice.