Capsicum Paruppu Usili – Bell Pepper Usili

Capsicum Paruppu Usili, Yes u read it right! I never knew capsicum can be made in paruppu usili style until I tasted it a friend’s place. Really loved it. Thanks “J” for the idea 🙂 Usually paruppu usili is made with beans, vazhaipoo, cluster beans… Capsicum adds a zing to it. Unlike beans or vazhaipoo, capsicum gets cooked very quickly. Goes well with sambar, rasam or mor kuzhambu. Check out the video..

Here is the video..

Now to the recipe..

[Preparation Time-30 mins : Cooking Time- 25 mins : Soaking Time – 30 mins]

Capsicum Paruppu Usili Ingredients:

• Capsicum – 2 cups (chopped – I used tri-colour)
• Oil – 2 tbsp + 2 tbsp
• Mustard – 1 tsp
• Urad dal – 1 tsp
• Asafoetida – a pinch
• Curry leaves – few
• Coconut – 1/4 cup (grated)
• Salt – as needed

To Soak & grind into a coarse paste:

• Chana dal – 1/4 cup
• Red chillies – 2
• Salt – as needed

Method:

• Soak the chana dal & red chillies. Grind it into a coarse paste along with little salt. Keep this aside.

• Heat a pan with oil and add the coarsely ground chana dal paste. Cook it in simmer – medium flame for about 10 mins. It will be sticky first, once it gets cooked it will be like separate grains. Keep this aside.

• In the same pan add oil and temper with mustard, urad dal, asafoetida & curry leaves. Add chopped capsicum along with required salt. Cook until soft yet crunchy. This will not take more than 5 mins.

• Now add the chana dal mixture to it and mix well. Finally add grated coconut and mix well. Switch off the flame.

Thats it! Tasty and colourful Capsicum Paruppu Usili is ready!

Serve with rice.

Tips:

1. For the usili, u can also use a combo of toor dal and chana dal. I have used chana dal only.
2. Add salt carefully as we are adding in 2 stages.
3. Do not over cook the capsicum, tastes great when its crunchy.

– By Sundari Nathan