09 January, 2009

Creamy Aloo-Capsicum Curry: A Delicious Beginning

Creamy Aloo-Capsicum Curry

Happy new year everybody! I know I am albeit late in wishing and replying to all those lovely wishes through emails and comments but I guess it’s better late than never. So how did you all celebrate your new year?

I am sure your New Year celebration must have been much better than ours. You see waiting to board flight in airport and sitting in those not-so-comfortable metal chairs is not exactly the best way to say good bye to 2008 and welcome 2009. But that is life… Once in a while it is fine to accept the fact that things may not go the way you want them to be!

Actually it was not that bad as much as I want to portray it. The last day of 2008 was spent doing the things I love the most, with my family eating Gol Gappas and delicious Chaats on the streets of Namma Bengaluru. Is there a better way to say good bye to 2008? Nah… And we welcomed 2009 in a lovely café cum restaurant in all new and spunky Bengaluru International Airport by enjoying delicious bowl of Plum Tomato Soup and Grilled Mediterranean Vegetable Sandwich.

Coming to cooking part, I have not been cooking lately as much as I would like to due to lack of interest in cooking. I am blaming my mom and mom-in-law for spoiling me with delicious food everyday of our most enjoyable holiday. I am feeling kind of lost in my own kitchen here after 35 days of pampering. And coming back from 30+ degrees of glorious sunshine to -8 degrees of cold waves is not exactly lifting my mood. I would have gone hibernating happily for few more days if not for some threatening mails and messages from some of you to spam my mailbox and comment section which are already suffocating with overdose of spam messages! Nada, no chance of spamming me anymore :P

Although my blog draft is overflowing with last year’s recipes, I decided against posting them. Common, it’s New Year and I didn’t want to serve leftovers for my readers. So I cooked this delicious, creamy Aloo and Capsicum Curry following my Amma’s recipe which she had cooked for us when we were in India. The ingredients are the common ones that is used in almost all the curry recipes but the cooking technique is little different. And taste-wise it is totally different from the usual curries that I make often. Crunchy, sweet peppers and all time favourite spuds cooked in creamy gravy is a delight in every way and was perfect balm with Cumin/Jeera Rice to sooth my homesickness.

Creamy Aloo-Capsicum Curry

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Creamy Aloo-Capsicum Curry (Delicious, creamy and colourful curry of Potatoes and coloured Peppers)
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cooking Time: 25-30 mins
Serves: 4-6
Recipe Source: Amma
Ingredients:
3 medium Potatoes, cooked, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
2-3 medium Peppers/Capsicums of any colour, cut into 1 inch squares
1 large/2 medium Onions, finely chopped
1 can chopped Tomatoes or 3 large and juicy Tomatoes, cubed
1 tsp Ginger-Garlic Paste
½ cup Coriander Leaves (including stems)
2 Green Chillies (Adjust acc to taste)
6-8 Cashew Nuts
1 tsp Garam Masala (Adjust acc to taste)
½ tsp Kitchen King Masala (Optional but recommended)
1 tsp Aamchur/Dry Mango Powder or 1 tbsp Lemon Juice (Adjust acc to taste)
1 tbsp Kasuri Methi/Dried Fenugreek Leaves (Optional but recommended)
1 tsp Sugar
1½ tsp Jeera/Cumin Seeds
1 tbsp Oil
Salt to taste
Creamy Aloo-Capsicum Curry

Method:
Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds to it. When it starts to sizzle and turn reddish brown, add finely chopped onions and sauté till it turns golden brown, about 3 minutes. Switch off the flame and let it cool slightly.
Grind half of sautéed onions, cubed tomatoes, coriander leaves, green chillies and cashew nuts to a smooth paste without adding any water.
Switch on the gas and add ginger garlic paste and kasuri methi to half of sautéed onions. Cook it for another 1-2 minutes till raw smell of the paste disappears.
Now add ground paste and cook on medium heat till oil separates from the paste and it becomes little dry, about 5-6 mins. Add garam masala, kitchen king masala, sugar and salt to taste and mix well.
Mix in 1½ cups of water along with chopped peppers and boiled and cubed potatoes. Reduce the heat and cover and cook for 5 minutes. Remove the lid and adjust the seasonings and add little more water if needed.
Add finely chopped coriander leaves and cook for another 2-3 minutes till all the flavours blend well. Remember not to over cook the peppers and it tastes best when it just half cooked and retains its crunch.
Serve it hot with any flavoured rice or Indian flat breads and enjoy this creamy delight.

49 comments :

  1. That is indeed a great way to start the New Year. Delicious Sia. I know the feeling when you get off the plane and enter your quiet house.

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  2. Capsicum curry looks very delicious Sia.

    Hope you have something for Winter Treat & AFAM: Persimmon event.

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  3. Hi Sia, Good to see you back.. Hope you had a great time with family. The curry looks simply delicious!

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  4. Happy New Year to you too.Nice Curry.Perfect for winter.Aloo dishes are very comforting.
    Also nice to know about the new airport,we will be returning to blore next month.
    BTW,howz Bubbly? :D

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  5. Nice to see you back innaction, Sups..and it's really cold now, isn't it?

    The curry looks delish :-)

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  6. the curry looks astonishing! gosh look at the picture! love the coriander bunch on the side. so fresh and fragrant.

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  7. Aloo capsicum curry looks sooooo yummy..The pic is inviting..i am drooling over your curry

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  8. Eating gol guppas in BLR on new years day.. thats a very nice start i must say.
    Potato and capsicum is very yummy combo, love the curry.
    Have good year ahead.

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  9. Happy New Year Sai. Wonderful way to begin your new year.

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  10. I can totally imagine how that gravy would have tasted. Happy New Year Sia :)

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  11. Whoa, what a delicious curry to start the new year with..Happy new year to you Sia!! Can understand what the feeling is after coming back from homeland..

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  12. welcome back,a very happy new year. and i believe... off to a lovely start this year with your capsi curry. :)

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  13. Happy New Year Sia..so good to see you back;-).Hope you had a great time with your family and friends and your pet..;-).

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  14. Curry looks delicious as always! Nice to see a post after a long long time!

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  15. Happy New year and glad to see you back. The subzi looks super yummy..anything from mom's cookbook usually is!

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  16. Hey ya ,good to see u back or should i say i am so sorry that u have to come back to daily routine after a pampered holiday??
    Either ways, a Warm Welcome and A hearty New year Wishes to u and ur family,hope u will come over ur homesickness and start enjoying ur blogger friend's company soon :-)

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  17. Happy 2009...nice curry also comforting one..

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  18. Made a mixed veg curry today, wondered whether to bung in some almond/cashew paste, my laziness got the better of me!

    Welcome back!

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  19. Well looks like you had a wonderful time in B'lore.
    Wish i could eat those chats.
    We had a wonderful time too, went to my in laws place here for newyears eve party, all of us had loads of fun there, so cant' complain.
    Love the curry.
    Happy Newyear.

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  20. Happy New Year. Nice to see you back with an yummy recipe even nice to know that you are from Bangalore...

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  21. A delicious way to start off the new year!!!!! I am so glad you had a good holiday in India.
    Have a great year ahead,my dear!

    trupti
    the spice who loved me

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  22. Welcome back & happy new year.. The curry looks very rich and delish!
    Soma(www.ecurry.com)

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  23. Oh, you are in India? Good for you, that compensates all the discomforts at the airports!:))

    I am back too, feels great. Curry looks yum, great photo as usual. Enjoy there, see you later.

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  24. Happy New year..Capsicum curry look delicious and nice click too..

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  25. Girl you were just a throw away distance yet never called!...:PP...

    good to know you enjoyed your trip..thats some yummy curry!

    Wish you a great new year sia dear!

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  26. I miss India very much.And whenever I think of this wonderful country I visit your blog. Everything is sooo delicious!

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  27. Happy new year, Sia. Nice to see you back!

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  28. Happy New Year to you and your family Sia.

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  29. Just checked your comment there. Glad to see you back blogging. I started on Wednesday too, posted in both blogs already! :D

    Be warm there and have a fun weekend. I know you are missing "home". Hugs to you! :))

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  30. Welcome back Sia. A very happy New year to you and yours.

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  31. Happy new year!! and new years with Gol gappas!!! what better??
    Love the Aloo Capsicum.. with a hot garlic naan.. YUM!

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  32. Happy New Year to you too..Curry looks delicious. Me too missing home after I spent a month long holiday in Mysore...

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  33. Happy New Year Sups! I hear the minuses started after we left London last month...it was too gloomy and cold for us anyway!! Comforting food is certainly a treat!

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  34. Happy New Year to you too.
    Love curries with cashew paste and the coriander in your picture is looks so frsh and green.

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  35. The curry looks really delicious. Happy New Year! Sorry you had to spend it in an airport.

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  36. What an amazingly delicious looking curry!! Thanks for posting this recipe! Best wishes for a very Happy New Year!!

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  37. Curry looks absolutely delicious!!!! and the picture is just perfect!

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  38. good to see you back, sia.

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  39. Hi sia,

    I was wondering, if i don't have cashews at home, with what can i substitute cashews.

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  40. Hi sia,

    The recipe looks easy and photos look tempting. I was wondering if i don't have cashews at home, what can i substitute it with.

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  41. @Arthi, u can substitute cashews with almonds.

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  42. Hi Sia

    I'm a first time visitor to your blog and loved it. I tried the capsicum curry at a party and it was a super hit. thanks for the recipe. Please visit my blog for variety curries with different vegetables. aani001.blogspot.com

    Thnaks
    Anita

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  43. Thanks Sia..your recipie made me a hit wit friends :)

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  44. Hi Sia,

    Tried this recipe and we loved it.. thanks for taking the time to post it :)

    Preethi

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  45. I guess i would be on of the few males posting comments on your blog. :) But, nevertheless, I found your blog through Google and tried the Capsicum Aloo Curry and I can proudly say my wife was blown away. Thanks to you (and your mom).

    Cheers !

    Arvind

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  46. Hi Sia,
    I tried this recipe today and it was so delicious.. Me n my husband could not stop eating although we both were full.:-)

    Thank you for making my life easy with such easy recipes..:-)

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  47. @ಆಶಾ (Asha), that's lovely! I am really glad to know that u and ur hubby liked it :) thanks for taking time and letting me know.

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