Paruppu Usili / Capsicum Usili / Capsicum Paruppu Usili- Healthy Version (Tamil Brahmin Style)

Paruppu usili is a very traditional and also a popular South Indian veg accompaniment prepared using dhal ( lentils) and vegetables commonly with beans, cluster beans and plantain flower. 

Today I want to share the paruppu usili recipe using capsicum which I learnt from my friend Latha balaji.  Though it sounds very new; the taste was very nice and healthy too.  Try this and give your feed back.

Serves - 3 to 4 persons

Ingredients:

Capsicum - 2 big
Salt - to taste

To soak and grind:
Toor dhal ( thuvaram paruppu) - ½ cup
Bengal gram dhal(kadala paruppu) -  ¼ cup
Dried Red Chilly – 2

Hing - a big pinch

For seasoning:

Oil – 1 tbsp

Mustard Seeds – ½ tsp

Curry leaves - 1 sprig

Directions:

Wash and soak the dhal is water for 45 min to 1 hr.  Drain the water and add dhal, red chillies, salt and hing to the mixer; grind it coarsely. (No need to add water while grinding)

Grease an idly mould;  place the ground mixture and steam cook for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Once it is cooked; allow to cool. Add  the cooked dhal in mixie; grind it  using whipper mode to get a perfect crumbled dhal.  Keep aside.

Heat oil in a kadai; add all the ingredients under "For seasoning" one by one.

After it crackles, add chopped chopped capsicum along with salt.  Fry till capsicum is cooked.

Once it is done add the crumbled dhal and saute for another 1 or 2 minutes in medium flame. 

Switch off the gas.

Serve hot with vatha kuambu or kara kulambu varieties; it will taste great with rasam too.

Note:

Adjust the chilli  according your spice level.

You can also soak the red chilli along with dhal and grind.

I am sending this recipe to Rafeeda and anu's page for South Indian cooking event.