Capsicum Paruppu Usili

Paruppu Usili is one of the most popular and healthiest Tamil Brahmin dishes. It is an ideal combination of protein and vegetables. You can make this dish with French beans, carrot, beetroot, cluster beans, broad beans, cabbage, banana flower etc (see variation tip below). It is generally served with more kozhambu or vatha kozhambu. It also goes well with Rasam.

Ingredients :

½ kg green capsicum (bell peppers)

1 cup channa dal (soaked in water for 1 hour)

2 to 3 red chillies

A pinch of turmeric powder

10 curry leaves

A pinch of asafoetida

For the tadka :

1 tablespoon oil

1 teaspoon mustard seeds

1 teaspoon split urad dal

Method :

1) Soak channa dal in water for one hour.

2) Drain water from Channa dal and grind it with salt, red chillies and curry leaves to a coarse paste.

3) Steam this paste for 10—15 minutes in  a steamer or idli plate. Alternately, you can sauté the paste in oil till it is well cooked. (But this method requires more oil and if you are watching calories, this is not a good option.)

4) Saute till the mixture is well cooked.

5) Steam or saute the chopped capsicum separately.

6) Heat oil, add ingredients for the tadka. When the mustard seeds start spluttering, add the crumble and the capsicum. Mix well and serve.

Note :

1) You can also make this with Toor dal only or a mixture of toor dal and channa dal.

2) Do not soak the dal for more than one hour. We want a crumble and not soft dal.

3) The ratio of vegetables to dal can modified to suit your palate.

Variations :

1) Beans paruppu usili - Use beans in step 5.  

2) Carrot paruppu usili - Use carrots in step 5.

3) Beetroot paruppu usili - Use beetroot in step 5.

4) Cluster Beans paruppu usili - Use cluster beans in step 5.

5) Broad Beans paruppu usili - Use broad beans in step 5. 

6) Cabbage paruppu usili - Use cabbage in step 5.