Wednesday 31 January 2018

GREEN CHILI PICKLE AND A POST ON A SPICE/HERB CHILI/HOT PEPPER

GREEN CHILI PICKLE AND A POST ON A SPICE/HERB CHILI/HOT PEPPER


Chili is the most valuable spice of the world and is gaining its popularity throughout the world, and now it is used in more and more cuisines of the world. India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of chilies, which is 40% of the total world production. Chili production requires sunny, tropical, humid conditions with a good amount of rainfall. We have grown a lot of chilies in our kitchen garden when I was in Kenya. We had around 25 plants of 3-4 feet high and were producing a lot of green chilies, being small as a family we were not able to consume a lot, so were leaving the chilies on the plants itself to ripen. When their colour turned red, I used to collect and dry them in the hot sunny area of my garden, and later was grinding in my dry grinder to make red chili powder, which I used in my kitchen.


There are many different types, colors, shapes and mild to a very hot pungent taste of the chilies are available in the world. This spice - chili and chili powder are used in many cuisines of the world. Raw chilies are normally green in colour, but ripened chilies are yellow, orange and red in colour. Since it is impossible to tell how spicy a chili is just by looking at it, you will have to taste it to get an idea. Once you know how spicy it is then you can use it according to your taste.



In Indian cuisine, chili powder is used from ages, some chili powders are giving only a red colour to the recipe and are not very spicy like Kashmiri chili powder, it is more or less like paprika. But some chili powders are very hot, and people use it depending on their taste and the requirement of the recipe. In Southern states of India, whole red dried chili is used a lot in tempering many recipes. Red chili flakes/crushed chili is also used a lot in the Indian cuisine throughout India. Some people have the misconception that Indian food is very spicy, but that is not the case, yes, we do use different types of chilies in its different forms but how spicy the food absolutely depends on individuals choice. Green chilies are a good source of vitamin C; so many people eat raw green chilies with their food.


Some people think that chili pepper is consumed only to put fire on your tongue or to get tears in your eyes but the surprising fact is that chilies do have a lot of health benefits like natural pain relief, boosting immunity, clearing congestion, preventing stomach ulcers, and reducing weight. Check this website for detailed study of all this and a lot of useful information about chilies.


According to Ayurveda, there are six tastes by which all food can be categorized: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent. Pungent taste is hot and spicy as found in chili pepper and astringent is dry and light as found in popcorn. Ayurveda suggests that all these tastes should be included in every meal for optimum health and to get initial spark to the digestive system. These six tastes satisfy each of the major dietary building blocks and these six tastes also guide our body to accomplish its nutritional needs. Each taste feeds our body, mind, senses and spirit in its own unique way. Ayurveda is a traditional healing system of India, which gave us yoga and breathing exercises and still successfully practiced in India. Check this website-


Chili powder is eaten by one-quarter of world population every day, in all countries all over the globe. But chili powder was completely unknown to the most of the world until Christopher Columbus discovered America. Check this website which explains very nicely that of course, Columbus was not looking for chilies, but was looking for a trade route. This website further explained that, until well after the middle ages, almost all through the world, pepper travelled from the Malabar coast, India to Europe and then to America.


Coming to the recipe, this is my mom's recipe as it is in which she used mustard oil. I get mustard oil from the local Indian grocery store, so I have also used mustard oil, but you can use any other oil instead if you prefer. Mustard oil is used for cooking in Punjab and many other Northern States of India. This is a simple and quick recipe which can be enjoyed using mild to hot chilies basing on your taste.

RECIPE
INGREDIENTS

  • 200 grams long green chilies (around 25-30)
  • 20 grams of black mustard seeds (rai)
  • 20 grams of fennel seeds (saunf)
  • 10 grams of fenugreek seeds (methi )
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 tablespoons oil (I used mustard oil)
  • 10 grams chili powder (optional) *

* Normally these green chilies are not spicy/hot at all, so if you need some spice in this pickle you can add some additional chilli powder

METHOD

  • Mix the fennel, mustard and fenugreek seeds and grind it coarsely in a dry spice grinder.
  • Wash and dry the chilies or wipe with a kitchen towel.
  • Slit the chilies in the middle lengthwise.
  • In the already ground spices, mix salt and chili powder and fill ( stuff) through the slit in all the chilies and leave aside.
  • Heat oil in a pan, when hot add all the chilies, mix slowly and cover it after 5 minutes add the remaining spice mixture on top of the chilies.
  • Cook for 8-10 minutes till the chilies are cooked and changed in colour.
  • Cool it and serve with meals as a condiments/pickle/chutney





33 comments:

  1. I didn’t know there are 6 tastes we can have. I assumed sweet and salty in the basic version 😊

    I guess my misconception about Indians liking too spicy food is also wrong. Actually, south India better fits that definition.

    Good to read your post with inputs on every aspect of chilies. I avoid them thoroughly, but my wife still puts a little.

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    1. Thanks Alok for your such a nice comment, yes there are six tastes which we should enjoy everyday.If you avoid every aspect of chili then this pickle is not for you.

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  2. I'm not much of a chili person, don't like hot food. However, whenever I make chili pickle stuffed with rai, haldi and lemon, after a few days it goes bad(mould grows on it). Next time I need to make chili pickle will try your cooked version. Am sure that will last a few days without going bad.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Mayuri for your comment dear. This one can last two weeks on the shelf an two months in the fridge, Your pickle might be going bad because climate in Mombasa is hot and humid. When I was in Kisumu, even dry masala or beans were also going bad because of the climate.

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  3. This sounds like a really tasty pickle and definitely one that I would love to try. My husband especially would love it! Thanks for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice

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    1. Hi Corina, I am glad you liked it, I am very sure, if you try this recipe you will enjoy it.Thanks for your comment dear.

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  4. How fantastic! And I am loving the story about your kitchen garden. Growing up, my mom grew most of our food which was so different than my friends moms. I loved it and could really tell the difference in our food compared to theirs. Also, I need to hunt down some mustard oil! Sounds amazing. :)

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    Replies
    1. Hi Sharon, thanks for your visit and the comment. You can get mustard oil at any Indian grocery shop.

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  5. I love the sounds of this, and these chilies look delicious. We grow chilies every summer, and I always like to try out new ones. I'm saving this recipe to try.

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    1. Thanks for your visit and the comment.Glad to know that you are also growing chilies,please try, you will enjoy this recipe.

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  6. I always love how you weave such beautiful stories through your recipes Sadhna. I've never been a big fan of chilies, I think maybe my pungent taste buds may have gone on strike or something, but my hubby loves them. May I ask, do you just stuff the spices inside the chilies before frying them. I wasn't quite sure and I would love to try give this a bash. I think my hubby would really appreciate it and Valentine's day is around the cornet

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    1. Hi Michelle, Thanks for your kind words dear Yes it seems your pungent taste buds are on vacation or strike. Yes, you have to stuff the spices inside the chilies before frying them.I am sure he will enjoy and appreciate your efforts for trying the new recipe.

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  7. What a delicious way to enjoy chillies, they would go with so many dishes! Thank you for bringing your yummy recipe idea to #CookBlogShare:)

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  8. That's a lot of peppers you had in Kenya! I love that they were dried and made into a powder - brilliant! Pickled peppers are my favourite way to enjoy a hot pepper! This looks delicious with fennel and fenugreek spices.

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    1. Thanks very much Leslie for your visit and the comment.

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  9. we just love spicy peppers! I love these spices you have used

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  10. This post is surely making me hungry dear,i realy love spicy dishes thanks for sharing..
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  11. Interesting!!! Never tried it..

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  12. I have never try something like this before! So interesting! Thank you for sharing at Sweet Inspiration Link Party :)

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  13. I can almost smell the combination of all those spices, must be amazing! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon
    Miz Helen

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    1. Awww, thanks very much for such a lovely comment. Thanks for your comment.

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  14. Thanks for sharing with EatYourGreens.

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  15. I really love spicy dishes thanks for sharing..
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  16. The Eat Your Greens round up will be posted tomorrow featuring this lovely chutney. Thanks again for taking part!

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  17. This article is very informative and intersting,Thanks for sharing such an informative article with us.
    keep updating.....
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