Mirchi chi upasachi Bhaji

Our lunchbox used to be always poli-bhaji (chapatis & vegetables). Sometimes, especially in the month of Shravan, my mom used to fast on Mondays. But instead of giving us lunchbox of sabudana khichdi, mom still managed to pack a flatbead and upwas-friendly bhaji. The recipe given below is one of the many bhaajis mom used to make for upwas special lunchbox. Oh, and the flatbread? She used to make rajgiryachi poli or dushmi. I will blog about them some other time.

Bhoplya Mirchi chi Upasachi Bhaji
Ingredients
2 green bell peppers, diced
1 potato, peeled & diced
Salt to taste
2 tbsp roasted, unsalted peanuts, crushed coarsely (Daanyache koot)

Tempering
2 tsp oil/ghee
1 tsp cumin seeds

Garnish
lemon wedges (optional)
1 tsp freshly grated coconut (optional)
1 tsp chopped cilantro/coriander leaves (optional)

Method
1. Heat oil/ghee in a wok/kadai.
2. Add cumin seeds.
3. As they splutter, add chopped bell peppers and potatoes.
4. Saute for 1 minute. Lower the gas. Let it cook without any lid on top. Do not let it burn. Keep an eye.
5. When the vegetables are cooked, stir in salt and crushed peanuts.
6. Saute 5 more minutes. Garnish with cilantro/coriander leaves & coconut, if using.
7. Serve with lemon wedges & Rajgiryachi dushmi (Recipe coming soon!)

Note -
1. Make sure that vegetables are cooked but they should not be too mushy. The potatoes still need to retain their diced form.

2. You can reduce the quantity of cumin seeds, if you find it too much. Since there is no other spice in this recipe, my mom uses it more than usual.

3. Since this bhaaji is with bell pepper, there is no additional chilies. But if you like your food hot, you can add green chilies along with cumin seeds.

4. Many people follow different rules for their upwas/farali cusine food. Gujaratis do not add salt in upwas dishes but add rock salt/sindhav/saindhav. Mostly oil is not used but ghee is preferred. Many people do not add cilantro. These are just my observations.I am not an authority on this topic. So do, what you like or prefer. :-)




This post is my contribution to VOW-JFI - Bell Peppers' at Pooja's Creative Pooja.
VOW event is started by Pooja of Creative Pooja.
JFI event is started by Indira of Mahanandi.