MIXED VEGGIE CAPSICUM RICE

Capsicum rice is one recipe which is quick and easy to make. I made a small variation by adding carrots and corn to the traditional capsicum rice. The ingredients list can be long but it is very simple to prepare. This can be a good recipe in lunch box for your kids.
INGREDIENTS

• Rice                     1 cup
• Capsicum             1/2 cup chopped
• Carrots and corn  1/4 cup chopped
• Curry leaves         a few
• Ghee                     1tsp
• Cinnamon stick      1 inch piece
• Cloves                    2
• Cardamom              1
• Oil                        3 Tsp
• Salt                       to taste

For the powder

• Ground nuts         2 Tsp
• Til(Sesame)          1 Tsp
• Red chilies            2-3
• Jeera                    1/2 tsp
• Chana dal              1 Tsp
• Urad dal                1/2 Tsp
• Grated coconut     2 Tsp
• Mustard seeds       1/2 tsp

PROCEDURE
Wash the rice and soak for half an hour.
Cook the rice along with some salt, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, a tsp of ghee.
Cool the rice and set aside.
In a pan add a tsp of oil and heat it. On a low flame fry the groundnuts, chana dal, urad dal, red chilies, jeera, coconut. When they are almost done add the sesame seeds.
Fry for another one minute till sesame seeds crackles.
Remove and cool. Make a fine powder out of the roasted ingredients.
In the same pan add the remaining oil, add the mustard seeds and the curry leaves. When the mustard crackles, add the chopped veggies. Cover and cook till they are soft. Add a little bit of salt just for the veggies (rice is cooked along with salt).
When the veggies are done add the cooked rice and the ground powder.
Mix well and serve hot.
TIPS

• I like to add the sesame seeds, you can skip them if you don’t like.
• The garam masala can be grinded to a powder instead of using the whole garam masala.
• Here I used the red and green capsicum along with carrots and corn. You can add other veggies or even make the preparation only with capsicum.