Winter is the perfect time to eat hot foods and I'm not just talking about temperature here! Though Indian food has the reputation of being all hot and spicy, this is definitely not true. Chilli is more the exception than the rule in well cooked Indian food and is only used to enhance the flavor of a dish, never to overpower it.
Today however, let's focus on this important Indian ingredient. Mirchi is the Hindi word for chillies and it is used to make yummy foods like Mirchi Ka Saalan (pictured at right) or Hot and Sour Green Pepper Curry which is made with chillies but surprisingly mild, Bharvaan Laal Mirchi Ka Achaar or Stuffed Red Chilli Pickle which I used to spread on toast and eat for breakfast as a child! Mirchis are also used in Mirchi Ka Pakoda or Chilli Fritters and Bharvaan Simla Mirchi (stuffed green peppers).
Photograph © Petrina Verma Sarkar, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Comments