Chilled Spicy Green Grape Soup

Green Grpaes are another fruit which can be used in soups and also give the soup a pleasing colour and distinctive taste. This soup is also for summer. To give it the green colour and taste, roasted green bell pepper(capsicum), cucumber and green chilly have been used. Pictures of how to roast capsicum on open flame are shown here for those who do not have an oven or just don't know how to do it!

Serves two.

Ingredients	Quantity
Green Grapes	1 cup or more
Green Capsicum (Bell Pepper)	1 medium
Green Chilly	½ chilly
Chopped Garlic (Optional)	1 tsp
Chopped Cucumber	1 cup
Chopped Cilantro	1 tbsp
Black Pepper Powder	1 tsp
Salt	to taste
Water	2 cups or more

Method

1. Take a fork and pierce it into the capsicum which has been greased and put it over an open flame and roast it on all sides as shown in the video below. When done remove from the flame and cool it so that the skin peels off easily.


2. After it cools peel the skin and remove the seeds and chop it into big pieces.
   
3. Take a blender jar and add, grapes, garlic, green chilly, capsicum, cucumber, pepper powder, salt and water and blend it well into a smooth consistency.


4. Strain the soup and if more water is required it can be added. Chill this in the refrigerator for half an hour and serve it in a soup bowl garnished with chopped coriander leaves.

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Spicy Capsicum Canapes

Canapes are small square shaped shells made out of plain flour and other ingredients.These are readily available in the grocery store.These canapes can be used as shells and filled with a variety of fillings both sweet and savoury. Best results are obtained when these shells are shallow fried in oil first.The can be stored in an air tight jar for three or four days.See that they are filled with your favourite fillings just before serving.
This recipe is savoury filling and can be served as starters for an party in your house. It is easy to make it too!

Ingredients	Quantity
Canapes	6
Plain Flour (Maida)	4 tbsps
Butter	2 tbsps
Milk	2 tbsps
Finely Chopped Capsicum (Bell Pepper)	3 tbsps
Finely Chopped Green Chillies	1 tbsp
Black Pepper Powder	1 tsp
Chopped Coriander Leaves	1 tbsp
Grated Cheese	1 tbsp
Salt	to taste
Oil	to shallow fry

Method

1. Shallow fry the six canapes in a pan and store them in an airtight jar till use.


2. To make the filling,take a pan and add the butter and heat it


3. When the butter starts melting add the plain flour and fry till light brown.


4. Add salt,chopped capsicum,green chillies and pepper powder and mix.


5. Add the milk and mix well.


6. It should not have a running consistency, it should be a thick mass.


7. To serve, fill each canape with about one tablespoon or more of the filling and decorate it with grated cheese and chopped coriander leaves.


8. To melt the cheese , the filled canapes can be heated in the oven for a few minutes till the cheese melts.

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Brinjal Green Curry

This delicious brinjal curry is made with only green chillies and green coriander/cilantro leaves. Capsicum or bell pepper is added to accentuate the green colour of the curry. Try this appetizing curry which will lift up your spirits!

Ingredients	Quantity
Small Brinjals	6
Capsicum (Green Bell Pepper)	1 medium
Coriander Leaves (Cilantro)	1 medium bunch
Green Chillies	1 tsp
Oil	1 ½ tbsp
Salt	to taste

Method

1. Clean and wash the brinjals and cut off the long stem leaving the crown and short stem intact. It is preferable to take same size brinjals so that the cook evenly. Slit the brinjals so that the can be stuffed and keep them in salt water to avoid browning .


2. Grind the green chillies,coriander leaves and salt in grinder into a paste and this is used as the stuffing. Do not add any water.


3. Take oil in a pan and add cumin seeds and fry them.


4. Take each brinjal and take a teaspoon of the stuffing and stuff it in the brinjal and put it in the oil. Do the same with all the brinjals.Sprinkle a little water and cover the pan and cook on low flame stirring in between so that the brinjals do not get stuck to the bottom of the pan.


5. Half way through add the capsicum pieces and cook them too.If small capsicum is available the can be added without cutting.


6. When the brinjals and capsicum are cooked,remove them from the heat and serve it in a bowl.


7. Garnish it with chopped coriander leaves and serve it with hot rice or chappatis.

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