Spicy Achari Baingan (Egg Plant)

This side dish has the ingredients used in North Indian pickles and so its name.This can be made as a party food and can be made with egg plant or boiled and fried potato or paneer.Serves six people.

Ingredients	Quantity
Egg Plant (Brinjal)	3 medium
Fennel Seeds (Saunf)	1 tsp
Fenugreek Seeds (Methi)	1 tsp
Nigella Seeds (Onion Seeds or Kalonji)	1 tsp
Cumin Seeds (Jeera)	1 tsp
Sliced Onions	1 cup
Sliced Green Chillies	6
Turmeric Powder	½ tsp
Ginger Garlic Paste	1 tsp
Yogurt (Thick Beaten Curds)	½ cup
Dry Mango Powder	1 tsp
Red Chilly Powder	1 ½ tsps
Sugar	½ tsp
Salt	to taste
Oil	4 tbsps
Water	½ cup
Fried Cashewnuts	6
Chopped Cilantro (Coriander Leaves)	1 tbsp

Method

1. Slice the washed brinjals into long pieces and keep them in water so that they do not become brown.


2. Heat oil in a pan and put the brinjal slices with water squeezed out and fry them till light in colour. Keep them aside.



3. In the same oil, add the cumin seeds,fenugreek seeds,nigella and fry. After 15 to 20 seconds add the sliced onions and green chillies and fry them.



4. Stir fry these until golden brown.



5. Add tumeric powder,ginger garlic paste and fry.



6. Add the beaten curds,dry mango powder,chilly powder,sugar and salt and cook till the oil seperates.



7. Add the fried brinjal slices and water and cook for a minute.



8. Garnish this dish with fried cashewnuts and chopped coriander leaves and serve it with chappatis or bread.

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Paneer Stuffed Green Chillies

This recipe can be made for a party for those who are fond of spicy green chillies.The kind of chillies used depends on how spicy one likes to have.The green chillies provide vitamin C.The recipe made this way will bring down the heat of the chillies too.To increase the protein content, cottage cheese (paneer) has been used instead of the regular potato filling. Spinach leaves can be used instead of mint and coriander leaves.Enjoy it!

Ingredients	Quantity
Medium Sized Green Chillies	10
Grated Cottage Cheese (Paneer)	3 tbsps
Chopped Mint Leaves	2 tbsps
Chopped Coriander Leaves	2 tbsps
Chopped Onion	2 tbsps
Cumin Seeds	1 tsp
Turmeric Powder	¼ tsp
Lime Juice	1 tbsp
Besan (Gram Dhal Powder)	2 tbsp
Oil	1 ½ tbsp
Curry Leaves	a few
Asafoetida	a pinch
Slice Lime Pieces	2
Chopped Coriander Leaves (for garnishing)	1 tbsp

Method

1. Slit the washed green chillies in the centre for stuffing.


2. To make the stuffing,mix the grated cottage cheese,chopped mint leaves,chopped coriander leaves and a little salt to form a thick paste.


3. Take a teaspoon or so of this mixture and stuff it in each chilly.


4. Heat oil in a pan and add the cumin seeds,asofoetida,curry leaves and fry.


5. Then add one tablespoon of chopped onions and fry till they are transparent.


6. Add tumeric powder and the stuffred chillies and mix gently and lower the heat.


7. Cover the pan and fry them for three minutes.


8. Mix a little salt in gram flour and sprinke it on the cooked green chillies and gently mix them so that the chillies are intact.


9. When the gram flour loses its raw flavour and is fried,switch off the heat.


10. Serve the green chillies in a dish garnished with chopped onions, chopped coriander leaves and lime slices.

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