Curried Chiles (Mirchi ka Salan): A Traditional Indian Recipe For All Occasions

Curried Chiles, known as Mirchi ka Salan, is a popular Indian dish. It combines green and red chiles with a rich blend of spices. This dish is often served with biryani or other rice dishes. The recipe involves roasting and grinding spices, stir-frying chiles, and simmering them in a tangy tamarind sauce.

• 2 tablespoons poppy seeds (khus khus)
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds (til)
• 2 tablespoons coriander seeds (dhaniya)
• 1 tablespoon white cumin (sufaid zeera)
• 1 tablespoon desiccated coconut powder
• 5 tablespoons oil
• ½ kg medium green chiles
• 6 red chiles
• 6 fenugreek seeds (methi daana)
• 6-7 curry leaves
• 4 large onions, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon red chile powder
• 1 tablespoon ground turmeric (haldi)
• Salt to taste
• 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon nigella seeds (kalonji)
• ½ cup tamarind juice

• Mortar and pestle
• Frying pan

Procedure

1. Lightly roast the poppy seeds, sesame seeds, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and desiccated coconut. Grind them in a mortar and pestle.
2. Heat oil in a frying pan. Stir fry the green chiles with some salt. Drain the oil from the green chiles and set aside.
3. Add some oil to a pan. Add the red chiles, fenugreek seeds, and a couple of curry leaves. Heat until they start popping.
4. Add chopped onions to the pan. Fry until they turn golden brown.
5. Add the ground spices, chile powder, turmeric, ginger garlic paste, and nigella seeds. Stir well and cook for two minutes.
6. Add tamarind juice to the mixture. Cook for one minute.
7. Add the green chiles and remaining curry leaves. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.
8. Serve with any meat accompaniment or rice dish like biryani.

Nutritional Values

This dish is a delightful blend of spices that brings out the best in Indian cuisine. It is perfect for those who enjoy spicy food with a tangy twist. The combination of roasted spices and tamarind juice creates a unique flavour profile that pairs well with rice dishes.