What is green chillies, hari mirch?

Chillies are the life and soul of a hearty Indian meal. You dont necessarily have to overdo it until smoke comes out of your ears, but without a touch of chilli, dishes seem incomplete. We cant think of Indian cooking without a dash of green chillies. Slit, sliced, chopped or diced, we just have to add a few green chillies to add that spicy and tang flavour to our food. A green chilli is an important star in Indian cooking. This spice is grown throughout the year and so there is no scarcity and a good quantity is exported. Green chillies are available fresh, dried, powdered, flaked, in oil, in sauce, bottled and pickled. It spices up a bland meal.

How to select green chillies, hari mirch

Pick some fresh from your vegetable patch, pick up a packet of chillies from the supermarket or just ask the vegetable vendor to add a few free ones to your vegetable bag Fresh unripe chillies come in various shades of green from lime to olive. While buying fresh chillies look for crisp unwrinkled ones. Make sure they are bright and unbroken. Store them in a container in the fridge or in a cool, dry place.

Culinary Uses of green chillies, hari mirch in Indian Cooking

· Green Chillies are popular or essential in Indian cooking for almost all savory dishes like curries, dals, breads and appetizers.

· The Indian Bhuna or cooking starter is a stir fry of onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, green chilies, and oil.

· The Tadka is a stir fry of on oil of asafetida, cumin seeds, and chilli powder and green chilies.

· The hara Masala or green seasoning blend has a blend of ginger, garlic and green chilies and is added to the base of curries along with the cooks choice of spices and herbs. This salsa recipe is perfect if you are looking for a different dip for your next party. It goes well with potato chips but nachos tend not to break as easily when dipped. Enjoy our Tomato and Green Chilli Salsa recipe

How to store green chillies, hari mirch

These should be crisp and bright when purchased and have no spots that might be going bad. Leave them out on a counter for a couple of hours to make sure they dont have excess surface water, then bag loosely in plastic (the bag should be able to breath) or paper or netted bags. Store in the refrigerator, will stay good for 2 weeks.

Health benefits of green chillies, hari mirch

Antioxidant vitamin C in green chillies protects the body from effects of harmful free radicals and prevents stress. It is probably the high fiber which helps in controlling blood sugar levels. This it is a welcome addition to a diabetic diet. Suffering from anaemia? Add green chillies to your list of iron rich foods too. For complete details see benefits of green chilli.

Nutritive Information for Green Chillies:

1 Cup of green chillies is about 80 grams

RDA stands for Recommended Daily Allowance.

Energy – 23 calories

Protein – 2.8 g

Carbohydrate – 2.4 g

Fat – 0.5 g

Fiber – 5.4 g

Vitamins:

140 mcg of Vitamin A = 2.91% of RDA (about 4800 mcg)

0.15 mg of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) = 9.37% of RDA ( (about 1.2 to 1.6 mg for men)

0.31 mf of Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) = 16.3% of RDA (about 1.4 to 1.9 mg for men)

0.72 mg of Vitamin B3 (Niacin) = 6% of RDA (about 12mg)

88.8 mg of Vitamin C = 222% of RDA (about 40 mg)

23.2 mcg of Folate (Vitamin B9) = 23.2% of RDA (about 100 mcg)

Minerals:

3.52 mg of Iron = 17.6% of RDA (20 mg for women)

24 mg of Calcium = 2.4% of RDA (about 1000 mg)

218 mg of Magnesium = 62.2% of RDA (about 350 mg)

64 mg of Phosphorus = 10.6% of RDA (about 600 mg)

1.42 mg of Zinc = 11.8% of RDA (10 to 12 mg)

chopped green chillies

Clean and wash the green chillies with water and dry with a kitchen towel. Remove the stems and discard them. Place a few green chillies on a chopping board and chop finely or roughly using a sharp knife. It can be used for tempering in dal or vegetables.

sliced green chillies

Clean and wash the green chillies with water and dry with a kitchen towel. Remove the stems and discard them. Place a green chilli on a chopping board and slice it using a sharp knife by cutting vertically across the board. Slice them thinly or thickly as the recipe requirement.

crushed green chillies

Clean and wash the green chillies with water and dry with a kitchen towel. Remove the stems and discard them. Green chillies can be crushed by using pestle and mortar or mixer. Crush them as required, partially or fully.

fried green chillies

Deep-fried chillies are a popular accompaniment in Indian cuisine. Many street foods like Vada pav, Bhajji pav, Methi na Gota etc. are served with deep-fried chillies. To make deep-fried chillies, wash and pat dry the green chillies thoroughly. Heat oil in a deep pan and deep-fry the green chillies till they become crisp and slightly whitish in colour. Drain on absorbent paper and serve.

finely chopped green chillies

Finely chopped green chilies are a cornerstone of Indian cuisine, adding a vibrant kick of flavor and heat to a wide array of dishes. Here's why they are so important:

Flavor Amplifier: Green chilies infuse dishes with a pungent, spicy flavor that can transform even the simplest of dishes.
Aromatic Boost: They add a delightful aroma to the cooking process, enhancing the overall sensory experience.
Balancing Agent: The heat from green chilies can cut through the richness of certain dishes, creating a more balanced flavor profile.