Parsi Style Bharela Marcha - Stuffed green Chillies

There are different varieties of green chilies available in the market. I know for sure the dark green chilly is spicier than the light green variant. Chilies when fried and eaten add more taste to any dish.

Stuffed green chili is a tasty recipe which is made differently in every household. Some just add peanut, coconut powder, and dry spices while others stuff it with potatoes and other ingredients like besan (gram flour), lemon juice, amchur or tamarind to add acidity.

This stuffed chili recipe is called as bharwa mirch, in Marathi and bharela marcha in Gujarati.
A few days back I saw my foodie/ home chef friend Mahrukh Mogrelia stir up a batch stuffed green chili. I asked her for the recipe and she promptly provided it. I liked the fact that she used potatoes to stuff the chilies. Note the ingredients and try this Parsi version of bharela Marcha.

Ingredients

250 gms Green chilies
3 small potatoes
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1 tbsp lime juice
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp Coriander powder
1/2 tsp Amchur powder ( dry mango powder)
1/2 tsp sugar
Chopped coriander leaves
Salt to taste
2 tbsp oil

Method

1. Wash the green chilies and pat dry. Then slit the green chilies from the middle and scoop out the seeds that are inside. This makes a place for the stuffing to be filled well.

2. Boil the potatoes. When cool peel and mash them.

3. To the mashed potatoes, add all the dry spices, salt, lime juice, sugar and coriander leaves. Mix it well to make a soft mixture.

4. Now fill the chilies well. Do not overstuff them. Apply a little pressure with fingers to seal the chillies and try to close the open side of it.  If this doesn't happen it is perfectly all right.

5. Add oil to a frying pan. Let the oil heat and then keep the flame on medium. Place the chilies one by one. Cook on one side for two minutes.

6. Then flip then over and cook on another side for 3 -5 minutes. This time cover the pan with a lid.

7. Open the lid and check to see if chilies are cooked through. They cook really fast so don't overcook it.

8. This makes a beautiful dish to have with roti or then dal and rice too.

Note

You can steam the chilies or cook in a microwave oven. Steam for 8 to 10 minutes. If you don't want to use oil.
Add a little oil to the potato mixture.