Stuffed Capsicum Bonda

Stuffed Capsicum Bonda is a local name of the dish which means stuffed and fried capsicum. This is one of the famous street food of India called in different names as per the different regions. According to my knowledge it is more popular in South India. This snack is favorite among people who go out in evening for some refreshments. I have tried my best to explain the preparation of this delicious snack. Hope you all like it. 

Preparation Time : 30 min

Cooking Time     : 20 min

Serves                : 4-5

Ingredients ::

English Name For Ingredients	Hindi Names For Ingredients	Quantity
Capsicums	शिमला मिर्च	5
Oil	तेल	For deep frying
For the Filling ::
Potatoes	आलू	2 Medium size
Green Peas	मटर	1/4 Cup
Oil	तेल	2 tbsp
Ginger Garlic Paste	अदरक लहसुन पेस्ट	1/2 tbsp
Garam Masala Powder	गरम मसाला पाउडर	1/2 tbsp
Coriander Powder	धनिया पाउडर	1/2 tbsp
Cumin Powder	जीरा पाउडर	1/4 tbsp
Chilli Powder	लाल मिर्च पाउडर	1/2 tbsp
Turmeric Powder	हल्दी पाउडर	1/4 tbsp
Mango Powder/ Amchur Powder (Optional)	आमचूर पाउडर	1/4 tbsp
Coriander Leaves	हरा धनिया	12 Strands
Salt	नमक	To Taste
For the Batter ::
Gram Flour (Besan)	बेसन	3/4 Cup
Asafoetida	हींग	A Pinch
Baking Soda	बेकिंग सोडा	A Pinch
Carom Seeds	अजवाइन	1/4 tbsp
Salt	नमक	To taste
Water	पानी	1/4  Cup
For Garnishing ::
Onion Chopped	प्याज कटा हुआ	1
Coriander Leaves	हरा धनिया	3-4
Lemon Juice	नींबू का रस	1/2 tbsp
Chaat Masala	चाट मसाला	To taste
To Prepare Mint Chutney (Optional) ::
fresh Mint Leaves		A handful off
Coriander Leaves	हरा धनिया	A handful off
Tamarind	इमली	1/4 tbsp
Green Chilli	हरी मिर्च	1
Jaggery (Optional)	गुड	1/2 tbsp
Salt	नमक	To taste

Preparation ::

Wash the Capsicum and keep aside.

Preparing the Filling ::

1)The first step in making this delicious snack is you need to prepare a thick mixture of filling. For that boil potatoes and green peas separately. Potatoes should be soft enough to mash well and green peas should retain its shape even after boiling.

2)Heat a skillet in a medium flame and add oil, when it is heated  add ginger garlic paste, finely chopped green chillies , boiled green peas one by one. Mash the potatoes well let it go along with green peas. Keep sauting as and when you add ingredients.

3)After few seconds add all the powders mentioned in the ingredients list. Add finely chopped coriander leaves and salt and mix well. Your filling is ready.

Preparing the Batter ::

1)To prepare the batter we are using gram flour as a main ingredient. In a bowl place gram flour and add baking soda, carom seeds, asafoetida and salt.

2)Sieve them well and pour the given quantity of water, keep mixing it with flour beat them well so that there should not be any lumps.

3)The consistency of the batter should not be too thick nor thin. Check for the saltiness and add salt accordingly. Your batter is ready to fry the capsicums.

Frying the Capsicums ::

1)Divide the filling equally to the number of capsicums you have.  Remove the stem part of the capsicums so that you get a hole to fill the mixture. start filling them.

2)Heat oil in a deep frying pan, check if it has got sufficient heat to fry. Take one whole capsicum and dip into the batter. Coat it nicely and leave onto oil. Similarly repeat the same procedure for other filled capsicums.

3)You can fry 2-3 capsicums at a time depending upon the size of your frying pan. Fry them on a medium flame. After few minutes flip each capsicum and fry all the sides evenly.

4)When it is crisp and golden brown remove onto absorbent paper. Your bonda is ready garnish and serve hot.

For Garnishing ::

1)Chop onion into small pieces. In the same way chop coriander leaves. In a small bowl add finely chopped onion and coriander leaves and mix them.

2)Cut the fried capsicum horizontally and vertically. Do not cut fully we are just opening the upper part of it. Sprinkle onion coriander mixture, lemon juice and chaat masala. This way you can serve them plain. This also taste yummilicious if you serve along with mint chutney. I am also giving recipe of mint chutney here. But its optional depending upon your like.

Mint Chutney ::

This is a very simple chutney we can prepare within few minutes. Just you need to do is in a blender grind mint leaves, coriander leaves, jaggery, salt , tamarind and green chilli altogether without adding water into a fine paste. Serve fried Capsicum along with this as a side dish. Just dip every pieces of capsicum onion coriander all together in mint chutney. My mouth started drooling already.