KASHMIRI RED CHILLI POWDER

Bright Red Kashmiri Chilli Powder

 The differences in the color

                                            

                       KASHMIRI RED CHILLI POWDER

Red chilli powder was simply chilli powder for me.I knew that there were two varieties viz.

a) Fine powder(Bareek Mirchi Powder)

and

b) Coarsely powdered one(Kuti Mirchi)

Later my mother introduced me to the following chilli powders-

i) which added color to the curry

and

ii) which gave the flavor of being spicy.

However,when I was introduced to Muskaan Shah,I realized my mistake.Mummyji was always telling me about the KASHMIRI CHILLI POWDER.I thought maybe she used to grind the kashmiri red chillies into powder form and used it for cooking purposes.Oops,I was terribly mistaken!

I visited to the Kashmiri Bakery shop located in Sector-52, Noida. I was extremely happy that I knew a shop where I could purchase it.Mummyji was at my place for few days.At this time,she took out the packet of it and added into the container consisting of red chilli powder.When she filled it,I was astonished at what I observed.There was so much of differences between the two chilli powders present in the bottle(see the caption 2).Gosh!I was highly mistaken about my knowledge about the kashmiri red chilli powder.

These the kashmiri red chilli pods available at INA market,New Delhi.

These are another variety of kashmiri red chilli pods called as KOSHUR RAJA MIRCHI.

I have noted the deep redness achieved by addition of this powder.The addition of this powder enhances the bright "tomato" redness to the curry or salad or pickle or chutney.I am in love with this color.My favorite shade among red colors. When added to the curries,it is not very spicy.However,when it is not cooked and added to the chutneys or pickles,it gives the taste of being "hot" in its sensation.Thank god it is not so hot as the Nagaland chillies as served with the MOMOS.

The kashmiri red chilli powder is less spicy.They are less pungent.The most surprising thing to know about this is the fact that this is added to other red chilli powders in order to enhance the red color as well as the "hot and spicy" taste.Can you believe it!There are various ways in which it is used in our daily lives-

a) One can use it in the fine powdered form.

b) One can use it by soaking it in water for sometime. These can be used in gravies and dry dishes.

c) One can roast the pods on the frying pan or wok and use them.This gives rise to awesome aroma in the kitchen areas.This is added to various kinds of marinades and dips for preparing vegetarian and non-vegetarian recipes.I would be soon sharing the great KASHMIRI RED CHILLI PULAO OR BIRYANI with its exquisite red color.

f) One can use them as it is while preparing pickles, etc.

They help in improving our immune system as they contain Vitamin C and A on one side.On the other side,it has very low fat content and low cholesterol due to presence of Vitamin B and E.