bhavnagri chillies

What are bhavnagri chillies, bhavnagri mirchi ? | Uses, Benefits + Recipes Viewed 48748 times
Also Known as
Bhavnagar Mirchi, Bhavanagri chillies

What is bhavnagri chillies, bhavnagri mirchi ?


This special variety of chilli that hails from Bhavnagar in Gujarat is very spicy. It is very famous spice available all round the year. It taste is unique, whether used in tempering or vegetable dish or simply pickled.


How to Select bhavnagri chillies, bhavnagri mirchi 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. While buying fresh chillies look for crisp unwrinkled ones. Make sure they are bright and unbroken.

Culinary uses of bhavnagri chillies, bhavnagri mirchi in Indian cooking

Bhavnagari Chilli pickles, achar

These chilies are an excellent accompaniment to all kinds of meals. It is very common to pickle the chilies or simply fry them, sprinkle them with a salt and eat them to lunch or dinner. Typical way of eating Bhavanagri Marcha, like in Gujarat, is to cut them in roundels and toss it with a little turmeric, black salt and hing.

Raiwala Marcha is also an excellent pickle to eat with roti subzi.

Mustard Chilli Pickle | This chilli pickle is only for those who can take the hottest of spices and even then my advice is to eat it in moderation. Sliced green chillies combined with fennel seeds along with other pickling spices and lemon juice.  

You can serve this pickle immediately or mature it for 3 to 4 days under the sun and have a mellowed down version of it. 

Sabzis using Bhavanagari Chilli 

Mirch ka Salan is a subzi made with bhavanagri chillies in a gravy of peanuts, ginger, garlic and numerous whole spices. This Hyderabadi special subzi is a crowd pleaser for entertaining guests when you want to make something absolutely unique!


· The chillies (whole or sliced) are combined with fennel seeds, split mustard seeds, turmeric, chilli powder, lemon juice and salt to make a super spicy pickle that is just perfect for those intense salt cravings. It is a wonderful accompaniment with chapattis or Parathas or curd-rice.
· Ever thought of stuffing chillies. Well you can stuff Bhavanagari chillies with the mixture of besan (chickpea flour), 1 t salt, ½ tsp turmeric powder, chopped coriander (cilantro), juice of half a lemon and either temper it with hing and rye or fry it whole and serve as stuffed chilli pakodas or pickle.
· Ghatia is a Guajarati dish and Bhavnagar is famous for that. It is a deep fried snack made of Gram flour and normally served with Bhavanagari fried green chillies. Each bite of food is accompanied by a little bite of a fresh finger chilli. It is served mainly at breakfast or snack time with a cup of tea/coffee.
· Bhavanagari mirch, is made into the most delicious Mirchi Vadas, plain or stuffed.

How to Store bhavnagri chillies, bhavnagri mirchi Store them in a container in the fridge or in a cool, dry place.

Sliced bhavnagri chillies
Place the Bhavnagari chillies on a chopping board. Discard the stems. Take a sharp knife and cut the chillies horizontally with 1/2” thickness. Use as required.

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