Colourful capsicums are the darlings of cuisines across the world. Sweet and crunchy capsicums are deliciously versatile vegetables, which can be prepared in a variety of ways and their beautiful colours brighten up any dish. They can be eaten raw, roasted, grilled with succulent meats, stuffed with a savoury filling and baked, steamed with other tender crisp veggies, sautéed, or thrown into a simmering pot for a hearty warming stew or a soup. I must admit that I used to enjoy capsicum only on pizzas until I came up with this creation of a simple recipe for Tricolour Capsicum Masala Stir Fry.
After thinking a lot, I decided to play with the colours to include this veggie in my cooking. I used yellow, green and red capsicums with some Indian spices to make a dry curry, more like a stir-fry. The plan was not to overcook the capsicum to retain its crunch and use very little oil. Just to add a little kick, they are tossed in with a self-created spice mix. I always love to use freshly ground spice mixes. I never plan ahead what would be the ingredients, I just go to the pantry, pick a few ingredients, grind them and there it is!….fresh spice mix ;-).
Capsicums are now a vegetable I enjoy, and even crave for. Can you guess the reason?? COLOURS.
I think Colours play an important role in our food. First you eat with your eyes, and then with your mouth… Everything green on a plate is so dull and boring, until you throw in some yellow or red to make it interesting. These capsicums add gorgeous colour and the inherent sweetness in it is very appealing.
A lot said about capsicum and my love for them, let’s move on quickly to the Tricolour Capsicum Masala Stir Fry recipe
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Step-by-Step process in making Tricolour Capsicum Masala Stir Fry:
- Grab all the required ingredients.
- Discard seeds, and dice capsicums and onion into equal-size cubes.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and add mustard seeds. Once they splutter add onions.
- Once the onions turn translucent, throw in capsicum cubes, few curry leaves, required salt and stir-fry for 5 minutes.
- While the capsicums get cooked, grab all the ingredients to make the spice mix.
- Add all the ingredients under the section “For the Powder” in a blender and grind to a coarse powder.
- Add in the ground powder to the capsicum mixture and stir for 5 minutes until the capsicum is coated well with the spices.
- The capsicum should have a mild crunch. Do not overcook them.
- Turn off the heat and garnish with coriander.
Serve with roti, chapathi, paratha or with rice with sambhar or rasam. This will make a great stuffing for sandwiches too.
Tricolour Capsicum Masala Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon Vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 3 Capsicums or Bell peppers tricolour, diced into cubes
- 1 large Onion diced into cubes
- Few curry leaves
- Required salt
- For the Powder
- ½ cup Roasted Peanuts
- 1 Tablespoon desiccated coconut
- 4 Dry red chillies
- 3 Garlic pods unpeeled
- 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- For garnish:
- A fistful of chopped coriander
Instructions
- Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat and add mustard seed. Once they splutter add onions.
- Once onions turn translucent, add capsicum, curry leaves, required salt and stir-fry for 5 minutes.
- In the mean time add all the ingredients under the heading “For the Powder” in a blender and grind to a coarse powder.
- Add in the ground powder to the capsicum mixture and stir for 5 minutes until the capsicum is coated well with the spices.
- The capsicum pieces should have a slight crunch. Do not overcook them.
- Turn off the heat and garnish with coriander.
Notes
Do not to overcook capsicums, otherwise they will become soggy.
Spice levels can be adjusted wit red chilies to your taste.
Do try out some variations in the spice mix and share it with me.
This spice mix powder can also be used with any vegetable of your choice.
You can also use the spicy lentil powder used in Eggplant stir fry recipe, which will give another variation to this Tricolour capsicum masala stir fry.
Happy cooking 🙂
padma
Tried the recipe, Its simple, quick and tastes great… prepared for my guests and they loved it…
I’m so glad your guests like the recipe:)Thank you for the feedback dear:)
Nice color n tasty luking fry
Thank you:)
Hi Padma, we’ve just connected on Google+ and I came here to check on your blog. Yummy recipes, and your photos look beautiful. This spicy capsicum stir-fry sounds very tempting!
Thank for stopping by my space and leaving a lovely comment:)
Thank you for stopping by my space and leaving a lovely comment:)
delicious flavors! really nice dear Padma 🙂
Glad you liked it..Thank you dear:)
Nice different recipe and your pictures are good! Loved browsing through your site 🙂
Thank you so much dear:)Welcome to my space…Glad you liked it:)Let’s stay in touch!!
Very colourful and yummy! Great photographs too!!!
Very colourful and yummy! Great photographs!!!
Thank you so much and Welcome to my space dear:) Let’s keep in touch:)
Love this easy and yummy stir fry…. 🙂
So easy and yummy capsicum stir fry ……… I will try this 🙂
Thank you dear…do give me your feedback when you try it out:)
Colorful and yummy dish, I am sure capsicum lovers will go gaga over it.
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Colorful and yummy dish, I am sure capsicum lovers will go gaga over it.
Thank you Subha:)
Beautiful. Appetizing. Vibrant. Delicious! 🙂
Lovely dish , and the colours are tempting..!!
Thank you Jayashree:)
beautiful presentation……
Thank you dear:)
love the colors…….a nice click.
Thanks dear:)
I love naturally colorful foods…This dish looks so appealing. And your spice powder makes this dish outstanding!
Thank you so much for your sweet words:)
colorful dish and healthy too
Thank you dear:)
This is an easy and quick recipe! Colours surely play an important role in our food (or life, for that matter) 🙂
Very true Gauri..I think colours reflect our personality, emotions and our moods:)Thank you dear:)
Loved this recipe Padma. I also appreciate your efforts on giving the calorie info. Are u from a Nutrition background? I am one. So asking you.
Thank you sowmya!..I’m don’t have any nutrition background..I’m a Biochemist:)…I have rough idea behind the scenes so I just try to research and give the caloric value..that’s the reason I never say any exact value..I mention it as under..so..and..so:)
Loved the colors and the flavors too.. Would love to give it a try!!
Thank you Shubha..glad you liked it..will wait for your feedback:)
so yummy and delicious it looks Padma.. Thanks for the recipe..
My pleasure..Thank you sear:)
beautiful presentation, Padma! I love the use of three color bell pepper and steps make it look so easy t cook! a must try for me! pinning!
It is simple and quick..Thank you and do try it out Savita:)
Beautiful dish. I love the colors. They are making it so tempting. Super delicious. 🙂
Thank you Ritu:)
Crunchiness and color well maintained.. With beautiful..presentation
Thank you so much Vani:)
I love the spice and aromatic powder mix you have used in this recipe. I thought that was a brilliant way of incorporating your personal magic to the dish. The dish looks absolutely beautiful with the tri colour making it all the more inviting.
Thank you sweetheart…I’m glad you like the spice mix:)…Always love to hear from you:)