stuffed capsicum

Stuffed Capsicum | Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe

By Swasthi on August 10, 2022, Comments, Jump to Recipe

Stuffed Capsicum are a popular dish made across the world. Stuffed Capsicum are bell peppers stuffed with a variety of fillings, ranging from vegetables, grains to meat and sometimes they are also topped with cheese. These Indian style Stuffed Capsicum are simply the best and have a stuffing made with potatoes, carrots, peas, spices and herbs. You can also include paneer if you want.

Stuffed capsicum

About Stuffed Capsicum

Also known as Bharwa Shimla Mirch, these Stuffed Capsicum make for a great side in a meal but you can also serve them for a tea time snack with a cup of your favorite tea or coffee or soup & sandwiches.

Unlike the American stuffed bell peppers that are baked in oven, these are grilled or roasted in a pan on the stovetop. I use small bell peppers of different colors as they are easily available where I live.

However if you do not have access to small bell peppers you may use large ones too. If using extremely large peppers it is ideal to halve them before stuffing.

In this post I show with stepwise pictures how to cook the stuffed capsicum in a pan on the stovetop. I have also included the instructions to bake and air fry them.

I personally prefer to use small to medium sized capsicum because they have sweeter flavors. The flavour and taste of the bell peppers change with color and size.

Green capsicum have a more pungent and bitter flavor compared to the others. Yellow bell peppers have a mild fruity taste & have slight sweet tones. Red capsicum are sweeter with slight citrusy notes.

You may use any one color or different colors depending on how you like your stuffed capsicum to be.

Stuffed Capsicum are Indian style vegetarian stuffed bell peppers

More Capsicum recipes,
Easy Capsicum fry recipe
Capsicum curry recipe
Capsicum rice recipe

How to make Stuffed Capsicum (Stepwise photos)

Preparation

  1. Boil or steam 3 medium or 2 large potatoes until soft. I prefer to steam the veggies so they don’t over cook. You can also boil the whole potatoes in a cooker or in a pot. Here I peeled and diced the potatoes, transferred to a steam basket. I steamed them over a pot.
steam potatoes for stuffing

2. When the potatoes are 3/4th cooked, add 1 diced carrot and ¼ cup peas to the steam basket. Steam for a little longer until just cooked.

steam carrots for stuffed capsicum recipe

3. Rinse the capsicums. Small to medium sized ones work better. If you have large bell peppers, halve them.

tinker bell peppers

4. Cut off the tops. I also cut slightly on the bottom for frying them conveniently. Do do not make a deep cut at the bottom. You want the bottom to be closed.

trimming top for stuffed bell peppers

5. Deseed them gently.

deseeding tinker bell peppers

Make the stuffing

6. Heat a pan with 1 tablespoon oil. Add ¼ teaspoon cumin seeds and 2 garlic cloves chopped. Fry until the garlic smells good.

saute garlic for making stuffed bell peppers

7. Add 1 small sliced onion (about 1/3 cup slices). Also chop the bell pepper tops to smaller bite sized pieces and add them here. Saute all of them well until the onions turn golden.

frying onions for stuffed capsicum recipe

8. Add ½ to ¾ teaspoon red chili powder, ½ to ¾ teaspoon garam masala and 1 teaspoon crushed kasuri methi.

spice powders for stuffed bell peppers

9. Saute just for a minute.

Saute the mixture

10. Add the steamed veggies and 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves.

steamed veggies for stuffed capsicum recipe

11. Mash the veggies well. Add 1/3 teaspoon salt. Taste test and add more if you want. If you want you can also add half teaspoon amchur or 1 teaspoon lemon juice.

mashing veggies

12. Stuff the capsicums.

stuffing tinker bell peppers

13. Heat the same pan with 1 tablespoon oil. Add the stuffed peppers.

pan fry the stuffed bell peppers

14. Cover and cook on a medium to low flame until the capsicum is half cooked or fully cooked to suit your taste. These can be grilled in a preheated oven at 200 C or 400 F for 8 to 15 mins, depending on the size of your capsicum. If you want you can also air fry at the same temperature.

grilled stuffed bell peppers

15. Sprinkle very little chaat masala mixed with a pinch of salt.

chaat masala for stuffed capsicum recipe

Serve stuffed capsicums warm.

stuffed capsicum recipe stuffed bell pepper recipe

Pro Tips

  1. You can sprinkle some mozzarella cheese on the stuffed bell peppers.
  2. Potatoes can be replaced with sweet potatoes or even with some cooked quinoa.
  3. If you love paneer, then you can stuff this paneer bhurji.
  4. You can simply scramble some eggs and fill it in the bell peppers.
  5. Stuff it with this chicken keema to make them chicken stuffed bell peppers.
  6. To make them keema stuffed peppers, make this mutton keema and stuff.

Related Recipes

Recipe Card

stuffed capsicum stuffed bell pepper recipe

Stuffed Capsicum | Stuffed Bell Pepper Recipe

These stuffed bell peppers are made in Indian style with a stuffing of spiced potatoes peas and carrots. Serve them as a side in your meal.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings4
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • 3 to 4 medium capsicums medium (or 6 small)
  • 3 medium potatoes
  • 1 medium carrot
  • ¼ cup green peas
  • 2 tablespoon oil
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 2 garlic cloves or 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
  • 1 onion sliced
  • ½ to ¾ teaspoon red chili powder
  • ½ to ¾ teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
  • teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
  • 2 tablespoon coriander leaves
  • ¼ teaspoon chaat masala powder or as needed (optional)


Instructions

How to make Stuffed Capsicum

  • Dice & steam potatoes, carrots & peas until fork tender, without making them mushy.
  • Chop off the bell pepper tops and set aside. Deseed them as well. If you want you may level the bottom too so they stand well while cooking but make sure the bottom is still closed to hold the stuffing.
  • Cut & save the edible portion of the capsicum tops to use in the stuffing.
  • Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds and garlic. Let the garlic fry for 30 seconds.
  • Then add the onions & chopped bell pepper tops. Saute until golden.
  • Add chili powder, garam masala, kasuri methi. Mix & saute for 1 min.
  • Next add the steamed veggies and mash them. Mix together salt and coriander leaves.
  • Stuff the bell peppers with this potato mixture. Fry them in 1 tbsp oil stirring often. You can also cover and cook for sometime.
  • Baking: To bake them preheat the oven at 200 C or 400 F and bake for 8 to 15 mins depending on the size of capsicums.
  • Serve stuffed bell peppers as a appetizer or side in your meal.


Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Stuffed Capsicum | Stuffed Bell Pepper Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 137
% Daily Value*
Sodium 26mg1%
Potassium 888mg25%
Carbohydrates 28g9%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 2940IU59%
Vitamin C 134.7mg163%
Calcium 63mg6%
Iron 5.7mg32%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

Stuffed Capsicum | Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe

About Swasthi

I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

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Comments

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21 Comments
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Very nice thought. Good photographs. Will try your methods. Thank you.

5 stars
These peppers are simple to make but incredible! I wasn’t sure what to expect (I’ve only had stuffed peppers with Italian-style flavors) but your recipes are always sooo good I decided I would try these. They didn’t need cheese at all. The chaat masala powder was the perfect topper.

Also, just wanted to note that the cumin seeds are not listed in the ingredients but are included in the steps. I used a bit more than 1 tablespoon and that seemed to be a good amount. 🙂

Thank you Swasthi!

5 stars
Tried aloo stuffed capsicum and loved it! Kasturi methi did the magic. Thank you xx

5 stars
Tried this today and it turned out really well.Thank you ?

5 stars
Holy cow! These were divine! I put them in the oven with some cheese. Tasted delicious.

5 stars
I am not fan of capsicum , I don’t eat that much
I like potato stuffing made , that is always tasty to eat
Awesome recipe
Thank you

Thanks a lot…Its really tasty and also easy to cook. Also comprises of healthy combination of all easily available vegitables.

5 stars
Darun

5 stars
they are just fab with your bread cheese capsicum toast.

5 stars
I love this recipe! I’ve made stuffed capsicum twice with this recipe, and both times these were highly appreciated!

5 stars
Yummy stuffed peppers. made them and got over in minutes