capsicum curry

Capsicum Curry | Capsicum Masala

By Swasthi on June 19, 2022, Comments, Jump to Recipe

Capsicum curry is a simple dish with easy prep that is packed with a punch of flavors. Made with capsicum aka bell peppers, onions, tomatoes and a homemade nutty spice paste, this is simply a delicious curry! This is one dish you won’t forget every time you have some bell peppers in your fridge. Serve this capsicum masala gravy with chapati, or flavoured rice like jeera rice, ghee rice, pulao or biryani.

Capsicum curry made with spicy masala

Capsicum Curry

This capsicum curry is a simple one pot dish where bell peppers are simmered in a flavorsome masala gravy made with onions, tomatoes, peanuts, sesame seeds, desiccated coconut and aromatic spices. With so many good and nutritious ingredients going into it, this capsicum curry tastes super delicious with a burst of spicy and tangy flavors.

This recipe is roughly adapted from a North Karnataka capsicum peanut stir fry and Hyderabadi mirchi ka salan which is usually made as an accompaniment to Biryani. However this recipe does not use tamarind but includes tomatoes to add that special tang.

Make this capsicum curry with any kind of bell peppers you have – green, red or yellow. I have made this several times with a mix of all 3 so I can say it tastes the best! The taste and flavor of the red, green and yellow bell peppers is so much different from the other. So if you happen to find them, do use all 3.

I first posted this recipe in 2014 and I had made it with red and green bell peppers as you see in the first image. Later I updated the post with stepwise pictures in which I have used only green capsicum.

Here are more Capsicum Recipes
Stuffed Capsicum
Bell Pepper Stir fry
Aloo Capsicum
Capsicum Rice

Capsicum curry recipe

More similar curry recipes
Bhindi masala
Aloo gobi
Mix veg curry
Potato curry

How To Make Capsicum Curry (stepwise photos)

Roasting nuts & seeds

1. Roast 1½ tablespoons peanuts till lightly golden & aromatic. Later reduce the heat and add ¾ tablespoons sesame seeds, and 1 ½ tablespoons dry coconut or 6 cashew nuts. I did not have dry coconut so I went ahead using cashews. Keep stirring and roast until the sesame seeds begin to splutter. Be careful not to over roast the seeds as they can taste bitter. Transfer to a plate and cool down.

roasting nuts

Prepare for Gravy

2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in the same pan, add 1 cup chopped onions and fry till lightly golden. Add 1½ teaspoon ginger garlic paste and fry till you begin to smell good. Do not burn.

frying onions for capsicum curry recipe

3. Throw in 1 chopped tomato (about half cup). Sprinkle a pinch of turmeric and half teaspoon salt. Fry till the tomatoes turn mushy. If your pan is too dry, cover and cook.

cooking tomatoes capsicum curry recipe

4. Next add in ¾ teaspoon red chili powder and 1 teaspoon garam masala. Saute till you begin to smell good, for about 2 to 3 minutes or till the mixture begins to leave oil. Cool this completely.

addition of chili powder for capsicum curry recipe

5. Transfer the onion tomato mixture, roasted peanuts, sesame seeds and dry coconut to a blender jar. Pour ½ cup water and blend to a paste. Scrape down the sides and then add another ¼ cup water and make a smooth puree.

Tip: If you do not like smooth gravy, then I suggest blending only the peanuts, sesame seeds and coconut with very little water to a smooth paste.

blending onion mixture

6. We prefer the smooth curry so I pureed everything.

capsicum curry recipe step 6

How To Make Capsicum Curry

7. Pour another tablespoon oil to the pan. Add 1 bay leaf or 1 sprig curry leaves, 2 cardamom and ½ teaspoon cumin seeds. When they begin to splutter add 1 cubed onion (¾ to 1 cup layers separated) and 1 ½ cups diced capsicum. Fry on a medium high flame for 2 minutes.

tempering with spices

8. Transfer the paste from the jar. Be little careful, it will begin to splash, so better keep ¼ cup of water ready and pour it immediately.

9. Add ½ to 1 teaspoon kasuri methi, little more garam masala or coriander powder if required. I also add ¼ teaspoon red chili powder to give a better color. Adjust water to get the desired consistency.

addition of water

10. Mix every thing well and bring it to a boil. Cook covered till the bell pepper is partially cooked yet crunchy.

kasuri methi for capsicum curry recipe

Serve capsicum curry with flavored rice like Jeera rice, pulao, biryani or with chapati.

capsicum curry recipe swasthis recipes

Related Recipes

Recipe Card

capsicum curry

Capsicum Curry Recipe | Capsicum Masala Gravy

Flavorsome Capsicum curry is a dish made by simmering bell peppers in a nutty and spicy onion tomato nut masala. Serve it with biryani, pulao, any flavored rice or with roti.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings3
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

Ingredients for capsicum curry

  • cup capsicum bell pepper cubed (any color)
  • 2 tablespoons Oil (divided – 1+ 1)
  • ¾ cup onions finely chopped (1 medium)
  • 1 medium onion cubed and layers separated (optional)
  • ½ cup tomatoes chopped
  • ¾ to 1 teaspoon red chili powder
  • ½ to 1 teaspoon kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves, optional)
  • 1 sprig curry leaves or bay leaf
  • ¼ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 2 green cardamoms (optional)
  • 1 green chili (optional)
  • teaspoon ginger garlic paste
  • ½ to ¾ teaspoon salt

To roast & blend

  • tablespoon peanuts or poppy seeds or 6 cashews (or a mix of all)
  • tablespoon desiccated coconut (or copra, optional)
  • ¾ tablespoon white sesame seeds (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • ½ teaspoon coriander powder (optional)
  • 2 tablespoon coriander leaves fine chopped


Instructions

Preparation

  • Finely chop one onion and cube the other one and separate the layers.
  • Cube capsicum and set aside.
  • Dry roast peanuts on a medium heat until deep golden and aromatic. Reduce the heat and then add coconut and sesame seeds. Stir and lightly roast until the seeds begin to splutter. Transfer to a plate and set aside to cool.
  • Pour 1 tablespoon oil to the same pan. Add one finely chopped onion, green chili and fry till golden. 
  • Then add ginger garlic paste and fry till the raw smell disappears.
  • Add tomatoes and fry till they turn mushy. 
  • Add salt, turmeric, red chili powder, coriander powder and garam masala.
  • Fry till the mixture gets cooked well and begins to leave the sides of the pan. Cool completely.
  • Grind the peanuts, coconut and onions tomatoes mixture, together with little water to a smooth paste. I used about ¾ cup water in 2 batches as this makes blending easy and smooth.

How to make capsicum curry

  • Heat the same pan with 1 tablespoon oil. Then add cumin, cardamom and bay leaf or curry leaves.
  • When the cumin begins to sizzle, add capsicum and onions (cubed and layers separated). Next fry on a high flame for 2 mins.
  • Pour the ground mixture and any spice powders to adjust to your taste. Also pour water as needed to adjust the consistency.
  • Bring it to a boil on a medium flame. Cover and simmer until bell peppers are tender yet crunchy.
  • Sprinkle kasuri methi, stir well. Over cooking will make the capsicums soggy, so switch off in time.
  • Serve capsicum curry with biryani, pulao , chapathi or any of your favorite dish.


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
Capsicum Curry Recipe | Capsicum Masala Gravy
Amount Per Serving
Calories 220 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 8g
Sodium 455mg20%
Potassium 504mg14%
Carbohydrates 18g6%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 2759IU55%
Vitamin C 131mg159%
Calcium 79mg8%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

capsicum curry
Capsicum Curry | Capsicum Masala

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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5 stars
Hi Swasthi,
This dish is amazing. I really love the taste of this gravy, but I don’t like capsicum that much. Could you please recommend any vegetables other than capsicum that work well with this gravy? Thank you for these wonderful recipes!

For anyone short of peanuts…I used peanut butter and wished I only used a teaspoon instead of two.

5 stars
Tried this recipe several times and it has become my family’s favorite now. Thanks for the wonderful recipes. Love your recipes.

5 stars
Made capsicum curry with chapati n flavoured rice. Tastes delicious n my daughter who fishes out capsicum from dishes liked it a lot.

5 stars
Came out very tasty Thank you for the recipe. All your recipes are good

5 stars
I doubled the rexipe and it came out very well ! I increased the quantity of peanuts and decresed dry coconut as i am not a big fan of coconut taste in gravy. All my family loved the curry ! Thank you Swathi.

5 stars
I am an ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON by profession, from BANGALORE & cooking is my hobby & passion, whenever I am out of my moods, cooking will give me lot of satisfaction, brings out of my bad thoughts. Further I would like to help my wife. Further I keep browsing through the net for new recipes. one fine day I happened to go through your site, from that day onwards I am trying your recipes & liked a lot & keep looking for NEW RECIPES & there is no end for that. one thing I loved about your recipes is, they are easy to follow. thank you very much.

I had prepared capsicum masala gravy. I followed the instructions clearly and it came out very well. My family members liked it a lot n asked me to prepare again. It tastes like a restaurant one. We enjoyed it with chapati. Thanks a lot madam

5 stars
Thank you so much for the recipe..
Please post more on lunch box menu ..

Hi definitely I will try and going to serve to my husband. Till now I didn’t find like this recipe. Thank you for sharing amazing recipe.?

Hi saathi to day I prepared capcicum curry its very tate and delicious thank q

5 stars
Hi Swasthi,
Thanks for the recipe. It was very good.You must try this with green peas. Turned wout awesome.

Swasthi this dish turned out to be so delicious, the gravy is finger licking good! Love your feed, all your hard work is certainly paying off 🙂

5 stars
Hi Swasthi,

Wow.. This is soooo tasty. Have made it 3 times now. Has become one of my favorite meals.
Thanks for sharing this !!

Hi Swasthi,
Never thought that capsicum could taste anything like this.The capsicum masala curry recipe was simply awesome and deliciously sumptuous.really loved it.Thanks for sharing

Dear Swasthi,
Today I am going to try your capsicum curry recipe and I hope it comes out well. Although in my house they don’t like capsicum as such, I wanted to try out this recipe so that they start liking it. Thanks for sharing the yummy looking capsicum curry. Keep cooking, keep motivating!

Sudha Kalyani

5 stars
Dear Swathi,
Capsicum is a fav veg in our house and I always have a stock of it in my fridge. Still, I can’t believe I never made capsicum curry all these years. Tried your recipe today and we absolutely Looooooved it. Thank you for sharing the recipe. Best of luck

5 stars
I tried this capsicum gravy it comes super tasty

5 stars
Amazing flavor but as well a mild delicious gravy
We did have it for chappathi
And idly
It was out of the world
That powder is the key to the flavor
It takes the gravy to a whole new level
I did not see this coming

5 stars
I tried this recipe today.. it was awesome for the chapathi.. I mixed all the three colour capsicum.. Thank you for your wonderful recipe..

5 stars
I never cooked this good capsicum before . Searching on net I got the recipe and tried with a lil deviation as I had only red bell peppers. With cashews the outcome was really stunning. My husband loved it
Thanks for sharing recipe