Capsicum Recipes | 42 Bell Pepper Recipes

For all capsicum lovers, find 37 capsicum recipes that are both healthy and delicious. Capsicum is also known as Bell Pepper in some countries. In Hindi it is called Shimla Mirch. Many of these bell pepper recipes are easy to make and vary from snacks, appetizers, sides to curries and rice based dishes. The sautéed, steamed capsicum dishes can be enjoyed with paratha, naan or roti and the curry recipes with rice, roti, naan or bread.

What is Capsicum?
What is the best way to eat Capsicum?
Is Bell Pepper healthy?
Indian Shimla Mirch Recipes

What is Capsicum?

Also known as bell pepper, capsicum is the fruit of a particular variety of nightshade. (Other nightshades include tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant a.k.a brinjal. Capsicum are picked before they ripen into shades of yellow, orange or red.

Capsicum can be eaten either cooked or raw. When eaten raw, they have a slightly bitter, almost grassy flavor; when cooked, they have a lightly sweet, earthy and vegetal taste.

Capsicum are roughly the size of a fist, and are one of the least spicy peppers on the Scoville heat scale. In fact, they rate zero on the index! For comparison, Indian green chillies range from 25,000-100,000 SHUs.

What is the best way to eat Capsicum?

Capsicum is a popular ingredient in Indian cooking, and you’ll find it in many recipes. In this section, I focus on recipes that feature capsicum as a primary ingredient together with recipes where capsicum is an important ingredient that cannot be skipped.

Whether served raw in sauces like raita or chutney, or as the stuffed vessel for spicy mashed potatoes that are then baked or cooked, these tasty peppers are delicious in a variety of ways!

And of course you can always add them to a medley of veggies when you make pulao, biryani, mix vegetable curry, soup, salads, fried rice, or noodles. They add a mild peppery flavor to the dish that tastes nice without making the dish very spicy or pungent.

Is Bell Pepper healthy?

Yes! One serving of bell pepper has over 100% of your daily Vitamin C, and is also rich in vitamin B6 and fiber. Bell peppers are also quite low in calories, meaning you can eat lots without feeling any guilt! These tasty peppers have been linked to several positive health outcomes, including maintaining a healthy weight, as well as improved heart and eye health.

How do I pick Capsicum?

When shopping for capsicum, look for fruits that are smooth, brightly colored and relatively heavy for their size. Also, make sure that the stems are green! Avoid bruises, blemishes and shrivelled skin, as these are all indications that the fruit has sat on the shelf for too long.

How do I store Capsicum?

Capsicum should be stored in the vegetable crisper drawer of your fridge, away from any fruit. Avoid packing them in too tightly – this can shorten their shelf life. Also, keep them away from moisture. When stored properly, these peppers should last for up to a week in the refrigerator. I always place them in cotton bags which I then place in the crisper drawer of the fridge.

Can I freeze Bell Pepper?

You sure can! Simply remove the stem and seeds, then slice the peppers from pole to pole. Freeze in a single layer for about an hour, then place in an airtight container. Once frozen, bell pepper slices can last for up to 6 months. There’s no need to defrost them prior to cooking.

Indian Shimla Mirch Recipes

There are some gems in the Indian cuisine that have capsicum a.k.a shimla mirch as the hero ingredient or paired with a few more main ingredients. Shimla Mirch recipes like stuffed bell peppers, capsicum curry, sautéed spiced capsicum and capsicum rice are favorites with many folks.