Stuffed Capsicum

Stuffed Capsicum it is!!… this one got the highest number of votes from a poll on Facebook (thank you fb). It’s a simple dish that goes well with rotis or rice. It looks very attractive and can be an interesting part of your menu especially when you have guests. You can either bake or shallow fry these stuffed capsicums. I have tried both methods and it has turned out well (though I’d love to bake them). Let’s see how they are made: 

Preparation time: 15minutes 

Cooking time: 20minutes
Serves: 2

You need: 

3 capsicums (medium size)
3 potatoes (medium size)
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp amchur (dry mango powder)
1/4 tsp jeera powder
1/4 tsp dhania powder (coriander powder)
1/4 tsp garam masala powder
1/4 tsp chaat masala
3 tsp grated cheese
salt to taste
juice of half a lime
few coriander leaves
2 tsp oil

For garnishing:
few onions rings (optional)

Step-by-step: 

Wash, dry and cut out a ‘lid’ on the top of each capsicum using a sharp knife (do not throw away the lids)

Remove the seeds, wash, apply salt on the inside and keep upside down on a rack 

Heat a tsp of oil in a pan and toss the capsicums on all sides for a minute (it will get a dark brown colour on the outer skin)
Boil, peel and coarsely mash the potatoes. (Chop the capsicum lids …ensure they are very fine and mix with the mashed potato, so it'll add to the taste and you'll not waste anything!) 

Add all the masala powders and salt (don’t add too much of salt as you have already rubbed some on the capsicums and you are adding cheese too!) to the potatoes 

Squeeze the juice of half a lemon and mix well
Stuff the capsicums with the prepared stuffing
Sprinkle some chopped coriander leaves (this will add to the colour too!) 

Top it with a tsp of cheese on each of them (already looking yummy???)

Spread a sheet of aluminum foil in an oven proof dish. Rub a tsp of oil on the foil and place the onion rings (it's purely optional)

Preheat an oven on 170⁰C for 10 minutes and bake the capsicums until done. It will roughly take about 7 minutes (be careful not to burn it, keep watching!) 

Let it stay in the oven for 5minutes after you switch it off 

Serve hot! 

Variation: 

• If you prefer to shallow fry, take some oil in a pan. Fry the stuffed capsicums on each side  until it softens or changes color (it will take about 5-7 minutes to cook on each side - on a low heat )
• You can add grated paneer instead of potato

I enjoyed making 'Stuffed Capsicum' and posting this recipe ‘cos YOU wanted it!...pour in your suggestions and let’s try more!

Yours tastefully!