About This Aloo Capsicum

In Hindi, potatoes are called as “aloo” and green bell pepper are known as “shimla mirch“. The word “sabji or sabzi” stands for a vegetable dish here. While this recipe includes potatoes to make it more hearty and filling, you can opt to skip them and include more capsicum.
This aloo shimla mirch ki sabji is my my mother-in-law’s fabulous recipe that is high on flavors. It is not only simple and quick but also made with minimal spices. I usually add potatoes in this recipe as not everyone is fond of capsicum in the family. However, you can make this dish without potatoes also. If skipping potatoes, replace them with capsicum or any other vegetable in the same proportion. This is a Punjabi recipe of making aloo shimla mirch ki sabji. A dry sautéed vegetable recipe that has no liquids. Besides the capsicum and potatoes, just a few Indian ground spice powders are used in this dish. There are no onions, tomatoes, ginger or garlic added here. I first had this delicious aloo capsicum decades ago at my in-law’s place. I am not so fond of capsicum and rarely use them in recipes, even Indo-Chinese ones, where capsicum is always added. But this aloo capsicum is an exception to the rule. I like it so much, that I can have it as it is. So I make shimla mirch ki sabji often and the family also loves it.

How to make Shimla Mirch ki Sabji

Prepare Capsicum and Potatoes

  1. Rinse 3 to 4 small to medium-sized capsicum and 3 to 4 medium-sized potatoes in running water throughly using a colander or strainer. Drain all the water after rinsing them well. This recipe is easily adaptable and you can decrease or increase the capsicum or potatoes as per your liking.
  2. Measure and keep all the spice powders and other ingredients ready.
  3. Slice or chop 3 to 4 medium-sized capsicum into thick strips or wedges. You can also cut them in 1.5 inches cubes or squares. Discard the seeds.
  4. Next peel the potatoes.
  5. Slice the potatoes into slightly thin wedges as then they are easier and faster to cook. Or you can just chop them into small cubes.

Sauté Potatoes and Capsicum

  1. In a heavy and well-seasoned wok, frying pan or kadai, add 3 tablespoons oil (any neutral-tasting oil).
  2. Once the oil becomes medium-hot, add the sliced potatoes.
  3. Sauté the potatoes on a low to medium-low heat until they are half-cooked and look a bit crisp and lightly golden at the edges.
  4. Then add the sliced capsicum.
  5. Mix well and sauté both the veggies on a low heat for 1 to 2 minutes.
  6. Add ½ teaspoon turmeric powder and ½ to ¾ teaspoon red chili powder.
  7. Next add salt as required.
  8. Stir and mix very well.
  9. Let the vegetables gently get sautéed on a low heat without covering pan with any lid for 2 to 3 minutes.

Make Aloo Capsicum

  1. Then cover the pan, kadai or wok with a lid.
  2. Remember to check it after a few minutes or so. This is done so that the vegetables don’t get burnt. So stir the veggies at intervals. If the veggies begin to stick onto the pan, sprinkle 1 to 2 tablespoon of water over the vegetables. Stir and deglaze removing any stuck bits from the pan. Cover and continue to cook.
  3. When the vegetables are tender and cooked well add ¾ to 1 teaspoon garam masala powder and 1 teaspoon amchur powder (dry mango powder).
  4. Mix well and switch off the heat. Check the taste of aloo shimla mirch ki sabji and adjust the garam masala powder, dry mango powder and salt according to your taste and preferences.

Serving Suggestions

  1. Serve Shimla Mirch ki Sabji hot or warm with phulka, paratha or roti. It can also be served as a side vegetable dish with an Indian main course. Aloo Capsicum also goes well as a side with dal-rice or rasam-rice or sambar-rice or any curry and rice pairings.

Storage

The leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. While reheating warm in your microwave oven for some seconds or sauté them in a frying pan until warm.

Helpful Tips

Capsicum: You can make the recipe with any variety of bell peppers. We usually prefer green bell peppers, but any colored bell pepper is suited in the recipe. You can even include a mix of different colored bell peppers. Potatoes: Yukon gold (yellow potatoes), baby potatoes, red skinned potatoes and russet potatoes will work well. If you want to skip the potatoes, then include 3 to 4 small to medium-sized capsicum in the recipe. Spicing: Though we do not make this shimla mirch ki sabji spicy, you can increase the spice and heat levels by adding a bit more of red chilli powder. Tangy taste: For a more sour and tangy taste in the aloo shimla mirch ki sabji, add a total of 1.5 to 2 teaspoons dry mango powder. If you do not have dry mango powder, use ½ to 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Drizzle lemon juice on the sabji when the cooking is complete. Mix and serve. Pan type: So that the veggies get sautéed well without sticking onto the pan, I suggest to use a well-seasoned heavy frying pan, kadai (wok) or skillet while making this recipe.

Few more veggie recipes for you!

Stuffed capsicumAloo gobiAloo methiPotato fryAloo jeera

Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter. This Shimla Mirch ki Sabji recipe from the blog archives first published in July 2009 has been republished and updated on 11 March 2021.

Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 33Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 95Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 65Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 23Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 75Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 59Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 13Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 52Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 62Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 63Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 86Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 17Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 90Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 32Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 46Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 41Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 70Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 25Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 42Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 54Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 10


title: “Shimla Mirch Ki Sabji Aloo Capsicum " ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-08” author: “Robyn Storey”

About This Aloo Capsicum

In Hindi, potatoes are called as “aloo” and green bell pepper are known as “shimla mirch“. The word “sabji or sabzi” stands for a vegetable dish here. While this recipe includes potatoes to make it more hearty and filling, you can opt to skip them and include more capsicum.
This aloo shimla mirch ki sabji is my my mother-in-law’s fabulous recipe that is high on flavors. It is not only simple and quick but also made with minimal spices. I usually add potatoes in this recipe as not everyone is fond of capsicum in the family. However, you can make this dish without potatoes also. If skipping potatoes, replace them with capsicum or any other vegetable in the same proportion. This is a Punjabi recipe of making aloo shimla mirch ki sabji. A dry sautéed vegetable recipe that has no liquids. Besides the capsicum and potatoes, just a few Indian ground spice powders are used in this dish. There are no onions, tomatoes, ginger or garlic added here. I first had this delicious aloo capsicum decades ago at my in-law’s place. I am not so fond of capsicum and rarely use them in recipes, even Indo-Chinese ones, where capsicum is always added. But this aloo capsicum is an exception to the rule. I like it so much, that I can have it as it is. So I make shimla mirch ki sabji often and the family also loves it.

How to make Shimla Mirch ki Sabji

Prepare Capsicum and Potatoes

  1. Rinse 3 to 4 small to medium-sized capsicum and 3 to 4 medium-sized potatoes in running water throughly using a colander or strainer. Drain all the water after rinsing them well. This recipe is easily adaptable and you can decrease or increase the capsicum or potatoes as per your liking.
  2. Measure and keep all the spice powders and other ingredients ready.
  3. Slice or chop 3 to 4 medium-sized capsicum into thick strips or wedges. You can also cut them in 1.5 inches cubes or squares. Discard the seeds.
  4. Next peel the potatoes.
  5. Slice the potatoes into slightly thin wedges as then they are easier and faster to cook. Or you can just chop them into small cubes.

Sauté Potatoes and Capsicum

  1. In a heavy and well-seasoned wok, frying pan or kadai, add 3 tablespoons oil (any neutral-tasting oil).
  2. Once the oil becomes medium-hot, add the sliced potatoes.
  3. Sauté the potatoes on a low to medium-low heat until they are half-cooked and look a bit crisp and lightly golden at the edges.
  4. Then add the sliced capsicum.
  5. Mix well and sauté both the veggies on a low heat for 1 to 2 minutes.
  6. Add ½ teaspoon turmeric powder and ½ to ¾ teaspoon red chili powder.
  7. Next add salt as required.
  8. Stir and mix very well.
  9. Let the vegetables gently get sautéed on a low heat without covering pan with any lid for 2 to 3 minutes.

Make Aloo Capsicum

  1. Then cover the pan, kadai or wok with a lid.
  2. Remember to check it after a few minutes or so. This is done so that the vegetables don’t get burnt. So stir the veggies at intervals. If the veggies begin to stick onto the pan, sprinkle 1 to 2 tablespoon of water over the vegetables. Stir and deglaze removing any stuck bits from the pan. Cover and continue to cook.
  3. When the vegetables are tender and cooked well add ¾ to 1 teaspoon garam masala powder and 1 teaspoon amchur powder (dry mango powder).
  4. Mix well and switch off the heat. Check the taste of aloo shimla mirch ki sabji and adjust the garam masala powder, dry mango powder and salt according to your taste and preferences.

Serving Suggestions

  1. Serve Shimla Mirch ki Sabji hot or warm with phulka, paratha or roti. It can also be served as a side vegetable dish with an Indian main course. Aloo Capsicum also goes well as a side with dal-rice or rasam-rice or sambar-rice or any curry and rice pairings.

Storage

The leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. While reheating warm in your microwave oven for some seconds or sauté them in a frying pan until warm.

Helpful Tips

Capsicum: You can make the recipe with any variety of bell peppers. We usually prefer green bell peppers, but any colored bell pepper is suited in the recipe. You can even include a mix of different colored bell peppers. Potatoes: Yukon gold (yellow potatoes), baby potatoes, red skinned potatoes and russet potatoes will work well. If you want to skip the potatoes, then include 3 to 4 small to medium-sized capsicum in the recipe. Spicing: Though we do not make this shimla mirch ki sabji spicy, you can increase the spice and heat levels by adding a bit more of red chilli powder. Tangy taste: For a more sour and tangy taste in the aloo shimla mirch ki sabji, add a total of 1.5 to 2 teaspoons dry mango powder. If you do not have dry mango powder, use ½ to 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Drizzle lemon juice on the sabji when the cooking is complete. Mix and serve. Pan type: So that the veggies get sautéed well without sticking onto the pan, I suggest to use a well-seasoned heavy frying pan, kadai (wok) or skillet while making this recipe.

Few more veggie recipes for you!

Stuffed capsicumAloo gobiAloo methiPotato fryAloo jeera

Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter. This Shimla Mirch ki Sabji recipe from the blog archives first published in July 2009 has been republished and updated on 11 March 2021.

Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 24Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 28Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 54Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 74Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 66Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 46Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 52Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 10Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 10Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 18Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 20Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 83Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 21Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 86Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 14Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 1Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 89Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 89Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 90Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 4Shimla Mirch ki Sabji  Aloo Capsicum   - 31