Capsicum Rice

Capsicum rice recipe – Basmati rice are cooked with colored bell pepper, onion, yogurt and with few spices. Do give it a try, I am sure you will love this.

Capsicum Rice in a plate with spoons in the back.

This rice dish is very flavorful and delicious. I got this recipe from one of my friends. The first time I made this rice was an year ago. Since then I have made it so many times.

I like about this capsicum rice is addition of yogurt. Yogurt gives a touch of sourness to the end product. And of course this flavor goes perfect with spices and bell peppers.

Capsicum masala rice is perfect as a lunch box. This rice is so delicious as such without any side of raita. Thus dear hubby like to have it in his lunch box once in a while. If making for kids lunch box then adjust the red chili powder.

Addition of whole spices make this rice aromatic and also adds lots of flavors.

I usually make this with only green bell pepper. But this time I have added red bell pepper as well. I have left half of the red bell pepper after making paneer tikka masala. So though of adding it into this capsicum masala rice. While chopping the bell peppers and onion, I was thinking that how beautiful rice will look because of the colored bell pepper. And so this is the right time to takes photos for the blog. So finally I took photos and posting it here, even though I made it so many times before.

Capsicum or bell pepper is one of our favorite veggies along with cabbage and cauliflower that I always have it in my fridge. Some of the capsicum recipes that are regular in my kitchen — Punjabi Capsicum Curry  — Gobi shimla mirch  — Bhindi capsicum  — corn capsicum masala.

Step By Step Photo Instructions:

1) Wash the rice under running cold water till water runs clear. Soak them in enough water for at least 20 minutes.

2) While rice soaking prep other ingredients and chop the veggies. Drain soaking water and keep the rice aside.

soak and drain rice

3) Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat. Once hot add whole spices (cinnamon stick, cloves, bay leaf, green cardamom), saute for a minute. You will get nice aroma of spices.

4) After that add cumin seeds and fennel seeds, let the sizzle a bit.

Collage of 2 images showing tempering of whole spices, cumin and fennel seeds.

5) Now mix in the sliced onion and cook for 2 minutes. it starts to soften.

6) Now add ginger paste and garlic paste.

Collage of 2 images showing adding onion, ginger and garlic.

7) Mix and saute till raw flavors goes away about a minute.

8) Stir in tomatoes, green bell pepper and red bell pepper.

Collage of 2 images showing cooked onion and adding peppers.

9) Add salt, red chili powder, coriander powder and garam masala.

10) Mix well and cook for a minute.

Collage of 2 images showing adding and mixing spices.

11) Add yogurt.

12) Stir well.

Collage of 2 images showing adding yogurt and mixed.

13) Add soaked, drained rice.

14) Add fresh 1 cup of water and mix.

Collage of 2 images showing adding rice and water.

15) Cover the pan and cook on low for 18-20 minutes. after that switch off the stove and let it rest covered for 10 minutes.

16) Then open the cover, gently fluff up the rice using fork and serve.

Collage of 2 images showing cooked rice and fluffed up.

Do make this in your kitchen and please let me know how you like it in comments below. If you like bell pepper than I am sure that you will like this rice as well.

Serving suggestion: Have this rice as a light meal with roasted papad. Best to pack into lunch box. You can have any raita e.g. boondi raita, mint raita, onion raita, palak raita on side too.

Capsicum Rice in a plate.

Check out other rice dishes
Methi rice  //  Palak rice  //  Carrot rice

Did you try this capsicum rice recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Leave a review in the comment section below.

Capsicum Rice

4.88 from 8 votes
Capsicum Rice Recipe | How to make capsicum masala rice
Capsicum rice recipe – Basmati rice are cooked with colored bell pepper, onion, yogurt and with few spices. Do give it a try, I am sure you will love this.
Kanan
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Serving Size 2

US measuring cups are used (1 cup = 240 ml)

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup Basmati rice
  • 1 ½ tablespoons Oil
  • 1 inch Cinnamon stick
  • 2 Cloves
  • 1 Bay leaf
  • 2 Green cardamoms
  • ½ teaspoon Cumin seeds
  • ½ teaspoon Fennel seeds
  • ½ cup Red onion, sliced
  • 1 teaspoon Ginger paste or freshly grated or crushed
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic paste or freshly grated
  • ½ cup Capsicum (Green bell pepper), sliced
  • ½ cup Red pepper, sliced
  • 1/3 cup Tomato, sliced
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Red chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon Coriander powder
  • Salt to taste
  • ½ teaspoon Garam masala
  • 1/3 cup Plain yogurt
  • 1 cup Water

Instructions

  • Wash the rice under running cold water till water runs clear.
  • Soak them in enough water for at least 20 minutes.
  • While rice soaking prep other ingredients and chop the veggies.
  • Drain soaking water and keep the rice aside.
  • Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat. Once hot add whole spices, saute for a minute.
  • After that add cumin seeds and fennel seeds, let the sizzle a bit.
  • Now mix in the sliced onion and cook for 2 minutes. it starts to soften.
  • Now add ginger paste and garlic paste. Mix and saute for about a minute.
  • Stir in tomatoes, green bell pepper and red bell pepper.
  • Add salt, red chili powder, coriander powder and garam masala.
  • Mix well and cook for a minute.
  • Add yogurt. Stir well.
  • Add soaked, drained rice. Also add 1 cup of water and mix.
  • Cover the pan and cook on low for 18-20 minutes.
  • after that switch off the stove and let it rest covered for 10 minutes.
  • Then open the cover, gently fluff up the rice using fork and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 348kcal (17%)
4.88 from 8 votes

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46 Comments

  1. Will this be possible to make with rice that is already cooked- how can I make it work with cooked rice and the yogurt? Or is it necessary to cook the rice with the yogurt?

    1. Yes, saute the peppers with masala and cook till they are soft, add yogurt and again cook till all the moisture is gone. You will have thick sauce coated to the vegetables. Add cooked rice and mix.