Capsicum Tomato Saute

8 Feb

Most Indian curries involve a little extra cooking of the vegetables. We like to keep the crunch for salads – curries are soft to the bite. With capsicum tomato sauté I make a departure from that general rule: here the tomato slices retain their shape, the capsicum remains a bright green.

This is a frequent weekday dinner dish for me, and not just for its ease of chopping and cooking. Nothing perks one up at the end of a stress-filled workday as a vibrantly colored dinner!

Capsicum Tomato Saute - Bell Pepper Tomato Saute

Capsicum tomato sauté pairs well with flatbread spiced Indian style, visually as well as gustatorily [ha, I have been looking for a chance to use this word :-)]. That you also get the dish to the dining table in a really short time is an added bonus.

You Need:

Capsicum (bell peppers) – 2
Tomatoes – 2 (pick firm ones)
Onions – 2
Ginger – 1/2 inch stick
Garlic – 2 cloves
Green chili – 1
Salt – to taste
Coriander powder – 1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder – a pinch
Nigella seeds – 1/2 teaspoon
Olive oil – 2 teaspoons
Coriander leaves – for garnishing

How To Make Capsicum Tomato Saute:

Peel onions, ginger and garlic and place in a grinder.

Onions, Ginger, Garlic - In Grinder

Grind along with green chili into paste.

Onion, Ginger, Garlic - Ground

Core, top and roughlu slice capsicum into thick strips.

Green Bell Pepper and Tomato

Slice tomatoes into similar-sized pieces.

Heat olive oil in a non-stick pan. When hot, add nigella seeds and let them sizzle.

Nigella Seeds in Hot Oil Tadka

After 20 seconds, add onion-ginger-garlic-chili paste.

Onion Paste in Pan

Cook on medium heat; move the paste around whenever it begins to stick to the pan.

Onion Paste Frying

After about 5 minutes, the onion-ginger-garlic-chili paste would have turned light golden. Add turmeric powder, coriander powder, salt and mix well. Allow to cook another 2 minutes, stirring regularly. Sprinkle a few drops of water if it begins to turn too dry.

Onion Paste Fried