Sunday, January 24, 2010

Matar Usal (Green Peas Curry)

Matar usal is another dish made with green peas that I totally love. It is a Maharashtrian style curry... A quick and easy to make dish mostly served with bread. Freshly ground masala of coconut, green chillies, ginger, garlic and cilantro gives it a nice taste. I totally follow my mom's recipe without even a slightest moidification as I simply love her dish. When I made it the first time I was so not happy. I was trying to find the taste of her dish but it did not taste the same. Now after making it so many times I am really happy the way it turns out.
Ingredients:
(Serves 2)

2 cups green peas
1/2 cup chopped onions
2 cups water (or as needed)
1 tbsp sugar
Salt to taste
1 tbsp tempering
For masala:
1/2 cup grated coconut
1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
3/4 green chillies (more or less depending on taste)
Handful of cilantro


Before you start grind all the ingredients of masala to a fine paste and set aside. To make the curry start by making tempering. Add to it chopped onions and saute until tender. Add green peas, freshly ground masala, salt, sugar, water and mix well. Let it cook for about 10-15 minutes. This curry should be liquid enough so that you can dunk the bread in and enjoy the flavors. Squeeze in some fresh lemon/lime juice right before you serve it. Serve hot with the bread of your choice.

2 comments:

  1. Dear Amruta,

    Please advise me as to what and how much of that goes into the phodni / tempering...

    I am new to cooking and all help is appreciated...

    Regards,

    Aseem

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  2. Aseem: For 1 tbsp tempering I use 1/4 tsp each of mustard seeds and turmeric powder, and a little less than 1/4 tsp of asafetida.

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