For me, peas are always on the grocery list, right after tomatoes, onion and potatoes. At any given time, I have at least 2 packets in the freezer. However, while trying to come up with a menu, it is the last thing that comes to mind. It is constantly neglected and, as is true for all things that are as taken for granted as the peas are, their presence is sorely missed in its absence. Making the heart grow fonder and all that. When I say neglected, I don’t mean that it is just left freezing in the icebox, not at all. It makes it’s appearance in all sorts of dishes. A dash here, a dash there, a whole lot elsewhere. However, it is more of “I think some peas would be good in that” than “I want to eat peas tonight” thing. And it is quite unfair.
Unfair because fresh tender peas, with its sweetness, is an amazing star in its own right. It doesn’t take much to coax it to come into its own. A dollop of butter helps, but then what wouldn’t taste good with some butter in/on it?
Which is why I say, second to potatoes, the most under-valued vegetable has to be peas (Matar/Watana/Watano). Think about it. When was the last time your inventory didn’t have the requisite packet of frozen peas in them or when was the last time you used that packet? Can’t really have been that long, if you cook Indian on a regular basis. And yet, quite like the potato, it is never given it’s due. Of course, the potato stopped getting any sympathy from me the day it decided to forge an alliance with a certain someone whose name rhymes with Aloo. Don’t get me wrong. In these times of brand development and media-franchising, I understand potato’s need for some PR-giri. “Jab tak rahega samose mein aloo, tab tak rahega Bihar mein Laloo” is the wrong way to get it, though. The right way would be to hire Amitabh Bachchan as your Brand ambassador. If I were the Peas’ PR, I would have Amitabh Bachchan saying,
“Matar mein hai dum, kyunki calories in mein hai kam!”.
Pssst, hot news today, Maya Pips Mulayam.
Meanwhile, back to the erstwhile peas, enjoy with soft rotis or Dal-Chaawal while I sit back and congratulate myself for not falling to the obvious Butter-Mutter-Matar wordplay trap.
**********************************************************************************
Grind, using a blender or a mortar/pestle adding water as needed
Garlic, 2 cloves
Ginger, 1″ piece
Green Chillies, 4-5
Cilantro/Coriander leaves, from 4-5 sprigs
In a skillet/kadhai, heat
Butter, 1 tbsp
Add,
Jeera/Cumin Seeds, 4-5
When they change color, add
Garlic-Ginger-Green-chillies-cilantro paste from above
Peas, 1 cup defrosted, if using frozen or cooked till soft, if using fresh
Salt to taste, keeping in mind salt from the butter
Mix and cook on a low flame till it all comes together, and peas turn fragrant with the paste about 3-4 minutes. Finish with
1 tbsp butter
Yum!
Vee, this post yummy and hilarious ;). Come on, spare the spud yaar!
Logon ne use majboor kiya uski kya galti thi 😀 Matar is good in its own right, i agree. How about SRK advertising for matar.
MmmmmmmmMATAR 🙂
SRK, stuttering and muttering about the Matar is not a bad idea at all. Aisa karte hain, first 2 seasons, we will have AB, Matar 3 to be SRK’s baby 🙂
don’t you find the frozen peas too sweet, vee? i miss the fresh ones.
I don’t find them as sweet as I find them to be insubstantial. For eg: a cup of fresh peas would provide much more fodder when ground than a cup of frozen ones. The frozen peas (I can talk only about those in the US) lack the chewy comfort of the fresh peas, I think.
Vee, by the way did you read the Washington Post Food section on Wednesday Alphonso is coming to a Giant, Costo or Super Fresh near you soon. Anyway I forget what Happo had to do with everything.
So is it Mutter or Matar? Hindi nai bolthi hoon. Yes butter with peas, my daughters favorite lunch but no spices just salt and ketchup.
Hum yeh Khabar padha hoon or local costco ke chakkar kaata hoon, par kuch haath nahi aaya hai.
I am sure you can read this ‘cos it’s in Bihari. 😉 you feed your child salt and ketchup? and you have a food blog??
That is hilarious. I am completely with you regarding peas. Poor peas doesn’t stand on it’s own in any recipe. It is used in every other dish in my kitchen.
Yes, mine too. Which is why I thought let’s give the poor peas their due. Thoda bahut to start with. 🙂
If you have to sit and shell peas like we did in India, you would value peas, we really did. No need for PR we would anyway wait for fresh green peas available only in Winter
Now with frozen peas the wait is over and we take it for granted
and if you listen closely, you can hear the fresh matar muttering “Freezer ke matar, Daal barabar!”.
Since, I refrained from the wordplay in the post, I make up for it in the comments section 😀
amar, akbar, anthony (amar,amitabh,ambani) gaye matar khane, UP mein :)):)). i know a PJ.
Bolo, bolo. Tell, Tell.
Vee I know I know you will catch up on the ketchup 1
and salt bit but what can I do, I am the foodie she is the junkie (I mean junk food lover)
Hmmm, no “peas of the same pod” stuff for you ‘n your daughter, huh?? 😀
I am a mega ‘fresh’ pea fan…but like any other indian household…i some frozen in the dark corner of my freezer some place…in fact I hardly buy frozen peas nowadays…fresh are available all the round year (almost)…gosh…will I be the first indian household not to have frozen peas in house…~grin~…ohh the shame of it…anyways peas are highly prized in my family…we even have some recipes why are dominated by peas alone…long live the Queen…long live the Matar…I say…~smile~…thanks for a great post..
well, if only I was lucky enough to get some fresh peas. I haven’t seen fresh peas in years. As Sandeepa says above, peeling fresh pea-pods brings with it an appreciation for the vegetable. Particularly when 2 baskets of pea-pods turn into just a bowl of actual peas, and this after fighting off all the worms 😀 . I wouldn’t mind any of it if I can get my hands on some fresh ones, though.
I will look forward to your family’s prized pea recipes on your blog.
You’re right, peas are very under valued in our cooking. They’re a great addition to dishes but this recipe really calls on vatana to stand on it’s own, high and above all. Great recipe, thanks for sharing.
Hi LiberalFoodie, welcome! I am trying to egg people to blog some of their pea recipes so that I can have more pea-centric food 😀
Vee, Do you mind If I translate some parts of this article to Malayalam with due credits to you?
http://dininghall.blogspot.com/2007/04/this-post-is-written-by-vee-and.html
Let me know please? I would like to write an article on this, but you have done this so well, I would like to translate many parts of this?
Go ahead, Inji. No problem.
that is a very simple and fast recipe to make right? I liked the laloo one:)
me waiting and waiting for malai kofta. where are you, gal? anoushka and ayush are keeping you on your toes, i guess.
Mail coming your way, this time I mean it!
Vee, another simple and mouth watering recipe!!I love green peas & can’t wait to try this out!
Am waiting for Sinful Malai Kofta!!!!
Hi Vee, you have a great site. And your theme of your blog is what all of us are doing. Went through your other blog, I must say your post on your mother was very nice.
Thanks Sri. My Mom happened to read that post on Mother’s day and we had a good heart to heart after that. Now my Dad thinks I should do something similar for him on father’s Day. 😀
Vee, It looks so simple and yet so tasty! I have to try this one.
I was wondering where you disappeared.. Too busy, huh?
Hii,
Great stuff. Ita a great help for someone like me to get an insight into punjabi food.
madam butter, mutter ke badh kahan gayab ho gayi? are you on a break? I dont frequently visit Dining hall so dont know if you vee speak !! so just thought of bugging you here.
hey vee….
nice blog u got here….just one question wanted to ask since a very long time….this “cup” thng has always confused me..how much is exactly one cup??