Aloo Matar Recipe

Introduction: I always though cooking would be very tough. Thanks to my mother that it seems so easy. My parents were out of town, I had to cook for myself and I see that there was nothing other than some peas in my refrigerator and some potatoes lying outside and of course some spices. I called my mother and she suggested Aloo matar, the simplest dish which requires no other vegetable other than potato and peas. This dish can be made in two ways- One with rich ingredients like onion ginger garlic tomato paste with boiled potatoes and peas mixed in it (with a lot of gravy). Another way is without onion garlic and tomato (dry aloo matar). Since i had no onion, garlic or tomato I chose to make dry aloo matar and I will be writing about the same. It did not take more than 20 minutes to cook this dish. I am sure any amateur cook can make this dish taste like the one made by chef with right amount of spices. So let’s start, shall we?

Aloo Matar(dry) :

Preparation time: 20 minutes 

Ingredients required:

• Baby potatoes – Ten to twelve (Can also use 3 medium sized regular potatoes diced in one inch cubes. Baby potatoes save you from chopping regular ones. I used regular ones as they were the only ones available at my house the day I made this dish)
• Fresh peas: One and half cup (I used frozen peas instead cause of non-availability of fresh ones. Fresh ones are more tender and taste better)
• Cumin seeds : One tea spoon
• Turmeric powder : one tea spoon
• Garam Masala : One tea spoon
• Cumin Powder : One tea spoon
• Chaat masala : Half tea spoon
• Coriander powder : One tea spoon
• Dry mango powder: One tea spoon (I used lemon juice instead as i did not have dry mango powder. Dry mango powder or lemon juice is for it to give tangy taste)
• Chilly: two to three
• Ginger : One inch grated
• Water : One fourth cup ( very little)
• Oil: Two table spoon
• Coriander leaves: Five to six finely chopped for garnish
• Salt to taste

How to make Dry Aloo Matar:

• Take a pan. Heat add two table spoon of oil. Add one tea spoon of cumin seeds once hot. let it crackle. Add 2-3 finely chopped green chili and one inch grated ginger to it. Cook for 30 seconds.
• Add one tea spoon of garam masala, one tea spoon of cumin powder, one tea spoon of coriander powder, one tea spoon of turmeric powder, one tea spoon of dry mango powder (or squeeze half a lemon), half spoon of chaat masala and mix all the spices well. Add very little around one fourth cup of water to it.
• Meanwhile wash and peel the potatoes if using regular potatoes, dice them into one inch cubes else wash and peel baby potatoes. Also keep the green peas ready.
• Add potatoes in the oil and spices mixture. If using frozen peas add it immediately along with potatoes to the oil. Cook for 5 minutes stir well. If using fresh peas add it after 5 minutes of potatoes being cooked. Mix well. Cook for 10 minutes until potatoes are tender and all the water is evaporated. No need to add any more water as the potatoes and peas will cook from steam.
• Once cooked add salt to taste and mix well.
• Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot

Dry Aloo Matar is ready to be served hot. Add coriander leaves as garnish and for fresh taste. Also squeeze half lemon over it for more tangy taste. It goes best with Indian breads like naan, garlic naan( will be writing about it in my next article check it out), roti etc. It can also be served with white steamed rice or jeera rice. Since i was too lazy to make roti I had it with steamed rice and I must say it was yummy.

Nutritional facts: One serving of aloo matar that is of around 300 grams consists of 219 calories. It contains no trans or saturated fats nor cholesterol. It contains only total of one percent fat. It also consists of one percent sodium, thirty four percent of potassium, sixteen percent of carbohydrates and twenty six percent of dietary fiber. Also consists of vitamin A, vitamin B-6,vitamin C, Calcium and iron. Beneficial as low in sodium, fat, cholesterol and high in dietary fibers, potassium, vitamin b-6 and vitamin c.

Conclusion: Hope you like this recipe of mine which uses the simplest easily available ingredients. Please do try it and keep reading!