Since I’ve been buried in deadlines the past week, writing and researching for some of my upcoming freelance assignments, I had the priveledge of spending many long hours at the bookstore amidst some of the best collections of cookbooks. Don’t you just love it when you can grab your favourite cup of coffee, and comfortably settle yourself on a cozy plush leather chair in the cookbook section of a huge store? Yea, me too, and that’s just why I plan of spending many more days there. I figure even if I don’t actually get any work done, I could at least read about food to my heart’s content.While on the topic of simplifying Indian food, something I was working to write on, I decided to go on a little hunt and see what I could find. Shockingly, the results were appalling! I picked up a few books, most that looked very promising, and began skimming through some of the most popular recipes, that the authors, no doubt tried their best to recreate as quick and simple as possible. While many made good sense to me, I was horrified by what a few others instructed.
METHI MATAR
PEAS WITH FENUGREEK LEAVES
Prep time: 10 min | Cooking time: 20 min | Serves: 2
| 1 small 2 cups 1 cup 1/2 cup 1 tsp 1 tsp 1/4 tsp 1/2 tsp 1/4 tsp 1 tbsp |
onions, thinly sliced fresh fenugreek leaves, roughly chopped frozen peas, thawed plain yoghurt, beaten cumin seeds coriander seeds red chilli powder coriander powder garam masala light cooking oil salt, to taste |
SAUTE cumin and coriander seeds in hot oil till they start to sizzle and pop. Add sliced onions and fry till tender.
ADD in fenugreek leaves, and fry for a few minutes till they wilt.
MIX in salt and spices, and then add peas. Add youghurt and stir well for another minute or two, allowing to simmer for a few minutes.
ENJOY warm with rotis.
Meena, any recomendation for desi food with good protien for dinner after a late evening work out. I dont want to hit my rice and sambar after a nice work out :)
Posted by: Vijay Sappani | March 31, 2008 at 09:50 PM
I'm a big fan of methi but I hate peas! (Sorry I know you're a big fan!) Is there another way to recreate this recipe without the peas?
Posted by: Savia | April 03, 2008 at 08:51 AM
This sounds delicious - can't wait to try it! The funniest thing, I've never heard of anyone using Ketchup! I would never even dream of using it in an Indian recipe!!!
Posted by: dr.shamira | April 03, 2008 at 10:30 AM
this looks yummy! did you know that methi is the best food for increasing milk supply after having a baby? i always eat tonnes of it right after delivery and this recipe will come in handy! thanks!
Posted by: amreen | April 03, 2008 at 04:17 PM
Vijay: Try substituting your regular rice and sambhar for rotis and vegetables.
Savia: You can definitely leave out the peas. Methi has a robust flavour, and will be delicious on its own.
Shamira: haha, yea ketchup! That one cracked me up too!
Amreen: Glad you enjoy it!
Posted by: Meena | April 05, 2008 at 05:41 PM