Peas Masala

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Last weekend was loaded with parties and Sunday morning was the only time I had to cook....and the rest of the weekend was spent attending birthday parties and get together. So I planned to make something simple and easy for Sunday lunch....and also we had our Tamil Get Together (Potluck) that evening and we were in for a sumptuous meal. I kept it simple to enjoy the food prepared by my friends that evening. Hence decided to make peas masala and roti.

I have made peas masala on different occasions but this time it came out very well. I have tried different versions of it but this was the best. I have always used frozen peas in previous occasions but this time I used dried peas soaked in water over night. I stopped buying frozen stuff after so many recalls associated with the frozen stuff. I found that using dried peas made it even better and gave more volume to it.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Dried Peas Soaked Overnight
1/2 Medium Sized Onion chopped + 1/2 Cup onion finely chopped
4 Tomatoes chopped
1 Inch Ginger Finely Chopped
1 Green Chilly Finely Chopped
1 Tsp Red Chilly Powder
1 Tsp Coriander Powder
1 Tsp Jeera Powder
3/4th Tsp Garam masala powder
1 Tsp Jeera
Oil
3 Tsp's Butter (unsalted)
Salt to taste

I tried this using the dried peas you may follow the same using the frozen peas too. Pressure cook the peas up to four whistles. It must be well cooked but not get too mashed up that one cannot see the peas in it.
Take little oil in a pan. When the oil gets heated add the onions. Saute the onions till they start turning pink. Add little salt that will help in cooking the onions easily. Now add the tomatoes and let it cook well.
Once they are done, take it out of the pan and allow it to cool. Grind it into a smooth paste.

Take the butter and melt it. Add the Jeera and let it splutter. Add the green chillies, ginger and onion. When the onions turns slightly pink add the puree and cook it for sometime. Add the red chilly powder, coriander powder, jeera powder and garam masala powder. Now add the boiled peas. Boil it untill the peas get blended well in the gravy. Garnish it with cilantro. You can serve it with rotis or even plain rice too. Enjoy!

Spinach Tofu masala

I love the food prepared with all green leafy vegetables like mulai keerai pulipu,vendaya keerai macial etc but you rarely find these green leafy veggies in the place where I live. So I am left with Palak only to try out different recipes using it.
I love panneer but I do not have the time to make this at home (and I am not comfortable to use the ones that we find at the stores). My husband is a great fan of tofu and he keeps telling me to make dishes with it. During his bachelor days this was always part of his cooking!!
Since tofu is a healthier option (than panneer) wanted to experiment by subsitituting panneer with "Tofu"....I cannot call it Palak Panneer right...it is Palak Tofu!!

This was my maiden attempt at making it and it turned out pretty good....hence wanted to share it with all of you...

The ingredients for making it -
Spinach - 2 bunches (if you buy the ones that comes in the box then use 3/4th of the box)

Tofu - 1 pack

Onion - 1 small

Tomatoes - 3 small

Green chillies -2

Ginger - 1 inch piece

Jeera - 1 tsp

cashew - 5

Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp

Chilly powder - 1/2 tsp

Garam Masala Powder - 1/2 tsp

Whole milk ( 1 cup) or heavy cream 4 tbs

Salt as per your taste

I generally use the spinach that just comes as leaves (ease of use) in a box and I buy the organic ones too...

If you are planning to use the ones that comes in bunches...then take the leaves alone and wash them thoroughly (do not use the stem part).

Take a tsp of oil and ginger and the spinach and cook it till it is done. Let it cool.Grind the spinach coaresly with ginger and cashews.

Drain the water from the tofu before cooking it.I like to make tofu by baking it in the conventional oven (instead of frying it in the oil). I would let you decide the way you want it.
If you are making it in the conventional oven then preheat it to 350 deg and bake the tofu till it turns slightly brown.

Heat oil in a pan and add jeera and let it splutter. Fry the onions and then cook the tomatoes with it. Add the grounded mixture and cook it well. Add salt and all the powders and boil it for some time. Add the whole milk or heavy whipping cream and boil for couple of more minutes.
Finally add the tofu...

The Palak Tofu is ready to be served with rotis...
Enjoy!!