Green Peas Masala is a tasty and easy dish from North India. It is perfect to eat with roti, naan, or rice, making it a great choice for lunch or dinner. This dish is made by cooking soft green peas in a mix of spices. The spices add a lot of flavor and make the peas creamy and delicious. It is simple to make and full of rich taste that everyone will enjoy!
This recipe is easy to follow, so you can make it at home without any trouble. It will have that authentic restaurant style taste! Whether you are making it for lunch or dinner, Green Peas Masala will add a special touch to your table. Everyone in your family is sure to enjoy it!
Quick and Easy Peas Recipe Perfect for Busy Moms
Fresh green peas are such a favorite of mine to add to meals! They’re so easy to find at the store, cook super quickly, and work in so many dishes. For extra convenience, I always keep some frozen peas in my freezer. Whenever I need them, I just thaw and toss them into this recipe—it only takes 3 to 4 minutes to cook, and it’s ready in no time! Recipes like this make life so much easier for busy moms, which is why it’s become a regular part of our meals. It’s a big hit in my house, especially when served with warm chapati or Parathas!
Watch on how to make the Matar Masala
Special Masala Powder with Green Peas
This dish is similar to the popular Paneer Butter Masala, but it is made in a slightly different way. The main difference is the special masala powder used. Instead of the usual garam masala powder, this dish uses a unique masala made from simple spices. Specifically, it includes fenugreek seeds and cumin. These spices are easy to find and give the dish a warm and slightly sweet flavor. The flavor goes perfectly with the green peas, making the dish extra tasty and enjoyable.
Once you make this masala powder, keep it in a container with a tight lid. Put the container in the fridge so it stays fresh. You can use the powder anytime you cook this recipe. Each time, you only need 1 teaspoon of the powder. The rest will stay fresh in the fridge for 1 month. Overall, this masala powder is very simple to make and most importantly, gives your peas masala an amazing flavor. It makes your meals taste better and more exciting!
Green Peas Masala Serving Suggestions
Green Peas Masala is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in many ways. You can eat it with Indian breads like roti, naan, or paratha for a tasty and filling meal. It also tastes amazing with rice, such as jeera rice (cumin-flavored rice) or plain steamed basmati rice.
Serve Green Peas Masala with a comforting lentil dish like Dal Tadka. You can also enjoy it alongside a stuffed bread like Gobi Paratha (flatbread filled with spiced cauliflower). If you prefer something simpler, pair it with buttery and fragrant Ghee Rice
Ingredients Used
- Green Peas: Green peas add a slight sweetness and a soft, pleasant texture to your dish. If you’re using frozen peas, you can add them directly to the recipe as they thaw and cook quickly. If you’re using dried green peas, soak them in water overnight before cooking. To cook them, you can either use a pressure cooker with enough water for 3-4 whistles or boil them in a pot for about 30 minutes until they become soft. Once they’re tender, they’re ready to use in your dish.
- Onions and Tomatoes: These two ingredients form the base of the curry. Onions give a slightly sweet and savory flavor, while tomatoes add a tangy, fresh taste. Together, they create a balanced and flavorful foundation.
- Ginger Garlic Paste: This paste is made from fresh ginger and garlic and gives the dish a rich, deep flavor with an irresistible aroma. If you don’t have ready-made paste, you can crush fresh ginger and garlic at home and use that. Add it right after frying the whole spices for the best flavor.
- Red Chili Powder: This ingredient adds a spicy kick and bright red color to your curry. If you prefer less spice, you can use less chili powder or choose Kashmiri chili powder. Kashmiri chili powder is milder and gives a nice color without too much heat.
- Palm Sugar or Jaggery: These sweeteners help balance the spices in the dish by adding a hint of sweetness. If you don’t have them, you can use regular sugar or even honey as substitutes.
- Fenugreek and Cumin Seeds: These small seeds bring warm, nutty, and earthy flavors to the dish. To make the most of their flavors, toast them lightly in a pan before adding them to your recipe.
- Whole Spices (Star Anise, Cinnamon Stick, Cardamom Pods): These spices add warm, aromatic flavors and make the curry more flavorful and inviting. If you like an extra kick of spice, you can also throw in a few cloves, but this step is optional.
- Unsalted Butter: Butter adds a creamy and rich texture to the curry, making it taste smoother. If you don’t want to use butter, you can replace it with ghee (clarified butter) or even vegetable oil.
- Fresh Cream: Adding fresh cream at the end gives the curry a creamy, luxurious finish. If you’re avoiding dairy, you can use coconut cream instead, which gives a similar creaminess and a hint of coconut flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions on how to make Peas Masala
- Take the chopped onions and tomatoes and put them into a medium-sized mixer jar. Blend them together until they turn into a smooth paste. You don’t need to add any water while blending.
- In a small pan, add the fenugreek seeds and cumin seeds. Heat them on low heat and stir gently. Toast the seeds until you can smell their nice fragrance. Once done, let them cool down completely. Then, put the toasted seeds into a small mixer jar and grind them until they become a fine powder. Keep this powder aside for later use.
- Put 2 tablespoons of butter in a pan and melt it on low heat. Add a star anise, a cinnamon stick, and a few cardamom pods to the butter. Let them cook for a little while until you can smell their strong, warm aroma.
- Next, add the onion-tomato paste into the pan. Stir it well so everything mixes together. Keep the heat low. Cover the pan with a lid and let it cook slowly. Stir it every few minutes so it doesn’t stick to the bottom. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until you see the oil separate from the paste.
- When you see the oil separate from the mixture, it’s time to add the next ingredients. Stir in 1 teaspoon of ginger garlic paste, followed by 1 teaspoon of red chilli powder for some spice, ¾ teaspoon of coriander powder for flavor, 1 teaspoon of palm sugar or jaggery to add a touch of sweetness, and ¾ teaspoon of salt for seasoning.
- Mix everything well and let it cook for about 3–4 minutes. This allows the spices to blend into the dish and removes the raw smell of the spices. Keep stirring occasionally so nothing sticks or burns.
- Add the green peas in a pan. Add ¾ cup of water to the pan. Cover the pan with a lid and cook on low heat for about 5 minutes. This will let the peas cook well and soak up all the nice flavors from the pan.
- Take the ground fenugreek and cumin seed powder and sprinkle it evenly over the masala. Gently stir it in, making sure the spices mix well with the rest of the ingredients. Let it cook for another minute. This allows the dish to absorb the warm, toasted aroma and rich flavors of the spices, enhancing the overall taste.
- Once the dish is cooked, turn off the stove and pour some fresh cream or cooking cream on top. This will make the dish creamy and flavorful. Mix it gently so the cream spreads evenly.
- Chop some fresh coriander leaves into small pieces and sprinkle them on top as a garnish. Serve the dish while it’s still hot with rice, roti, naan, or chapatis for a complete and delicious meal.
Use hot water as it would enhance the taste of this dish.
Other Delicious Sabzi Varieties to Try
Here are some other delicious sabzi varieties you might want to try too:
Faqs
Yes, you can definitely use frozen green peas if you don’t have fresh ones. Frozen peas work really well and are easy to use. Just rinse them under cold water to thaw them a little before adding them to your dish. Follow the recipe as usual, and they’ll taste just as good!
What can I use as a substitute for heavy cream?
If you don’t have heavy cream or want a different option, you can use coconut milk or cashew paste. Both are great for a creamy texture and make the dish vegan-friendly. If you prefer a lighter option, you can use whole milk instead of cream. These substitutes keep the dish creamy and delicious, no matter what you choose!
How do I make the dish less spicy?
If you find the dish too spicy, it’s easy to make it milder. Use less red chili powder and pick mild green chilies instead of the spicier ones. You can also mix in 2 tablespoons of yogurt after adding the spices. The yogurt helps cool down the heat and adds extra flavor to your dish.
Can I make this dish ahead of time?
Yes, you can make this dish ahead of time! In fact, it might taste even better the next day because the flavors blend together and become richer. Just store the Green Peas Masala in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 2 days. Before serving, reheat it gently on the stove or in the microwave, and it’ll be ready to enjoy.
What other vegetables can I add to the dish?
This dish is very flexible, so you can add green peas along with other vegetables to make it more colorful and filling. Some great options include diced carrots, potatoes, bell peppers, or cauliflower. If you want to add more protein, you can include paneer (Indian cottage cheese) or tofu. These extra ingredients will make the dish hearty, tasty, and packed with variety.
Can I skip the onion and garlic?
Yes, you can skip both onion and garlic if you don’t want to use them. To replace the garlic, you can use ground or minced ginger for a similar flavor. If you’re skipping onions, try adding an extra tomato to balance the taste. You can also include ingredients like yogurt to enhance the flavor further. This way, the dish will still taste delicious without onion and garlic!
Green Peas Masala
Description
Green Peas Masala is a flavorful and comforting Indian dish that combines the sweetness of green peas with a rich, creamy sauce. With its interesting origins, nutritional benefits, and versatility, this dish is sure to become a favorite among Indian food enthusiasts and home cooks alike. Whether you follow the traditional recipe or experiment with variations, Peas Butter Masala is a delicious and wholesome addition to any meal.
Ingredients for the Green Peas Masala
Instructions on how to make the Green Peas Masala
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In a medium mixer jar, add the roughly chopped tomatoes and onions and blend it smooth. No need to add any water when blending.
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In a small pan, add the fenugreek seeds and the cumin seeds and fry for minutes in low flame or until fragrant. Cool this mixture for a while.
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Now, in a small mixer jar, add the cooled mixture and powder it. Keep aside for later use.
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In a pan, add 2 tbsp of butter, in low flame add the star anise, cinnamon and the cardomoms and fry till aromatic.
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Add the ground onion and tomato paste in low heat. Cover this and cook in low heat until oil separates around 10 minutes. In-between open the cover and give a stir.
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Once oil separates, add the 1 ginger garlic paste, 1 tsp red chilli powder, 3/4 tsp coriander powder and add little jaggery or palm sugar and 3/4 tsp salt and further fry the ingredients for another 3 - 4 minutes.
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Once raw smell goes away, in low flame, add in the green peas, add around 3/4 cup of water, cover the pan and boil for about 5 minutes.
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Once the green peas is cooked, add 1 tsp of the grounded fenugreek and cumin seed and stir for another minute.
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Switch off the flame and spread some fresh or cooking cream and garnish with some chopped coriander leaves. Your Peas butter Masala is ready to savour with some pulao, roti, naan or chapatis.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 5
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 140.3kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 7.32g12%
- Saturated Fat 4.15g21%
- Trans Fat 0.06g
- Cholesterol 17.87mg6%
- Sodium 377.62mg16%
- Potassium 369.65mg11%
- Total Carbohydrate 16.97g6%
- Dietary Fiber 4.87g20%
- Sugars 6.95g
- Protein 3.99g8%
- Vitamin A 100.42 IU
- Vitamin C 24.54 mg
- Calcium 62.83 mg
- Iron 2.62 mg
- Vitamin D 0.08 IU
- Vitamin E 0.75 IU
- Vitamin K 12.8 mcg
- Thiamin 0.15 mg
- Riboflavin 0.09 mg
- Niacin 1.18 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.22 mg
- Folate 42.6 mcg
- Vitamin B12 0.01 mcg
- Phosphorus 87.77 mg
- Magnesium 34.78 mg
- Zinc 0.78 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
If you do not have the frozen peas and using the dried peas, you can soak it overnight and using the same method above, instead of a pan, cook it with a pressure cooker and add 1 1/4 cup of water and pressure cook for about 5 minutes or until 1 whistle. Just add in a little more oil or butter than the said amount so that the peas does not sit at the bottom of the pressure cooker
