Matar-Tamatar

A simple Matar-Tamater (Peas and Tomatoes) vegetable for everyday cooking. This is a simple home Recipe which can be made for everyday home cooking,. Here its difficult to find the fresh peas in the pods like how we used to get back home, although sometimes I have find the pods at the Turkish store but mostly the peas are quite ripe. I always used the frozen peas here, they are the best next to the fresh ones, but you can also use the peas from a can.  I personally don't like to use the can ones, because they have this sticky sweet sauce, which I don't like but its your choice. 

Here is what you will need:

Ingredients:

- 250 gms frozen peas

- 1 red onion, finely chopped

- 1 green chili, finely chopped

- a piece of ginger about an inch big, finely grated

- 6-8 cherry tomatoes, halved or two normal tomatoes roughly chopped

- 1 tsp of Cumin seeds

- 1 tsp of Coriander powder

- 3/4  tsp of red chili powder

- 1/4 tsp of Turmeric powder

- 1/4 tsp of Garam Masala

- handful of fresh Coriander to garnish. 

- 1 tbsp of Oil

- 1/4 cup of Water

Method:

1. First of all chop the onions, green chili, tomatoes and grate the ginger and keep them ready.

2. Heat the Oil in a pan, when it starts to smoke add the Cumin seeds to the pan and let the Cumin crackle, reduce the heat. 

3. Add the onions to the pan, and roast them until they become soft and golden. 

4. Now add the green Chili, Tomatoes and ginger to the pan and mix it all well. 

5. Add all the spices, cover the lid and let the whole thing cook for about 3-4 minutes. 

6. Add the frozen and thawed peas to the pan, increase the heat and let them cook for about 3-4 minutes. 

7. Add Water and let it bowl. Close the heat, garnish it with fresh green Coriander and serve it either with rice of Chapatis. 

- You can also use about 4 tbsp of can tomatoes if you don't have the fresh ones. 

- I use the sweet fine frozen peas and not the big ones, so my peas don't need more then 3-4 minutes to cook but if you are using the bit bigger peas then I suggest to cook them covered for 5-7 minutes.