Matar Paratha

What do you do when you got to finish off a packet of frozen peas lying in the freezer before leaving for a vacation? Matar(Peas) Paratha for RCI Punjabi Cuisine :) Its "the" best thing that can happen with peas! :) My display of love for Parathas continues ;) Similar to other parathas, this paratha can be served with curds, raitas or pickles! I served matar paratha with boondi raita.

Matar Paratha

What you need:

For the cover:
2 cup Wheat flour (Atta)
2 tsp Salt
1 tbsp Oil
Water

For the filling:
1 cup Peas, boiled and drained
3-4 Green Chillies
1 inch Ginger
1 tsp Corriander Powder
1 tsp Cumin Powder
Salt
Oil

How to proceed:

For the cover:
1) Mix all ingredients and knead into soft dough
2) Keep aside for 15-20 mins

For the filling:
1) Mince green chillies and ginger and keep aside
2) Mince peas
3) Heat 2-3 tbsp oil and add ginger chilli paste to it
4) Add minced peas and remaining ingredients
5) Cook for 12-15 mins until the mixture seems dry and then set aside to cool for 1-2 hrs

Putting it all together:
1) Divide the dough and filling in equal parts.
2) Roll each ball of dough to diameter of approx 4 inches
3) Put the stuffing/filling in the middle and get the ends of dough together and close so that the filling does not come out
4) Roll the parathas to size 7-8 inch in diameter using wheat flour
5) Roast on hot girdle on both sides till brown using butter/ghee/oil
6) Serve hot wit raitas, yoghurt or pickles!

Oolya Watanyachi Usal

O stands for “Oh my God!! Which vegetable starts with an O??” :D Maybe Onion or Okra. But these names are English versions which aren’t commonly used in India and the recipes too are very common and limited. Nupur does make us scratch our heads for her A-Z of Indian Vegetables. :) Finally I decided to go for a traditional Maharashtrian dish called “Oolya Watanyachi Usal” for “O of Indian Vegetables”. In Marathi, Oola stands for wet and Watana stands for Dry Peas. This dish is prepared from Oola watana or matar. In case Matar or frozen peas are not available, Dry Green Peas which are soaked (overnight) and boiled (1 whishtle) can be used.

Oolya Watanyachi Usal

What you need:

1 cup Matar/Frozen Peas/ Dry Green Peas
¼ Cup chopped Corriander
½ cup grated Cocunut
4-5 Green Chillies
2-3 cloves of Garlic
1 tsp grated Ginger
1 tsp Mustard Seeds
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
Pinch of Asafoetida
4-5 Curry Leaves
1 tsp Cumin Powder
1 tsp Garam Masala
Pinch of Turmeric
2 tsp Sugar
Salt to taste
2 cups Water
2-3 tbsp Oil

How to proceed:

1) Put corriander, coconut, chillies, ginger and garlic in a grinder and prepare a smooth paste. Add water if required to maintain consistency. Keep this paste aside when ready. This paste is called as “watan” in Marathi named after the process of grinding it in early days.
2) Heat oil and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds and asafoetida
3) As mustard seeds start spluttering, add curry leaves, garam masala, cumin powder and turmeric powder.
4) A minute later, add boiled peas and fry for 2-3 mins
5) Now add the paste/watan and mix well
6) Add 1½ cup of water or more/less as desired.
7) Add sugar and salt as required
8) Let it boil and cook for 5-10 mins
9) Garnish with corriander and serve with hot rotis/ bread.