Peas/Mutter Masala

INGREDIENTS : Serves 4

1. Peas - 1/4 kg fresh peas from pods or yellow/green dry peas(dry peas should be soaked for 7 to 8 hrs).
2. Onions - 3 large onions cut length wise
3. Coriander and curry leaves finely cut
4. Tomatoes - 2 nos
5. Elachi/cardomom - 1 piece
6. Cinnamon / Pattai in tamil - 1/2 inch
7. Ginger - 1/2 inch without peel
8. Garlic - 4 pods without peel
9. Coconut shredded - handful
10. Jeera /Cumin seeds - 1 spoon 
11. Cloves - 4 pieces
12. Green chillies - 1 or 2 according to the spiciness needed
13. Salt - according to taste
14. Oil - to fry the onions
15. Chilli powder - according to taste
16. Black pepper - around 10 seeds
17. Kasuri methi leaves - for seasoning(Optional)

METHOD: 

• Pressure cook(3 whistles if the peas is fresh from the pods.8 to 9 whistles if its dry peas) the peas along with the salt needed for peas alone. Keep it aside.
• Make a paste out of the tomatoes,elachi,cinnamon,ginger,garlic,coconut,jerra,green chillies ,cloves and black pepper.
• Take a kadai and add 2 or 3 spoons of cooking oil. Add mustard seeds and allow it to crack.
• Add the coriander and curry leaves. Add the onions and add a pinch of salt needed for the onion alone.Allow the onions to get fried.
• Once the onions are done add the paste and allow the raw smell to subside.Make sure the stove is sim when frying the paste.Add 1/4 glass of water and allow it to boil if you find it very difficult to keep stirring or if your diet conscious for adding oil when frying the paste.
• After the paste's raw smell subsides add the cooked peas along with the water. After 5 mins taste the gravy and add salt/chilli powder according to taste.
• Allow the gravy to cook for 10 to 15 mins in medium flame with a lid.The lid allows the gravy to get cooked faster.
• If the peas is cooked well and the taste is good but if you have added extra water and the gravy is watery , add 1 spoon of besan flour(kadalai mavu) made into a paste with 3 spoons of water and stir well. You will notice that the gravy is getting thicker within 2 to 3 mins of adding this paste
• Check the taste and once it looks blended add few kasuri methi leaves and switch off the stove.
• .Yeah ! The tasty peas masala is ready to play with your taste buds!! mmmmmm :)