Pepper Peas Masala | Pattani Milagu Masala

July 15, 2022

Pattani Milagu Masala is a flavourful peas curry with freshly ground pepper, fennel and spices. It is a creamy gravy that will be excellent with rotis, parotas or even plain ghee rice! It is also a quick dish and takes only 20 minutes to make. Other than peas, you will only require onions, tomatoes, some basic spices!

Today’s lunch was such a quick meal! I did it in 30 minutes, in between work/calls and hundred other things. To make that happen, I used frozen peas. If you have access – you can also use fresh ones in this recipe. I can only imagine it being better. We will make a freshly ground masala. Fret not, it is a handful of ingredients and even with that extra step, this is a quick dish.

What is in this Pepper Peas Masala?

  • onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic – basic vegetables for any gravy!
  • peas – obviously!
  • curry leaves – i feel this adds a key flavour, so dont skip it.
  • dry spice powders – kashmiri chilli powder for colour, a little turmeric and generous amount of coriander powder
  • dry spices – cinnamon, cloves, fennel, pepper
  • cashews – to thicken the gravy and make it rich

My rotis and sabzi game has improved so much since I first began to cook. In the initial years, I’d struggle to make the dough right and later to make the rotis soft. I also doused my rotis in ghee ( which is amazing, just not what I like now). There’s only one person I have to credit for my rotis game – Arun! Before we got married, I had this amazing Delhi roommate who made the softest phulkas ever and because she is a sweetheart, she also made them for me on demand. I never bothered to learn, ofcourse. Enter Arun – He also had a delhi roommate whose wife made rotis every day. This guy bothered to learn what I didn’t and a month into our marriage, he impressed me with the puffiest phulkas! Who ever would have thought?

And like all good things, we shared knowledge and I learnt to make rotis. OKK, now off to this amazing recipe! This recipe is inspired from here.

Pepper Peas Masala

A peas masala flavoured with pepper, fennel, cinnamon and spices in a rich cashew gravy. Goes well with rotis, parotas or even ghee rice and pulaos.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Indian
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 2

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp oil
  • ½ cup onions finely chopped
  • ½ cup tomatoes finely chopped
  • ½ tbsp ginger finely chopped
  • ½ tbsp garlic finely chopped
  • 5-6 curry leaves
  • tsp coriander powder
  • ½ tsp kashmiri chilli powder only for colour
  • ½ tsp turmeric powder
  • ½ tsp garam masala optional – I usually don't add but if you like the taste, do add.
  • 1 cup frozen green peas read notes for how to use fresh and dry peas

For spice mix

  • 8-10 cashews
  • 2 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp fennel
  • ½ inch cinnamon stick
  • 2 cloves
  • 2 cardamom pods

Instructions

Making the masala

  • To a dry pan, add all ingredients listed under masala and fry on a low flame for 2-3 minutes. Grind to a smooth powder and keep aside.
    I used roasted cashews today. If you are using raw ones, add cashews first and after a minute, add the rest of ingredients.

Making Pepper Peas Masala

  • To a pan, add oil and once it heats up add the ginger, garlic and curry leaves. After 30 seconds, add onions and let it cook until translucent.
  • Add tomatoes and cook till it turns mushy. It helps to add a little salt.
  • Once the tomatoes are mushy, add the spice powders – turmeric, chilli powder and corainder powder. Mix well and add ½ cup water. Close and let the masala cook for 3-4 minutes on a low to medium flame.
  • Open and add frozen peas. Mix well and add another ½ cup water. Let it come to a boil and simmer.
  • Now, add the cashew-pepper-fennel spice mix. The gravy will thicken on adding since this has cashews. So, the water in the earlier stages is necessary.
  • Mix well and cook for a minute only. Turn off the flame and close with a lid. Serve after 5 minutes. Garnish with more fresh curry leaves.

Notes

  • If using fresh shelled peas, add just after the spice powders and add a cup of water. Close and cook. Fresh peas cook quickly too so about 7-8 mins should do.
  • If using dry peas, soak overnight and pressure cook for 3-4 whistles and add after the onion tomato mix is fully cooked.

It is surprising to me how many peas recipes are on this blog! I use it often, especially in my WFH lunches because of how versatile it is. We can all do with more peas ( and peace!) in our lives, right? Here are more peas recipes for you!

Want more ‘peas’full recipes?

Please leave a comment below if you made this recipe, have any questions or thoughts! Your comment will help me learn more about your preferences and will help other readers.

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