Matar Ka Nimona

EVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP
THEME: #219 WINTER VEGGIE AFFAIR
Did you miss a FoodieMonday/Bloghop post last Monday or like me, you were busy enjoying the Diwali festivities? Because of Diwali FoodieMonday/Bloghop members took a holiday, but this week I’m back with Matar Ka Nimona for another exciting theme, Winter Veggie Affair suggested by Sasmita. Keeping winter in mind, fresh and green fenugreek is available in abundance at the moment in India. This gives me the opportunity to use it in almost all the curries I make. What I like to make soon is Sasmita’s Fenugreek/Methi Mushroom Curry as I usually don’t add fresh methi. French Beans also are at their freshest and tender too. Its the right time to try out Sasmita’s French Beans Fry in Mustard Paste.
A bit more about the theme
As per the theme, it can be winter veggies from any country. Thankfully, I’m not in Kenya as we don’t have winter and veggies are either hot season or rainy season veggies. Having said that these days there are no hard and fast winter, summer, autumn, spring or rainy season vegetables. With modern technology, freezing procedures, canning methods and freezers in most homes means that it is possible to get out of season vegetables. However, fresh vegetables add a different kind of flavour to any dish. I was contemplating using cauliflower or peas as my winter vegetable. Immediately, I remembered that I had saved my friend Swaty’s recipe that uses peas. So peas it was.
My dish with Winter Vegetable – Green Peas
As I mentioned above I had bookmarked a peas recipe from Swaty’s blog, Matar ka Nimona. What caught my interest in that recipe? Well truthfully, the name. Just love how Nimona sounds, like soft bells ringing in your ears. I am so glad I tried out the recipe as initially I thought what’s the difference between Matar Ka Nimona and the usual peas and potato curry I make. On going through the recipe, realized that its so different as both the peas and potato are slightly mashed up and one can add onion and garlic which I normally don’t to the normal peas and potato curry. However, as my MIL is with me, I chose to cook it the satvic way, that is without onion or garlic. Adding ghee to it made all the difference. We enjoyed it with some parathas.
Two Peas In a Pod
Whenever I think of peas, the above proverb comes to mind. It literally means that anything or any two people are the similar. Like I definitely can say that my twins are not two peas in a pod, they are just too different in every aspect. Peas are round seeds from the fruit pod Pisum sativum and classified as legumes. While I will not go into the benefits of including peas in your diet, I can suggest how to include it your daily diet. Most common way is to make a curry like Renu’s Green Peas and Fox Nut Curry, or a simple peas and potato curry. Or how about a delicious Gujarati snack matar kachori, my mum’s all time favorite. Would you like to use peas as a stuffing to make some Khamiri Green Peas Puri, or use peas to make a simple and yet flavorful Fresh Mint and Peas Rice Pulao like the way Swaty makes. Have you ever tried a sweet dish with peas? I haven’t but would love to try Poonam’s Matar Dalia Kheer.
Matar Ka Nimona
Without much delay lets learn how to make this famous Uttar Pradesh dish, Matar Ka Nimona which has a soupy curry, makes use of some spices but not overpowering the taste of the peas and is usually served with roti, rice, poori or paratha.If you do not get fresh peas, you can use frozen ones.
MATAR KA NIMONA
Serves 4
2 cups fresh or frozen green peas
1 medium potato
½ cup fresh tomato puree
1 bay leaf
6-8 peppercorns
4-6 cloves
1″ cinnamon stick
1 red dry chilli
1 tsp jeera (cumin seeds)
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp coriander powder
½ – 1 tsp green chili paste
½ tsp garam masala
¼ tsp asafetida (hing)
¼ tsp turmeric powder (haldi)
½ – 1 tsp red chilli powder
1 tbsp mustard oil or any oil of your choice
½ – ¾ tsp salt
2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander
1½ cup(approx) water
1 tsp ghee (optional)
- Wash and boil the peas till they are soft.
- Peel and cut the potato into small cubes.
- Mash or grind the peas coarsely.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan over medium heat.
- Add the potato cubes and cook them over low heat till done.
- Remove the potato cubes from the oil. Mash the potato cubes.
- Add remaining oil in the pan.
- Add cloves, cinnamon, pepper, dry red chilli and bay leaf.
- Add cumin seeds. As it begins to sizzle, add asafetida, ginger and chili paste.
- Stir fry for a few seconds and add the tomato puree.
- Mix well. Add turmeric, red chili powder, coriander powder and salt.
- Let the tomato puree cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the mashed peas and potato. Mix well.
- Add the water and let the nimona or curry simmer over low heat for 5 minutes.
- Add garam masala, ghee and fresh coriander. Mix well and serve.
Tips:
- Use frozen peas if you don’t get fresh peas
- How you like the consistency of the curry is up to you
- If you want to add onion ( 1 medium size finely chopped) and garlic (1 tsp paste), then stir fry it before you add the tomato puree.
- For gluten free version avoid asafetida.
- For a vegan version avoid ghee.
Pin for later:
A little request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962
26 Comments
The Girl Next Door
November 5, 2019 at 5:26 am
You are so right – the freshness of the veggies in winters add oodles of taste to even simple dishes cooked with them. Green peas is one of my most favourite winter veggies to cook with.
The Matar Ka Nimona looks fantastic, Mayuriji! Beautiful presentation too. 🙂
mayurisjikoni
November 5, 2019 at 4:18 pm
Thank you so much.
Batter Up With Sujata
November 8, 2019 at 3:43 pm
Matar ka nimona is an all time favorite curry. I sometimes make it in off seasons with frozen peas. Your looks so inviting. Loved that you made it without onion garlic. Perfect side dish after fasting. I would love to have it bowlful without anything.
mayurisjikoni
November 8, 2019 at 5:59 pm
Thank you so much Sujata, I actually had it on its own and its so filling and delicious.
ARCHANA
November 9, 2019 at 7:11 am
I am so relieved to see this Matar Nimona recipe which does not need Vadis. I was introduced to it by my friend and she mentioned and parcelled Vadis to me. Since then I have been thinking Nimona needs Vadis. Now we can enjoy one of our favourite vegetable curry without having to wait for the vadis. Thanks Mayuri I love this Matar Ka Nimona definitely will try making it.
mayurisjikoni
November 11, 2019 at 4:02 pm
Thanks Archana, the nimona recipes I have come across do not have vadis. I also confirmed the ingredients with my neighbor who is from UP.
Preethi Prasad
November 9, 2019 at 1:52 pm
Matar Ka Nimona looks scrumptious.You rightly mentioned about fresh veggies in winter. I miss winter season here. I love and enjoy winters whenever I visit India.
Waiting for my trip this year end. The beautiful pictures are making this dish even more tempting.
mayurisjikoni
November 11, 2019 at 3:58 pm
Thank you so much Preethi. Winter veggies are so tempting in India.
Vasusvegkitchen
November 9, 2019 at 7:46 pm
Matar ka nimona looks absolutely delicious with lovely presentation di. The way potatoes cooked and mashed surely gave yummy taste . Love to have it with hot pulkas😋, as you said it’s name is very interesting di 👌.
mayurisjikoni
November 11, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Thank you so much Aruna. Its a really tasty curry.
Sasmita Sahoo Samanta
November 10, 2019 at 8:11 pm
Apart from peas masala this Matar Ka Nimona I always make in winter with fresh peas. Super tempting share di it is. This no onion no garlic version I will surely make sometime..
mayurisjikoni
November 11, 2019 at 3:54 pm
Thanks Sasmita, and I have to try the onion and garlic version.
Renu Agrawal Dongre
November 11, 2019 at 7:55 pm
I too was always intrigued by the name Nimona 🙂 . I always thought what is the different between this and normal curry, thanks for letting this know. I would love to try this recipe for my parents, as they love matar and also as this is made without onion and garlic.
mayurisjikoni
November 11, 2019 at 7:59 pm
Thanks Renu, the original version is with onion and garlic but this one tasted delicious.
namscorner18
November 11, 2019 at 8:55 pm
Matar Ka nimona looks so delicious and inviting Mayuri. Love the vibrant green color and fresh green peas. would love to have it with some phulkas
mayurisjikoni
November 12, 2019 at 4:31 pm
Thanks Narmadha, right time to try as fresh peas are available at the moment.
Swati
November 12, 2019 at 11:19 pm
Bowl of Nimona made with fresh peas look so inviting.. beautiful green color.. Thank you so much for trying out the recipe.. Even I like to have it on its own.. I loved your no onion no garlic version. tempted to make again this delish dish!!
mayurisjikoni
November 13, 2019 at 6:39 pm
Thanks Swaty, making it again soon before the peas season here in India disappears 🙂
Jolly
November 30, 2019 at 10:51 am
Matar ka nimona is my all time favorite sabzi during winters. I never tried but my mom prepared with fresh seasonal peas, they taste amazing. Your looks so inviting & delicious. I would love to have it with simple roti😋
mayurisjikoni
December 2, 2019 at 9:49 am
Thanks Jolly, try the recipe as its the season for peas.
vandana
November 30, 2019 at 10:55 am
One of my favorite peas recipes. Loved your photos the dish is looking so tempting. I will go and buy green peas today itself so that I can also enjoy this delicious recipe.
mayurisjikoni
December 2, 2019 at 9:49 am
Thank you so much Vandana. I also made it again recently and enjoyed it on its own with a sprinkle of sev on top…tasted really good.
shobhakeshwani
December 1, 2019 at 3:04 am
Heard a lot about this dish.. Looks so delicious. Lovely presentation.
mayurisjikoni
December 2, 2019 at 9:02 am
Thanks Shobha, try the recipe as its easy and very tasty. Now is the right time to try it out as its the season for fresh peas.
Mireille Roc (@ChefMireille)
December 4, 2019 at 1:25 am
I made this a few years back though I also put mangodi in my version – Yours looks so pretty and inviting – reminding me I need to update that post with new pics!
mayurisjikoni
December 5, 2019 at 10:26 pm
Thanks Mireille, I’ve got to try the one with mangodi.