Black Eyed Peas Curry | Lobia Masala
Black Eyed Peas Curry | Lobia Masala is a flavorsome dish in which soaked black eyed peas are cooked in a flavorful puree of tomatoes, ginger, garlic, Indian spice powders such as turmeric, coriander, chili. As the beans soften and swell, they take up these flavors and get cooked to melt in the mouth buttery perfection. Mostly the gravy is onion-tomato based, but this version is without onions. It is vegan and gluten free.
Ingredients
- ½ cup black eye peas. approx. 100gm
- 2 nos medium tomatoes. approx. 150 gm
- 1 green chili chopped; adjust as needed.
- 5 cloves garlic chopped.
- ½" ginger chopped.
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 cup water around 250ml
- Few sprigs Cilantro leaves chopped.
Dried Spices & Herbs:
- ½ tsp whole cumin seeds
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- ¼ tsp red chili powder
- ½ to ¾ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp garam masala powder
- 1 tsp dried fenugreek leaves
Instructions
Soaking
- Soak black eyed peas for 2-4 hours.
Blending
- Blend tomatoes, ginger garlic and green chilies.
Cooking
- Heat oil in a pressure cooker.
- Add cumin seeds. Let them splutter.
- To this add the tomato- ginger-garlic- green chili purée.
- Let the liquids from purée evaporate.
- Add the spices – turmeric powder, coriander powder, salt, chili powder.
- Sauté for a minute.
- Add the soaked and drained black-eyed peas to the cooker.
- Sauté for 2-3 minutes.
- Finally add water.
- Sprinkle some crushed kasuri methi, garam masala powder and coriander leaves.
- Pressure-cook till 2 quick whistles or 5-7 minutes on low flame.
- When pressure is released, check for doneness.
- Transfer into serving dish. Serve with roti or rice.
How to serve
- Serve this delectable curry with roti, paratha, rice or bread. Caramelized onion pulao alongside would also do good. Do not forget to have alongside with mint lassi or boondi raita.
Video
Notes
- Soaking the black eyed peas for 2-4 hours is highly recommended to that butter feel when cooked.
- This recipe uses pressure cooker though you may make it in open pot. The time will vary.
- These beans absorb water as they swell, so be mindful of this when adding water for the gravy.
- Do not use very sour variety of tomatoes.
- Do not overcook the black eyed peas . No mushy texture please! Buttery, buttery feel is what we are looking for.