Matar Ka Nimona

What is Matar Ka Nimona

It's a simple yet appetizing vegan green peas gravy recipe that's prepared in Uttar Pradesh (a northern Indian state) especially during winters. Why winters?

That's because it is the harvest season of green peas and nearly every household will have this produce in their kitchen during this time of the year.

Matar ka Nimona is one of those ideal weeknight meals that's comforting, delicious to taste and extremely easy to make using just few basic ingredients.

Matar means green peas in Hindi but I don't know why the dish is called Nimona. However, all I would say is, don't think too much about the name. Give the recipe a try!

This recipe has green peas and potatoes which I feel are always a great combination. Be it in a Samosa or the humble Aloo Matar. They work wonderfully together!

I love green peas (known as matar in Hindi) and always have a bag of frozen peas in my freezer. I end up adding it to many recipes, ranging from Indian food to pasta!

They are easy to cook with, low-fat, mildly sweet to taste and are very nutritious. Green peas also have anti oxidant and anti inflammatory properties.

Healthy weeknight meals

We believe in eating freshly cooked meals at home on weekdays. Here is what we do to ensure that we eat a balanced and tasty meal.

We prepare a weekly menu every Sunday. We select recipes that are not very elaborate, but we also enjoy experimenting with different cuisines.

Though not always possible, we try to stick to the ingredient list when grocery shopping. I prefer cooking with fresh ingredients and avoid processed food.

We try to include lots of seasonal vegetables and fruits in our diet and also try to have a balance of flavors on the plate. Portion control is also key.

Why make this

This recipe of Matar ka Nimona is a keeper for many reasons!

• A delicious one pot curry
• Naturally vegan
• Perfect for weeknights
• A different way of serving green peas
• Simple and easy to make
• Needs basic pantry essentials
• Minimal prep required
• Can be made in 30 minutes

Green peas - The traditional recipe calls for fresh peas. But it's hard to find it here in the US, so I make it with frozen green peas. It tastes good nevertheless.

Other veggies - Potatoes, tomatoes are just the two veggies you need for this recipe apart from green peas.

Spices and herbs - Turmeric powder, chilly powder, coriander powder, amchur powder, garam masala, asafoetida, cumin seeds, cloves, and bay leaf help bring out the flavors.

Garlic, green chillies, ginger, and cilantro are the aromatics that complete this vegan green peas curry recipe.

Cooking oil - Traditionally, mustard oil or ghee is used. You can also use any vegetable oil or vegan ghee to make this recipe of Matar Nimona.

1. Thaw and coarsely grind half the green peas and keep it aside for now. There is no need to add water while grinding. Just pulse it twice.
2. Saute the coarsely ground green peas in oil for 4-5 minutes on medium flame. Be careful to not burn it. Keep stirring it regularly. Transfer to a plate.
3. In a mixer grinder jar add cilantro (with stalks), ginger, garlic and green chillies and blitz to a smooth paste. Set this cilantro paste aside for now.
4. Peel and cut potatoes in wedges. Shallow fry them in oil till they turn light golden. Chef Tip - Transfer them onto paper towels to soak off the excess oil if any and keep it aside as well.
5. Heat oil in a pan, temper cumin seeds, cloves and bay leaf. Then add and fry the prepared cilantro paste. Saute for about 3-4 minutes or till the oil begins to leave the sides.
6. Next add the chopped tomatoes along with salt. Continue to saute for 4-5 minutes or till the tomatoes turn soft and pulpy. Mash them with the back of the ladle as they cook.
7. Then add all the spices like asafoetida, turmeric powder, coriander powder, amchur powder, chilly powder and garam masala to the pan. Chef Tip - Add some splashes of water to avoid the burning of spices and fry for a minute.
8. Now add the coarsely ground green peas, remaining green peas and water as required. Cook this for 5-7 minutes. You need to cook a bit longer if using fresh peas.
9. Then add the fried potatoes, and garnish with cilantro. Mix and take it off the flame.

Serving suggestions 🍽

Serve Matar ka Nimona with plain rice or Jeera rice. It also pairs well with an Indian bread like chapati, roti, naan, paratha, puri, or bhakri with some raita on the side.

Some also like to enjoy this green peas curry as a hearty soup with some sev on top. Save this Nimona Matar recipe and include it in your weekly menu rotations.

Top recipe tips 💭

If you like the flavor of onions, add it when making the cilantro paste.

When making the green peas paste, ensure that you keep it coarse. Do not grind it to a smooth paste. The coarse texture works well in this vegan peas recipe.

The consistency of this green peas curry is a personal choice. If you want to eat it with rice, make it a bit thin and if you plan to serve it with bread, keep the gravy thick.

Did you try this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out by leaving a comment below or sharing a picture on Instagram @cookilicious with the hashtag #cookiliciousveg. I love hearing your feedback! 

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