Green Dried Peas Gravy (Vatane Amti)

These days I am trying my best to avoid any food wastage. I used to buy a lot of beans/vegetables and had to throw some of it when I could not get to them on time. Now I make a conscious effort not to do so. We have started doing the grocery shopping once in every 2-3 weeks. We buy new vegetables only when we finish off every single vegetable from fridge. So, while we are at it, I am trying to get to the dried beans/lentils that are sitting in my pantry.

Yesterday, I saw a pack of green peas(vatane) and soaked some. This morning when I was thinking about lunch, I thought of making usli(which is my all time favorite dish), but then, I had to use up some bhindi too, so vatane had to be used for gravy. Next in the list was saru-upkari. I started making this, but changed it a bit to give a nice taste/aroma with goda masala. It came out really well.

Ingredients:
1 cup dried green peas(vatane)
4 green chillies
1 tea spn goda masala
1/2 cup onion
1 tea spn garlic
1/2 tea spn mustard seeds
1 tbl spn chopped coriander leaves
2-3 pieces kokum (or use tamarind or tomato)
Oil
A pinch turmeric
Salt

Method:
Soak dried peas overnight in water. Pressure cook peas with turmeric till they are mushy.
Heat oil and add mustard seeds. When they start popping, add onion, green chillies and garlic. Fry for few  minutes. Mash the peas with a spoon. I took 2 big spoonful of peas in blender and blended it to a smooth paste. Add the peas to onion mixture.
Now add salt, goda masala, kokum (or tamarind or tomato) and cook till the gravy thickens.
Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot with rice or rotis.

Serves : 3-4
Preparation time : 30mins