Dry Peas Rice:

Pattani Biriyani (Vegetarian’s Mutton Biriyani, he he). Pataani Masala Saadham. Kaintha Pattani Saadham. Peas Pulav. Yellow Peas Spicy Rice. Dry Peas Pulav.

Dry Peas is widely used in Non-Vegetarian’s house on those strict ‘fasting months’…where we really feel hard to pass the days without meat. So just to tickle our taste buds…my relatives used to prepare anything ‘extra spicy’ for us. One of my Small Grandma (yeah yeah, not my own gradma…but her sister, so this is how I could intro’ her) is a genious in fixing such meal. When I happened to visit their home (during fasting month…probably Purataasi Maasam), she prepared a spicy korma for me, with dry yellow peas and all vegetables that are equivated to Mutton in it. I have to admit, it was awesome. The taste still lingers in my mind. Well…anyway thats the day, I found out…I can manage without meat, by respecting few vegetables and dry legumes. Later I applied this ‘technology’ widely during my rough hostel days (I lived most of life in the hostel, with the exception of self cooking, few years).

Ingredients:

Dry green/yellow peas 1 cup soaked overnight in water.
Raw rice 1 cup
Salt
Ghee 1 cup
Dry red chilies 6-8
Mustard seeds 1/2 spoon
Cumin seeds 1/2 spoon
Chana dal 1/2 spoon
Urad dal 1/2 spoon
Asafoetida 1/2 spoon
Garlic 3-5 cloves chopped
Onion 1 small chopped finely
Curry leaves crisply fried 1/2 cup.

Method:

In a pressure pan…..heat ghee/butter. Add mustard, cumin, asafoetida, red chilies, urad and chana dal. Let them pop and splutter well.

Now add garlic and onions and fry well. Then add peas and rice. Add enough salt and water. Pressure cook till 3 whistle sound.

Garnish with crisply fried curry leaves.

Serve hot with fried potatoes.