The roads never seem to end, the journey even more. It was the first time we embarked on a road trip in car for nine long hours. Hubby dear was very adventurous when he said we will visit his sister's place for the long weekend. It was not planned, I guess that made it even more exciting and interesting. The chances of it being not taken was remotely less and it gave less time for Athamma to say no for a long drive in. But seriously I enjoyed it!
We didn't feel the distance until the last 100 kms or so. It was beautiful driving past the green lands, with crops all ready for harvest. We drove past many villages and towns. The best was the lonely land, where to an eye's distance there was nothing but we and the beautiful land! If only we could live in such a beautiful green place!
Since it was a long journey, I was fully prepared with the kids favorite snacks and I kept them engaged with one snack after the other. Else I knew they would have wanted to sit on their father's lap, the moment they get in the car as normally they do. They slept for a while but most times, they were thrilled seeing the cows and sheep on the roads. Though I had the breakfast and lunch packed, we stopped at a motel for breakfast. All motels seems to have play things for kids to entertain them.
When breakfast was done, the kids refused to leave the place. We somehow managed to get them back and only stopped again for the lunch. The spot was a beautiful no man's place with lush tamarind trees on both sides and it also had a rock bench. We spread our things and had a quick lunch. Athamma disappeared for a moment to be back with a load of fresh tamarind. She made a yummy looking chutney with it back home.
We reached my sil's place by late afternoon and it took a while for the twins to get used to the place. Since Konda had already been to their home and moreover she is never so shy. Once the boys got to know their surroundings, they enjoyed max! My other sil also came along with her kids. So as I always tease hubby, it was one big family reunion! The only missing part was the song that they never finalized! I am sure Athamma enjoyed seeing her daughters and grandchildren in one place. Though I was resisting the urge, the delicious array of dishes that my sils prepared was not something that could be ignored. They ensured they made all our favorite ones. Right from the tempting Uggani to Mirapakaya Bajji, going to the lengthy Sunday special, everything was a treat!
These fresh black eyed peas are a treat to taste buds. And these were available in plenty. We got a big bunch and shelled them out. The simple kurma that we made with it back home was very tasty and brought back many wonderful childhood memories!
Ingredients needed:
Fresh Black Eyed Peas - 250 gms
Onions - 1 medium
Tomatoes - 1 medium
Ginger garlic paste - 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
Chili powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Coconut paste - 1 tsp
Roasted Groundnut powder - 1 tsp
Coriander leaves - few
Salt to taste
Oil - 2 tsp
Seasonings
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves
Method to prepare:
Heat a pressure cooker pan with oil, splutter mustard seeds and curry leaves. Then sauté onions till they start to turn brown. They add the ginger garlic paste. Fry for a min.
Then add the chopped tomatoes, salt, turmeric and simmer for 5 mins. Then add all the spice powders. Sauté well. Add the shelled black eyed beans. Sauté for 2 mins.
Add the coconut paste, 1 cup of, and pressure cook for 1 whistle or till the beans are cooked. Since these are fresh beans, it won't take much time to get cooked. So keep an eye on them, else you will have mashed peas on hand!
Once the pressure is off, remove the lid and bring the gravy to boil again if it's watery. Add the groundnut powder and simmer for 1 min.
The taste of the roasted groundnut in the kurma makes a lot of difference!
Sunshinemom says
That seems so much like the Mahabalipuram stretch! We go quite often on long distance car journeys though my daughter suffers from motion sickness! Such fun for the kids to meet their cousins! Peas kurma looks spicy and tasty - I make this without coconut. Delish entry - I had planned making masala roongi (the same thing) but got shelved!
A_and_N says
This is perfect for a weekday meal! THanks!
Pallavi says
yum....the kurma does look great. and it sounds like you had a lot of fun on your trip too.
Alka says
yes ofcourse dear...as charity begins at home,similarly self love comes first and the rest follows......i am glad that u thought of that,btw i was thinking of coming up with the next event..just for me..wherein we all have to cook something special to indulge ourselves....wht say lady??
And the post is so nice, i can imagine the thrill of Athamma and kids too and the nice fresh atmosphere on the way....everything sounds so refreshing
Loved the recipe,we make something like that with RAANH (type of white beans) ...delicious...
Asha says
We drive everywhere here for vacation too, sometimes takes 3 days to reach Texas from here, we stop overnight after 8-9 hrs of drive and start again in the morning! Half the fun of vacation is reaching there, as we say here, its so much fun than flying! America the beautiful!!:D
Fresh Blackeyed peas! Oh, I used to love those.I use to eat 1/4 of them before it went to cooking. Kurma sounds good, I will try with dry and soaked ones of course! 🙂
Cham says
I got this fresh one in summer and made kurma too, looks like u guys had fun in long journey
indosungod says
I just want to keep looking at those fresh beans. I guess I have to be happy making this kurma with the frozen peas here.
Shama Nagarajan says
nice read...lovely dish
Maya says
Wow, this looks very tasty. I don't think I have tasted the fresh green ones before. Maybe I will try this curry with the dried ones.
RAKS KITCHEN says
Sounds good Srivalli! New to me and love to try it out!
Rathna says
Wow...What a drive it would have been...I can imagine sitting here...it's nice to drive out of city hustle sometimes. I once hit-run a buffalo on the road in a village, back when I was in India. Thank god nothing happened to it :-p You reminded me of that 🙂
Black peas kurma looks yum and hey if you are interested I've started an event at my blog. Please visit and send me an entry.
Shreya says
family reunions are always a fun time, especially with kids around. The kurma is really nice, my sil makes it this way, though I dont think she adds groundnut. will have to try..
Navita says
yummy kurmas...love it.
Priya says
Just craving for fresh beans, tempting kurma with fresh peas..its quite a dream to get these awesome fresh peas here:( really miss it..
Chitra says
am the first one to comment:)Very healthy and yummy kurma...will give this a try:)
Kitchen Flavours says
Sounds new to me. Looks yummy.
Vij says
yummy kurma! looks delicious.
jayasree says
Never tried kurma with black eyed peas. Shall try it with dried one though.
sra says
There you are! I was wondering why there haven't been any posts from you in a while.
Ashwini Kenchanna says
Always long drives are fun to drive..enjoying the nature and the beauty of it..
Never tried kurma with fresh black eyed peas..New to me.I do only with the dried ones which you soak for whole night..:-)
Simran says
That's some coincidence - I made black eyed peas too!
Happy cook says
I can believe konda was not shy.
I have neve rhad fresh black eye beans, atleast i think i have never had.
Madhu says
Kurma with fresh beans.. i can imagine the taste. Looks delicious..
Jayashree says
Sounds like a lovely drive. I have the same problem too with restaurants that have a play area. My daughter refuses to come out :-))
homecooked says
Wow....looks so good! Yummy!
Srivalli says
Thank you everybody for your lovely comments..glad you all like the fresh beans!
Namratha says
Looks very good Valli, glad to know you had a good time with family! 🙂
Rajee says
I love this dish badly. I couldnt find here in US. If I find it here, then I'll try it.
Charlotte Jane Barker says
Lovely. Growing up in the American South, I spent many hours shelling peas. . . I never know how much I would miss it.