Recipe- Maharahtrian Style Vegan Matki Usal

Matki Usal is a staple Maharashtrian curry made with brown sprouts/moth beans It's vegan, gluten-free & protein-rich. Serve as a salad or as a side for roti. Maharashtra, the western state of India is known for its diverse cuisine and authentic spice blends. The flavors are strong and the taste ranges from mild to spicy to very spicy.

Ingredients

To prepare the paste

1 small onion roughly chopped
4 cloves garlic roughly chopped
Half inch ginger roughly chopped
1 green chilly or use 1/2 a jalapeno
1 tbsp fennel seeds
1 tbsp coriander seeds
1/4 cup grated/shredded/desiccated coconut
2-3 tbsp water if needed while grinding

To prepare the curry

1 tbsp cooking oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
3-4 roughly torn curry leaves
1 tbsp chopped cilantro
1 small onion finely chopped
2 tomatoes finely chopped
2-3 tbsp Goda Masala
1 tsp turmeric powder
Salt as required
3 cups sprouted brown matki/moth beans
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 cup Water add gradually
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp chopped cilantro for garnish

Method

To prepare the paste

- Prepare a coarse paste of roughly chopped onions, garlic, ginger, green chillies, fennel seeds, coriander seeds and grated/shredded/desiccated coconut. Add water if needed to grind.

To prepare the curry

- Heat oil in a pan and once its hot, temper mustard seeds and cumin seeds.

- Once they begin to crackle (in about 10 seconds), add chopped curry leaves and a tablespoon of chopped cilantro.

- They will splutter as well. Immediately add the ground paste paste to the pan. Fry this for a minute or two.

- Add chopped onions and saute till they turn translucent.

- Then add the chopped tomatoes to the pan and continue to cook till they turn soft.

- Add the spice mixes like Goda masala, turmeric powder and salt. Saute for a minute or till the masala is cooked.

- Then add the sprouts/matki along with half a cup of water and sugar. Give it a stir and cover the pan.

- Allow the sprouts to cook in the steam for 8-10 minutes on low-medium flame.

- Keep stirring at regular intervals. Once they are soft, consider it done.

- Garnish with chopped cilantro and squeeze lemon juice on top and take it off the flame. It's ready to be served.