• 1 yellow onion
• 3 cloves garlic
• Ginger – small piece, peeled and chopped
• 2 tomatoes
• 2 green chilis
• ~ 1 pound shitake mushrooms, quartered
• ~2 – 3 cups frozen peas
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 green cardamom seeds
• 1 1/2 tspn. cumin powder
• 1 1/2 tspn. coriander powder
• 1 1/2 tspn. turmeric powder
• 5 tspn. salt or to taste
• 1/2 – 1 tspn. garam masala
• 1/2 – 1 tspn. lal mirch
• 1 cup low fat yogurt
• 2 tbspn. tomato paste

One of the nice things about mattar mushroom is that it’s a one pot dish – I use a tall stockpot. Chop the onion, garlic and ginger in the food processor.

Add it to the stockpot with about a tablespoon of canola oil along with the cardamom seeds and cinnamon stick.

While that cooks, pulsate the tomatoes and green chilis until they are a liquid like consistency.

I’m an impatient, fast paced cook so there are invariably a few small pieces of tomato which don’t become liquefied. That’s okay – they’ll boil down.

When the onions become translucent, add the tomato-chili mixture.

This is going to become the “masala” – keep stirring it to make sure the bottom doesn’t burn and cook it until the liquid boils off.

Next, stir in the tomato paste. Be careful – the bottom of the pan becomes very prone to burning now!

Whisk the yogurt (I use a small egg beater but a fork would do) then add it to the masala.

Add everything else from the masala rack. Now is when I try to be really patient and let the masala cook.

Let’s masala cook for at least an hour I think – maybe more.

As mentioned, patience isn’t my virtue so I cook my masala for about 15-20 minutes (or as long/little as my patience permits) being sure to stir frequently so the bottom doesn’t burn (did I mention, the bottom is prone to burning?).

Next, add about 6 cups of water to the masala and mix. Congratulations – now you have curry. Wash the mushrooms thoroughly and quarter them. Add the mushrooms and peas to the curry.

Partially cover the stockpot and let the curry come to a slow boil. Let the curry boil for at least 20 minutes until the mushrooms and peas are fully cooked.

If the curry is too thick or too spicy, add some additional water. If the curry seems to watery, let it boil longer.

Enjoy with some fresh basmati rice, a piece of naan and a side of raita.

by Pak101.com (few years ago!) / 802 views