Black Eyed Peas Curry (Lobia Subzi) - Easy Vegan Recipe
This Lobia Subzi or Black Eyed Peas Curry is something that I make a lot, as it is very flavorful and also quick to make. It does not necessarily need the overnight soaking of the beans like the other beans do.
Lobia or karamani is my newfound favorite among the many legumes we use. A couple of years back, I used karamani, also known as cowpeas or black-eyed peas, for making the Karadayan Nombu adai or the sweet karamani sundal.
Blogging has opened a whole new world of flavor, and I have started using many ingredients that I have never used a lot before. I have been making lobia vadai often now, as it is very crispy in texture and also remains crispy for quite a while after frying.
For Navarathri, I have also started making the salt sundal from karamani instead of just the sweet version (although my favorite of all the sundals is the sweet karamani sundal).
Lately, this lobia subzi is something that I make a lot, as it is very flavorful and also quick to make. It does not necessarily need the overnight soaking of the beans like the other beans do.
I am often very forgetful and forget to soak the beans. This one needs just about 4 hours of soaking, and it cooks perfectly well.
As a vegetarian, it is very important to use as many varieties of beans and legumes to provide protein for my growing kids. I am also determined to use more of the legumes this year as a regular portion in their lunch boxes in some form of sundal.
Preparation time - 15 minutes plus 4-6 hours of soaking time
Cooking time - 45 minutes
Difficulty level - easy
Ingredients to make Lobia Subzi - (serves 4-6)
- Lobia / Karamani / Black-eyed peas - 1 cup
- Onion - 1 large (chopped finely)
- Tomatoes - 3 (made into puree)
- Green chilies - 2 (sliced)
- Ginger garlic paste - 1 ½ tsp
- Red chili powder - 1 teaspoon (adjust based on spiciness)
- Turmeric powder - ½ tsp
- Dhania Jeera powder / Cumin coriander powder - 1 tbsp
- Garam Masala - 1 tsp
- Bay leaf - 1
- Cinnamon - 1-inch piece
- Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
- Oil - 2 tbsp
- Salt - to taste
How to Make Black Eyed Peas Curry (Step-by-Step) -
- Soak the lobia / karamani in enough water for at least 4 hours. Soaking it overnight will work as well. Once the legume/bean is soaked, it will puff up and become almost double in size.
- Wash the soaked beans and then add fresh water to cover the beans. Cook the beans in a pressure cooker for about 3 whistles until soft. Once the beans are cooked, they should be very soft.
- In a separate pan, heat 2 tablespoon of oil and add the cumin seeds. Let the seeds crackle, and then add the cinnamon and the bay leaf. Let it fry for about 20 seconds.
- Add the chopped onions and fry until translucent. Then add the ginger garlic paste and green chilies and fry for a minute more.
- Now add the pureed tomatoes and all the dry spices (turmeric powder, dhania jeera powder, red chili powder, garam masala, and salt). Fry the masala for about 5 minutes on medium flame or until it becomes aromatic.
- Add the cooked beans along with the water. If there is too much water, take some out. Always make sure that the beans are cooked just in enough water so as not waste the nutrients in cooking water.
- Mash some of the beans with the back of the ladle. This helps the gravy to thicken and come to the right consistency. Let the subzi simmer on a low flame for about 8 - 10 minutes.
- Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve the Karamani Subzi with chapatti or rice.
More Side Dishes
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Recipe
Black Eyed Peas Curry (Lobia Subzi) - Easy Vegan Recipe
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker
- pan
- Stove
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Lobia / Karamani / Black eyed peas
- 1 Onion Chopped finely
- 3 Tomatoes Made into Puree
- 2 Green chilies Sliced
- 1 ½ teaspoon Ginger garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon Red chili powder Adjust based on spiciness
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
- 1 tablespoon Dhania Jeera powder / Cumin coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon Garam Masala
- 1 Bay leaf
- 1 Inch Piece Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- 2 tablespoon Oil
- To Taste Salt
Instructions
- Soak the lobia / karamani in enough water for at least 4 hours. Soaking it overnight will work as well. Once the legume/bean is soaked, it will puff up and become almost double in size.
- Wash the soaked beans and then add fresh water to cover the beans. Cook the beans in a pressure cooker for about 3 whistles to cook until soft. Once the beans are cooked it should be very soft.
- In a separate pan, heat 2 tablespoon of oil and add the cumin seeds. Let the seeds crackle and then add the cinnamon and the bay leaf. Let it fry for about 20 seconds.
- Add the chopped onions and fry until translucent. Then add the ginger-garlic paste and green chilies and fry for a minute more.
- Now add the pureed tomatoes and all the dry spices (turmeric powder, dhania jeera powder, red chili powder, garam masala, and salt). Fry the masala for about 5 minutes on medium flame or until it becomes aromatic.
- Add the cooked beans along with the water. If there is too much water, take some out. Always make sure that the beans are cooked just in enough water so as to not waste the nutrient cooking water.
- Mash some of the beans with the back of the ladle. This helps the gravy to thicken and come to the right consistency. Let the subzi simmer in low flame for about 8 - 10 minutes.
- Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve the Lobia Subzi with chapatti or rice.
