Gajar-Matar Ki Sabji/गाजर मटर की सब्ज़ी (Carrot and Pea Vegetable)

Gajar-Matar Ki Sabji

Carrots is one vegetable which adds lots of nutritive value and wonderful dietary fibers to the food, thus it is one of my favorite vegetable. In 100gm. of carrots there are 41 calories, 5%fat, 90% carbs. and 5% protein along with in Vitamin A, C, Calcium and Iron. Peas have carbs, protein and lots of dietary fibers. Thus the combination of peas and carrots is sublime in taste and very good as far as nutritive values are concerned. The green color of peas and red color of carrots in the vegetable makes it so appealing that it is difficult to resist eating it once it is on the table. So just try this favorite dish of my husband and your family will also ask for more.

Preparation Time: 30 min. (Cutting the carrots and peeling the fresh Pea pods)

Cooking Time: 20 min.

Servings: 4 large helpings

Ingredients Required for Making Gajar – Matar Ki Sabji:

• 500 gm. Carrots

• 1 Kg. Fresh Peas in pod / 750 gm. Shelled Peas

• 2 ml. Olive oil / cooking oil

• 1 Tea spoon Cumin seeds

• 1 Tea spoon Ginger-Garlic Paste / Ginger

• 1-2 Whole Red Chilies

• 1 Tea spoon Amchur (Dry Raw Mango Powder)

• 1/2Tea spoon Red Chili Powder

• 1/4Tea spoon Turmeric Powder

• 1 Tea spoon Coriander seed Powder

Directions For making Gajar – Matar Ki Sabji:

• Shell the fresh pea pods and keep the peas aside.

Fresh shelled Peas

• Wash and clean the carrots of all roots. Scrape the carrots if required but do not remove thick peels.

• Cut the carrots to small 1/2cm. pieces.

Carrots cut to 1/2cm. size

• Heat oil in a thick bottom wok on high flame.

• Lower the flame when the oil is smoking hot.

• Add

• Cumin seeds

• Whole red chili

• Cook for 30 seconds.

Mustard seeds, Cumin, Red chili added to hot oil

•  The seeds will splutter and the aroma of spices will start coming.

• Add ginger – garlic / ginger paste and cook with constant stirring for 30 seconds.

Seasoning ready for Gajar (Carrots)to be added

• Add carrot and mix nicely.

Gajar added and being cooked on low flame

• Cook on low flame with regular stirring till the carrots become slightly soft (not completely cooked). It will take approximately 10 min.

Gajar just before Matar to be added

• Add shelled peas to the carrots and mix nicely.

Peas added to gajar after cooking the gajar for 10 min.

• Cook on low flame with regular stirring for 10 min. The peas will start shrinking and change the color.

Peas added and cooked for 10 min.

• Add

• Turmeric powder

• Salt

• Amchur

• Red chili powder

• Coriander seed powder

All spices added to the vegetable

• Mix nicely.

• Sprinkle 10 ml. water and mix nicely.

• Cook on low flame with regular stirring for 4-5 min.

• The carrots and peas will become soft.

Gajar - Matar ki Sabji

• Take out in a serving bowl/plate and serve with green chili and lemon piece.

Gajar-Matar Ki Sabji

Enjoy Gajar-Matar chat-pati vegetable with roti,Parantha,Puri or simply eat it like chat with a dash of lemon.
Tips:

• Any cooking oil can be used for making tghis vegetable but best results are obtained by using olive oil or mustard oil.

• Do not cut carrots to big pieces the vegetable will not taste good if done so.

• Do not cook the carrots completely before adding peas as they will get cooked with peas also.

• Asafoetida and ginger garlic pastes are optional if you do not like the taste of garlic and asafoetida then add only ginger paste.

• If you are not using non-stick wok then the amount of oil should be increased to 5 m.

• Do not add too much water as 10 ml. water is sprinkled to make sure all spices get thoroughly mixed with vegetables.

Suggested Variations:

• Asafoetida can be added along with mustard seeds and cumin seeds.

• Finely cut fresh coriander sprigs can be added to the oil along with seeds and red chili before adding carrots.

• In the absence of fresh peas preserved peas can be taken, but the taste of vegetable comes out best with fresh peas.

• Though the vegetable tastes best with red carrots in the absence of red carrots orange carrots (Rabbit carrots) can be taken.

•  Finely cut onions can be sauteed to transparent state before adding carrots.