Misal Pav

Misal Pav

Here is what we need -
This recipe will serve 4 to 5

• 3 tbs oil
• 5 medium size onions ( you would need 1 more onion to garnish)
• 2 tomatoes
• 1/4 cup dry shredded coconut
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 black peppercorns
• 2-3 cloves
• 1 small Cinnamon stick
• 5-6 garlic cloves
• small piece of ginger
• 2 spoons of onion garlic chutney powder (buy this at Indian store)
• 2 spoons chili powder
• salt per taste
• 3 cups of sprouts (Mataki is the name of the beans you get at Indian store)
• Bread
• Spice mixture (you buy this from Indian store)
• Garnishing - 1 fine Chopped onion
• lemon
• 1/4 sp turmeric

whats next -

Soak the Matki beans overnight. I usually soak Matki 24 hours before I am planning Misal. After soaking it overnight I drain all the water and cover the matki beans in a muslin cloth and put it in the oven as its a dark and warm place. If you keep sprouts ready a day ahead just store it in the container and refrigerate it.

Chop onions and tomatoes. Peel garlic. Peel ginger and cut into pieces. In a heavy bottom pan take a table spoon of oil. In a few minutes add dry spices (Cinnamon, bay leaf, cloves, peppercorns). As it starts leaving out the aroma. Add onions, ginger and garlic. After 10 minutes onion starts to become translucent. Add tomatoes. Add onion garlic chutney. Add some water and let the tomatoes cook. Add coconut and switch off the stove in 5 minutes. Let it cool off.

Blend it to a very smooth paste. In a heavy bottom pan add remaining 2 tbs oil. Add chili powder and blended paste. Cover it with a lid otherwise the paste starts to sputter all over. Add 2-3 cups of water as this should be watery thin. Add salt. Let it simmer on medium heat for 10-15 minutes or until you get a layer of oil on the top.

I use a small pressure cooker to cook the Matki. In a pressure cooker add a little oil. Add matki, pinch of turmeric, 1/2 spoon chili powder and a little salt. Cook it for 3 whistles.

Now you are ready to serve.

In a bowl first put 1 spoon of Matki, add couple of spoons spicy mixture. Add 1 spoon chopped onion. Add 3-4 big serving spoons of curry. sprinkle lemon. Enjoy it with bread. This is very spicy maharashtrian recipe usually enjoyed as brunch.