Pattani Kurma | Green Peas Kurma

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Cozy, lightly spicy, and perfectly satisfying, this vegan Pattani Kurma or Green Peas Kurma is a South Indian delight. Made in just 30 minutes, this delicious korma is quick enough for busy weeknights and is satisfying enough to crush even the most ravenous hunger.

potato peas kurma, peas kurma

About Pattani Kurma

There are so many recipes you can cook with green peas. This South Indian style Peas Kurma is a staple at home and I make it during the season of fresh green peas. Having said that I also make it with frozen peas when we want to enjoy a delicious kurma gravy with fluffy, soft poori.

The recipe gets its name as one of the hero ingredient in this particular kurma variant is green peas – which are also called ‘Pattani’ in Tamil. So you can refer to this recipe as Pattani Kurma or Peas Kurma.

As an avid cook, I have a tendency to accumulate plenty of cookbooks, magazine tear-outs, newspaper clippings, and printed recipes. Anything that looks tasty gets bookmarked for later. Do you have a habit like that?

That’s the case with this Pattani Kurma — I made it more than a decade ago and it has become a favorite curry with everyone – right from family to friends and guests too. In fact, I can’t even remember which book or recipe inspired me to make it, but I can tell you: it’s simply delicious.

While you might think that as a food blogger I’m whipping up special recipes left and right and that we eat like royalty every day. I assure you, this is not the case. Most days, I end up cooking regular Chapathi, some kind of vegetable preparations and Dal, and rice like many Indian households.

However, even with my simple, easy, everyday recipes, I do what I can to make them taste special, and I’m usually pretty successful.

This yummy Peas Kurma recipe is one that I turn to again and again. While it is more of a homestyle recipe rather than a restaurant-style dish, it is easily one of the best kurma recipes I have ever tried.

I have made this Peas Kurma in a stovetop pressure cooker to save time but you’re welcome to use a regular pan or Instant Pot instead. I have added notes in the recipe card on how to make the kurma in a pan.

This Pattani Kurma goes well with Paratha, Poori, or even steamed rice. I made Kerala Parotta to go with the Green Peas Kurma.

Ingredients & Substitutions

This quick and easy recipe for Pattani Kurma requires just a handful of ingredients and a bevy of spice cabinet staples. Also it is made with both green peas and potatoes.

Feel free to use either fresh or frozen green peas for this recipe. If you opt for frozen, you don’t need to defrost them first.

Waxy potatoes (e.g. red or yellow potatoes or Yukon Gold) will hold their shape better than starchy Russet or Idaho potatoes. Feel free to omit the potatoes if you are not fan of them.

The rest of the ingredients are the various Indian ground spices, onions, herbs, poppy seeds, coconut and cashews. For the onions – red, yellow, white, or sweet onions will all work here.

I prefer using homemade spice powders when possible, and coriander powder, fennel powder is no exception. Feel free to use whatever you have on hand.

For the fennel powder, If you don’t have it, then lightly roast 1.5 teaspoons of whole fennel seeds and grind them along with the coconut, poppy seeds, etc.

Poppy seeds are used in thickening the gravy. But you could skip them due to availability.

Fresh coconut gives really good taste to the gravy. Though you can also use unsweetened desiccated coconut if that’s what you have on hand.

There are also some cashews added that give creaminess without any dairy. Feel free to swap them with blanched almonds instead.

I also add Kashmiri red chillies as I love the vibrant red color these dried chillies give to the gravy, but you’re welcome to use any other dry red chilies you prefer.

How To Make Pattani Kurma

This simple vegan kurma comes together in just 30 minutes with the help of a pressure cooker. Here’s how:

Prep Ingredients

1. Heat some water. Turn off heat and soak 2 to 3 dried red kashmiri chilies and 6 to 7 whole cashews in the water for 15 to 20 minutes. Do remove the seeds from the red chillies before soaking.

After 15 to 20 minutes drain the water and set the soaked red chillies and cashews aside.

cashews and dried kashmiri red chilies soaking in water.

2. Rinse 1 cup of fresh green peas and set aside. Rinse, peel and dice 2 medium potatoes (or 1 extra large potato) as well.

rinsing peas in a colander.

3. In a grinder or blender:

  • add the soaked cashews and red chillies
  • 2 teaspoons poppy seeds (khus khus)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh grated coconut or unsweetened desiccated coconut
  • 1 inch peeled and chopped ginger

Add little water or as needed to grind the kurma gravy ingredients.

ingredients for making potato peas kurma masala paste in a grinder jar.

4. Grind or blend to a fine and smooth paste. Set aside.

potato peas kurma masala paste after grinding.

5. Measure all the ingredients and keep ready for making pattani kurma.

ingredients for making potato peas kurma recipe measured out in dishes on a black tabletop.

Make Pattani Kurma

6. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a 3 litre pressure cooker. Keep heat to a low. Add all the whole spices:

  • 1 medium-sized tej patta (Indian bay leaf)
  • 2 to 3 cloves
  • 1-inch cinnamon stick

Fry till fragrant for some seconds.

tempering cloves, tej patta and cinnamon stick in the base of a pressure cooker.

7. Add 1 medium-sized chopped onion (or ½ cup chopped onions).

chopped red onion added to the tempering.

8. Sauté on low to medium heat stirring often until onions turn golden brown.

onions have cooked until they are golden.

9. Add the prepared ground kurma paste.

masala paste added to pot with onions and tempering.

10. Sauté on medium-low to medium heat stirring often for 3 to 4 minutes or more, till the fat leaves the sides of the kurma masala paste.

oil is starting to leave the sides of the masala paste.

11. Now add the ground spice powders one by one:

  • ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon of coriander powder
  • 2 teaspoons of fennel powder
ground spices added to the masala paste for making potato peas kurma recipe.

12. Stir and sauté for a minute.

the masala paste looks thick after adding the dried spices.

13. Add the green peas and peeled, chopped potatoes.

potato and peas added to the masala.

14. Stir and mix well.

potato peas kurma after stirring with the masala paste before adding the liquid.

15. Add salt as required.

salt added to the pan.

16. Pour in about 2 to 2.25 cups of water.

water being poured in.

17. Stir to mix well.

potato peas kurma in the pot before pressure cooking.

18. Pressure cook for 2 whistles on a medium to high heat or till the potatoes and green peas are tender and cooked.

pressure cooker with the lid on.

19. Here the peas kurma is all ready to be served.

potato peas kurma in the pot after pressure cooking.

20. Garnish with some coriander leaves.

potato peas korma garnished with cilantro leaves in the pot.

21. Serve the Pattani Kurma hot with some roti, chapathi, phulka, paratha or rice.

potato peas kurma in a black bowl on a white tablecloth with a roti to the side.

Expert Tips

  • Cut the potatoes into even sizes. This will help to ensure that they cook evenly!
  • For a spicy taste, add more red chillies. Instead of red chillies you can opt to add green chillies. With green chillies, the color of the gravy will change.
  • Instead of fresh coconut, use desiccated coconut. You can also use frozen coconut.
  • Feel free to omit potatoes and make the kurma with a total of 1.25 to 1.5 cups of green peas.
  • As with many stews and curries, this green peas kurma is especially good after a day. Any leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 1 day.
  • To thicken the kurma if in case the gravy looks watery after pressure cooking – simmer without lid until the gravy thickens a bit.
  • If the kurma looks too thick after pressure cooking, then add some water and simmer for some more time without lid.

More Kurma Varieties To Try!

Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.

potato peas kurma recipe, aloo matar korma curry recipe

Pattani Kurma | Green Peas Kurma

Pattani Kurma or Green Peas Kurma is a South Indian style kurma gravy made with green peas and potatoes cooked in a finely ground paste of coconut, poppy seeds, cashews, red chilies together with onions, spices and herbs. Best paired with chapathi, parotta, poori or steamed rice.
4.73 from 11 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Cuisine South Indian
Course Main Course
Diet Gluten Free, Vegan
Difficulty Level Moderate
Servings 4
Units

Ingredients

Main ingredients

  • 1 cup green peas (pattani or matar) – fresh or frozen
  • 1 potato – extra large or 2 medium potatoes – peeled and diced
  • 1 onion – medium size, finely chopped or ½ cup finely chopped onions
  • 1 teaspoon Coriander Powder
  • 2 teaspoon fennel powder * check notes
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 tej patta (Indian bay leaf) – medium-sized
  • 2 to 3 cloves
  • 1 inch cinnamon
  • 2 to 2.25 cups water or add as required
  • 3 tablespoons oil
  • salt as required
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons coriander leaves – chopped, for garnish

To be ground

  • 2 teaspoons poppy seeds (khus khus)
  • 2 tablespoons coconut – fresh, grated or 2 tablespoons unsweetened desiccated coconut
  • 1 inch ginger – peeled and chopped
  • 2 to 3 kashmiri red chilies or 1 to 2 dry red chilies – seeds removed
  • 6 to 7 cashews – whole

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Heat some water in a small bowl or pan and turn off heat. Soak the dry kashmiri red chilies and cashews in the hot water for 15 to 20 mins.
  • Later drain the water and set aside the soaked cashews and red chillies.
  • Rinse the green peas and keep aside. Rinse, peel and dice the potatoes.
  • In a grinder or blender, grind or blend the soaked cashews and dry chillies, coconut, poppy seeds, ginger with little water to a smooth and fine paste.

Making Pattani Kurma

  • Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a 3 litre pressure cooker. Keeping heat to a low, add all the whole spices – tej patta, cloves, cinnamon and fry till fragrant for a few seconds.
  • Add the onions and sauté them till golden brown. Stir often when sautéing onions.
  • Add the prepared ground kurma paste and stir to combine.
  • Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes or till the oil leaves the sides of the kurma masala paste.
  • Now add the spice powders one by one – turmeric powder, coriander powder and fennel powder.
  • Stir and sauté for a minute on low heat. Add the peas, potato and salt. Pour about 2 to 2.25 cups water.
  • Pressure cook for 2 whistles on a medium to high heat or till the potatoes and peas are softened and tender.
  • If the gravy looks watery, then simmer till the gravy thickens a bit.
  • If the gravy looks dry, then add some water and simmer for some more time without the cooker's lid.
  • Garnish with coriander leaves and serve the Pattani Kurma hot with some roti, chapathi, paratha or rice.

Notes

  • * If you don’t have fennel powder, then lightly roast 1.5 teaspoon of fennel seeds and grind them along with the coconut, poppy seeds etc.
  • For preparing the kurma in pan on stovetop – follow the recipe till you add the peas and potatoes. Add 2.5 cups water and salt as needed. Cover and let the peas and potatoes cook till tender. Add more water if required.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Pattani Kurma | Green Peas Kurma
Amount Per Serving
Calories 211 Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Fat 13g20%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 9g
Sodium 306mg13%
Potassium 426mg12%
Carbohydrates 20g7%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 357IU7%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 0.2mg13%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 0.1mg6%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 2mg10%
Vitamin B6 0.3mg15%
Vitamin C 28mg34%
Vitamin E 4mg27%
Vitamin K 13µg12%
Calcium 65mg7%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 40µg10%
Iron 2mg11%
Magnesium 47mg12%
Phosphorus 114mg11%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This Pattani Kurma from the blog archives first published in January 2014 has been updated and republished on December 2022.

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Meet Dassana

Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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37 Comments

  1. Ma’am I’ve tried this recipe step by step and it has always been a hit. I’ve made this in Kerala, Mumbai and Delhi at my relatives’ place and they have all loved it. Thank you so much ma’am for this delicious recipe.5 stars

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