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.
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.