Basic recipe: Peas potatoes

If you are an expert cook then this recipe is too simple for you, thank you for visiting.

Today I get a call from my friend who is newly-wed pampered woman, who has never cooked before and is challenged by her mother-in-law to show some of her culinary skills.


She asks me for a very basic dish, something that is not difficult and tasty as well.


I am not surprised!

Yeah, I have met many such women who don’t even know to fry an egg. For some reason, they have never found reason to cook before marriage.  Busy with studies or career and have enough helpers at home to do the cooking, what is the need to cook? 


There are many parents who will never encourage their children to cook arguing, "Let her rest, there is whole lifetime to cook," so there is chalta hai attitude, 

But after marriage comes a bit of responsibility. One cannot eat everyday out and some basic cooking is important.

This is just the basic recipe which can be cooked by a person who is new to cooking…….

Look into the kitchen for following ingredients

1 tbsp oil

1 medium onion (finely chopped)

2 medium potatoes (diced)

2 green chilies (chopped)

4 cloves garlic (grated)

½ inch ginger (grated)

2 medium tomatoes (chopped)

½ tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp coriander powder

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 cup shelled peas

1 tsp salt

2 tsp chopped coriander leaves

Let the exercise begin

 Fry onion in 1 tablespoon of oil

Till it gets light brown

Chop potatoes, green chilies and grated garlic and ginger

Add half cup water and Mix garlic, ginger and green chilies

Add chopped potatoes

Add chopped tomatoes

Add dry masalas like coriander powder, turmeric powder, cumin seeds and salt

Mix it well

When we become an expert cook, we can start to grate the tomatoes and add, but when new to cooking, this  kind of rough chopping of tomatoes will pass..the more we pamper our guest the better we are expected to perform, Its best to be just our self and do what is comfortable to us’

Add green peas

Add chopped coriander leaves

Put one cup of water, cover and keep it till potatoes are tender.

Serve it with steamed rice or freshly roasted chappatis


Variation: Instead of peas, vegetables like cauliflower, mushrooms or fried okra can also be used,