Mumbai Usal

Mumbai Usal.

Usal is basically a spicy curry made with dried or sprouted legumes. The popular ones are Matki usal,Mattar usal and Moong usal. Usually Matki and Moong are sprouted before used to make usal. Today I am posting a recipe for Mutter usal,which can be substituted with matki or moong sprouts if u want.

Usal is usually served with pav,lemon wedges,onions and raw green chillies. Its exteremely tasty and poor man's food in Maharastra.Its extremely famous on the road side hotels, dhabha's on Maharatra highways ,canteens,railway station cafeteria and local bus stands ,as it is tasty and filling . Its served a lot during lunch and there is a twin called misal which is basically usal topped with farsaan and sev.Other variations include pakodi usal pav,where crisp onion pakoda's are crushed and toped over usal.,samosa usal ,wada usal and on and on. But the classic never gets worn out and its a popular favourite in my hometown....

Hope u make it and enjoy it!


Method
Part 1

Soak 1 cup of white peas(vatana) in 3 cups of water for 3hrs.

Pressure cook with salt,tumeric and a pinch of hing just for 2-3 whistles.(otherwise it will become very very mushy).

Part 2

Gravy

Ingredients:
chopped onions 1cup

chopped tomatoes 1cup

chopped ginger,garlic and green chillies 2tsp each

tumeric powder

garam masala powder 2tsp

chilli powder 1tsp

jeera seeds& mustard 1tsp each

salt

oil 1tsp


Method

Heat oil in a kadai.

add the jeera seeds & mustard and then onions. saute for 2mins. next add the ginger,garlic and chillies.

fry well.

Next add the tomatoes,add the masala powder,salt and the cooked peas.

add 2cups of water and simmer for about 30mins in medium flame.

at this stage u can serve it with pav or bread ,But traditionally,this is topped with spicy rasa or gravy and then served.Its taste is fully enhanced only if u serve it with rasa.

I like this to be served with rasa,because it reminds me of my college cateen and the golden days !!!


Part 3
Rasa(or spicy gravy)

oil 2tbsp(NOTE THAT ITS TABLESPOON NOT TEA SPOON)

onions finely chopped 1/2cup

chilli powder 2tsp

garam masala powder 2tsp

lemon juice 1tsp

corriander chopped 1/2cup


Method

Heat oil,add the onions. fry it till its golden brown.

now add the chilli powder, garam masala powder and immediately add 1cup of water.

add salt and allow it to boil for 5-8mins.

put off the flame.

add the lemon juice and the corriander chopped.





serving suggestion.

option 1

pour the rasa on the usal and serve.


option 2

Take 2 laddles of usal in individual serving bowls.

take 1 laddle of rasa and pour on top of the usal.

on the sides :pav/bread/naan.onions and lemon.