Split Pea Curry

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Posted on August 28, 2013
This is an irresistibly delicious curry that you make in two stages... If you are pushed for time, or want a more economical recipe - the first stage of cooking makes a fabulously simple but very tasty curry with yellow split peas. The second stage of cooking includes the addition of some slowly, sweetly cooked onions with some ginger, garlic and chilli, and turns what is already a great dish into something truly decadent and luxurious. Whether you go for just the first stage, or both - this healthy curry recipe is the quickest and easiest I've ever cooked, and definitely one of the most delicious.

Stage 1

  • 1 Mug dried Yellow Split Peas
  • 1 tsp Dried Red Chilli Flakes
  • 1 tbsp Ground Coriander
  • 1 tsp Turmeric
  • 1 tsp Maldon Salt

Stage 2

  • 5cm stick Ginger
  • 7 Garlic Cloves
  • Fresh Red Chilli
  • 1 Small Onion
  • 1 tbsp Cumin Seeds
  • Olive Oil
  • Fresh Coriander

[I got this brilliant recipe from Anirudh Arora and Hardeep Singh Kohli's book 'Food of the Grand Trunk Road'.  Is one of the loveliest books about India and its amazing recipes...]

Stage 1…   Prepare the Yellow Split Peas according to the instructions. This usually involves rinsing and washing them, and then soaking them for a couple of hours in cold water before draining…

Put the Split Peas into a saucepan with twice their volume of Water (I used 1 mug of Split Peas and 2 Mugs Water for two people)

Bring the pan to the boil with 1tsp Dried Chilli Flakes, 1 tbsp Ground Coriander, 1 tsp Turmeric and 1 tsp Salt

Simmer the Split Peas for 20 – 30 minutes, or until they are just cooked (still firm to the bite) and most of the Water has cooked off.  If they look too dry while cooking, add a few more dashes of Water… sometimes they can take longer to cook

Stage 2…  Whilst the Peas are cooking, finely chop a 5 cm stick of Ginger, 7 Cloves Garlic, half a fresh Red Chilli and 1 small Onion

Heat a frying pan with some Olive Oil and add 1 tbsp Cumin Seeds.  Cook until they crackle and then add the chopped Ginger, Garlic and Red Chilli and Onion.  Gently fry the mixture until it is golden brown, soft and sweet (don’t let it burn)

To combine Stages 1 & 2…  At the last moment, when the Split Peas are cooked through, stir the cooked Onion mixture through the Curry.  Add a couple of handfuls of chopped fresh Coriander and serve with some Rice or Flatbread

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