TOFU AND PEAS MASALA

TOFU AND PEAS MASALA
This recipe was on my mind for long ever since I started cooking with tofu. It came out pretty good. Here I have fried the tofu a little bit to get that crispy brown color on tofu. The tofu can be added as such too. The same gravy can be used for paneer butter also.

My dear friend Shanti from http://shanthisthaligai.blogspot.com/ has tagged me. Thanks a lot dear

The rules are:
1) Link the person who tagged you .
2) Post the rules on your blog.
3) Share the ABC'S of you.
4) Tag 4 people at the end of the post by linking their blogs.
5) Let the 4 tagged people know that they have been tagged by you.
6) Do not tag the same person repeatedly but try to tag different people,so that there is a big network of bloggers doing the tag.


1. A ? Available/Single? Married

2. B ? Best friend? My sister

3. C ? Cake or Pie? Cake

4. D ? Drink of choice? Cardamom tea

5. E ? Essential item you use every day? My laptop computer

6. F ? Favorite color? Baby pink

7. G ? Gummy Bears Or Worms? None. I hate eating something that looks like worms :(

8. H ? Hometown? Pondicherry

9. I ? Indulgence? Aromatic candles

10. J ? January or February? January

11. K ? Kids & their names? None

12. L ? Life is incomplete without? Love

13. M ? Marriage date? February 4th

14. N ? Number of siblings? One younger sister

15. O ? Oranges or Apples? Apples

16. P ? Phobias/Fears? Heights

17. Q ? Quote for today? To learn constantly, not just intellectually but psychologically, to progress in regard to character, to cultivate our qualities and correct our defects, so that everything may be an opportunity to cure ourselves of ignorance and incapacity, then life becomes tremendously interesting and worth living. ? The Mother. This is my favorite quote.

18. R ? Reason to smile? My parents, sis, and hubby dear

19. S ? Season? Spring.

20. T ? Tag 4 People? Hmmm?that?s very difficult?I have a biiig list

21. U ? Unknown fact about me? I don't know

22. V ? Vegetable you don't like? Okra

23. W ? Worst habit? Reading while eating and I do enjoy it :)

24. X ? X-rays you've had? A few

25. Y ? Your favorite food? Briyani

26. Z ? Zodiac sign? Aquarius

My friends Priya from http://recipes-priya.blogspot.com/ and Priya from http://ennsamaiyal.blogspot.com/ have awarded me Honest Scrap Award. Thank you very much dears. I have already posted 10 facts about me in my previous post.

Dear friends, I think everybody have posted their tag, so I am not tagging anyone now. Please feel free to pick up the awards and tag if you have not been tagged yet.

NOW COMING ON TO THE RECIPE:

INGREDIENTS:
1. Extra-firm or firm tofu, 1 small box.
2. Fresh or frozen green peas, 1 cup.
3. Medium-sized onions, 2.
4. Tomatoes, 2. Canned tomatoes works best too. If canned tomatoes are used, 1 cup is required.
5. Ginger-garlic paste, 1 teaspoon.
6. Almonds or cashews, around 8-10 pieces.
7. Red chilies, 3-4.
8. Coriander seeds, 1 tablespoon.
9. Cardamom seeds, 2.
10. Fennel seeds, ½ teaspoon.
11. Cinnamon, 1 small stick.
12. Paprika powder, 2 teaspoons. (optional).
13. Salt as per taste.
14. Cilantro for garnishing.

PREPARATION:
Dice the onions and tomatoes finely and keep aside. Drain the water from the tofu and pat it dry with a paper towel. Cut the tofu into bite-size pieces. Heat a pan with a tablespoon of oil and place the tofu pieces on the pan leaving sufficient space between each piece. Fry the tofu under medium flame for 10 minutes, taking 5 minutes for each side. Remove the tofu from the pan and let it cool. In the same pan, add another teaspoon of oil and add the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, fennel seeds, coriander seeds and let everything fry for a minute. Then add the red chilies and fry for a few seconds. Transfer everything to a plate and let it cool. Add the diced onions to the same pan and sauté for a few minutes until onions turn brown. Then add the tomatoes and ginger-garlic paste and keep sautéing until everything is blended. Switch off the stove and let it cool. Grind the mixture into a smooth paste along the almonds and fried spices. The spices can also be ground separately and added to the blended onion and tomato paste. Transfer all the contents into the pan, add a teaspoon of oil, 1 cup of water, paprika powder, and salt as per taste and let it cook closed for 5-10 minutes under low flame. Add the fried tofu and peas, mix everything, and cook for 2 more minutes. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot with chapathis. I am sending my recipe for Side Dish for Chapathi event hosted by Viki