Instant Pot Matar Chaat Matra Recipe
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Instant Pot Matar Chaat is finger-licking delicious recipe from Indian Street Food. It is made with dry white peas and then the condiments are added to enhance the flavors. The Matra or Mathra Chaat is stupendously easy to make.
Delhi Style Matra Chaat or Instant Pot Matar Chaat
While growing up in Northern State of India, I always knew this dish as MATRA or MATHRA. And God only knows how many plates of Matra I have eaten. It was never ever enough.
I think the Indian Street Food has that effect. You want to keep indulging.
Since it has the spice, the tang, tad bit of sweet, the salt, the dish is completely balanced in flavors.
The best part is that it is OIL-FREE RECIPE. And it is a FIBER-RICH & PROTEIN-RICH RECIPE.
What is Chaat?
Chaat is the other name for Street Food. And Indian cuisine offers innumerable types of CHAAT. Every region has its own version and variety.
Now Chaat is not a one ingredient dish. It has many components and condiments that are added to make it super delicious and desirable.
Therefore when you prepare a chaat, you need these must adds for the recipe –
- The main component like boiled legumes, pulses, beans or a deep fried patty.
- Then the 2 important condiments are – Green Cilantro Mint Chutney and Tamarind Dates Chutney.
- Now some people like to add a tad bit of Yogurt also.
- When we talk about spices that add to the flavors, these are – black salt, red chili powder, roasted cumin seeds powder, & chaat masala.
- The fresh produce that adds to the flavors – boiled potatoes, finely chopped onions, tomatoes, cilantro, green chilies and a good squeeze of lemon.
CHAAT or Indian Street Food is a COMPLETE PARTY IN THE MOUTH.
What is Matra or Matar Chaat made of?
The main ingredient of this recipe is – MATAR or MATRA. It is called DRY WHITE PEAS in English. The other name is safed VATANA in many other regions of India.
Dry White Peas are nothing but white peas dried and stored. These are starchier than the green peas.
Other Names of Matar or Matra
GHUGHNI is another popular name for this street food. It is very popular in West Bengal, Bihar, Odissa and Bangladesh.
RAGDA is popularly known in Maharashtra. You serve it with Potato Patties or Dinner Rolls.
How to Serve Matra or Matar Chaat?
One can eat it as is. But you can serve it with Kulcha. Kulcha is the street food version of naan.
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Recipe Ingredients
Matar or Vatana or Dry White Peas – In case you can’t find these, use chickpeas also. Although that won’t be Matar Chaat but equally delicious.
Spices – Black Salt, Red Chili Pepper or Cayenne, Cumin seeds to make roasted cumin powder, Chaat Masala. Use Himalayan Pink Salt to sub Black Salt. Black Salt is Mineral Salt from India. You use it as you use the pink salt.
Fresh Produce – Boiled Potatoes, Red Onions, Tomatoes, Cilantro, Green Chilies, Lemon Juice
Other Important Condiments/Sauces – Cilantro Mint Chutney or use home made (recipe in recipe card) and Tamarind Dates Chutney
Recipe Kitchen Equipment
-
- Instant Pot 3 quart or 6 quart
- Instant Pot Inner Liner/Pot
- Large Bowl for Soaking
- Kitchen Colander
- Chopping Board & Knife
- Measuring Cups & Spoons
- Serving Bowl
- Indian Chaat Bowl – One must eat chaat in these organic bio-degradable leaf bowls to enjoy it to the most. It is the traditional way to eat chaat.
How to make Cilantro Mint Chutney at home?
It is the easiest chutney or dip to make at home. This chutney is spicy, salty and tangy in taste.
Although you can use the Store Bought Cilantro chutney, but home-made is the best. It is easily available in the refrigerated section of any Indian Grocery Store. Amazon.com sells it too.
Ingredients for Chutney are – 2 bunches of Cilantro +15 leaves of Mint + 2 Thai Green Chilies + Indian Black Salt or Himalayan Pink Salt to taste + Juice of 1 small lemon + 1 to 2 tbsp Water as needed.
Instructions – Take Magic Bullet or Nutri Bullet or any high intensity blender. Add all the washed & cleaned ingredients to the blender along with black salt and lemon juice. Start blending till you get a smooth dip or chutney. You may add 1 to 2 tbsp water to the ingredients as needed to get it going. Do not add lot of water. The consistency should be of thick dipping sauce.
Storage – It stays good in an air tight jar in the refrigerator for a week.
How to make Tamarind Dates Chutney?
Honestly I always buy a big bottle of Tamarind Dates Chutney from the Indian Grocery Store and keep it handy. Swad brand makes great chutney. And it can be refrigerated easily.
Or if you want to make it at home, then here is the recipe from Ruchi’s Kitchen.
How to make Matar Chaat in Instant Pot?
First of all Dried Peas are washed and soaked over-night.
And then Instant Pot makes it easy to make this chaat effortlessly. Pressure Cook the Dry White Peas in Instant Pot and they are ready for this Mix & Toss Recipe.
If I may say so then it is a BEAN SALAD with Indian Condiments.
Once the dried peas are cooked, all the other ingredients are added and yummy Chaat is ready.
It is a GLUTEN-FREE and VEGAN RECIPE.
Can I prepare White Dry Peas in advance?
Yes you can prepare these in advance. It is best served warm. The chaat does not taste good when cold. You can boil and refrigerate for later use.
When ready to use, warm up the peas and make chaat.
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What can I use in case I can not find Dry White Peas?
You can substitute the Dry White Peas with Chickpeas, in case you can not find these peas.
Also you can use the canned chickpeas after draining.
How to eat Matra Chaat?
Normally you can eat it as is but you can combine it with street bread called KULCHA. It is a yeast free bread made with all purpose flour. Here is the recipe for home-made Kulcha.
Instant Pot Beans Recipes
Chana Masala (Chickpeas Curry), Chana Saag (Chickpeas & Spinach Curry), Rajma Masala (Red Beans Curry), Lobiya Masala (Black Eye Peas Curry), Mexican Pinto Beans, Mexican Black Beans, and more.
Instant Pot Desserts
Chocolate Cake, Red Velvet Cake, Pumpkin Cake, New York Mini Jar Cheesecakes, Chocolate Mini Jar Cheesecakes and more.
Instant Pot Matar Chaat Recipe
Instant Pot Matar Chaat Matra Recipe
Equipment
- Inner Pot
- Serving Bowls
Ingredients
- 1&1/2 cups Matar or Vatana or Matra or Dry White Peas
- 3 cups Water
- 1 large Potato boiled
- 1 medium Red Onion finely chopped
- 2 medium Tomatoes finely chopped
- 2 tbsp Cilantro finely chopped
- 1 to 2 Green Chilies, Thai finely chopped (optional in case to avoid heat)
SPICES
- 2 tsp or to taste Kala Namak (Indian Black Salt) use Himalayan Pink salt instead
- 1/2 tsp or to taste Red Chili Powder or Cayenne
- 1 tbsp Roasted Cumin Seeds Powder recipe given in the notes.
- 1 tsp or to taste Chaat Masala
Chutney or Sauces
- 1/4 cup or to taste Cilantro Mint Chutney recipe given in the notes or use store bought
- 1/4 cup or to taste Tamarind Dates Chutney recipe link given in the notes or use store bought
- 1 small Lemon Juice
Instructions
Soaking White Matar / Dry White Peas
- Take the dry white peas in a kitchen colander and wash a few times. Then soak them in 6 cups of water overnight. Or at least for 6 hrs minimum.
- Once ready to cook, drain the soaked peas and set aside. By this time they would have doubled in size.
Pressure Cooking Peas in Instant Pot
- Place the inner pot inside the IP and plug it in. Add the drained white peas to the IP and add 3 cups of water.
- Close the IP with the lid and set it on SEALING. Press the PRESSURE COOK button and set it on HIGH for 20 minutes.
- Once the timer goes off, follow NPR (natural pressure release).
- Take the cooked peas out and transfer to a serving bowl.
Assembling the MATAR CHAAT or MATRA
- Now add finely chopped onions, tomatoes, green chilies, cilantro leaves along with Black Salt, Red Chili Pepper or Cayenne, Cumin seeds to make roasted cumin powder, Chaat Masala.
- Take a mixing spoon and give it a good stir. Check the salt and chili powder. If needed more then adjust to the taste.
- Now add Tamarind Chutney, and Cilantro Chutney on top with a squeeze of lemon juice. Mix it all well.
- The MATAR CHAAT or MATHRA is ready to be served.
- Always serve it with some more chutneys on the side and some onion and tomatoes, in case anybody wants to add more.
Serving Suggestion
- You can serve it as is. But it is often served with Kulcha also. Recipe link for kulcha given in notes.
Notes
How to make Roasted Cumin Seeds Powder?
Take 2 tbsp of Cumin Seeds and dry roast on medium heat in a heavy bottom pan. Once these turn light brown, take them off the heat. Cool these down to the room temperature. Then grind into a fine powder. Make sure not to grind these when hot.How to make Cilantro Mint Chutney at home?
It is the easiest chutney or dip to make at home. This chutney is spicy, salty and tangy in taste. Although you can use the Store Bought Cilantro chutney, but home-made is the best. It is easily available in the refrigerated section of any Indian Grocery Store. Amazon.com sells it too. Ingredients for Chutney are - 2 bunches of Cilantro +15 leaves of Mint + 2 Thai Green Chilies + Indian Black Salt or Himalayan Pink Salt to taste + Juice of 1 small lemon + 1 to 2 tbsp Water as needed. Instructions - Take Magic Bullet or Nutri Bullet or any high intensity blender. Add all the washed & cleaned ingredients to the blender along with black salt and lemon juice. Start blending till you get a smooth dip or chutney. You may add 1 to 2 tbsp water to the ingredients as needed to get it going. Do not add lot of water. The consistency should be of thick dipping sauce. Storage - It stays good in an air tight jar in the refrigerator for a week.Can I prepare White Dry Peas in advance?
Yes you can prepare these in advance. It is best served warm. The chaat does not taste good when cold. You can boil and refrigerate for later use. When ready to use, warm up the peas and make chaat.What can I use in case I can not find Dry White Peas?
You can substitute the Dry White Peas with Chickpeas, in case you can not find these peas. Also you can use the canned chickpeas after draining.How to eat Matra Chaat?
Normally you can eat it as is but you can combine it with street bread called KULCHA. It is a yeast free bread made with all purpose flour. Here is the recipe for home-made Kulcha.How to make Tamarind Dates Chutney?
Honestly I always buy a big bottle of Tamarind Dates Chutney from the Indian Grocery Store and keep it handy. Swad brand makes great chutney. And it can be refrigerated easily. Or if you want to make it at home, then here is the recipe from Ruchi's Kitchen.Instant Pot Beans Recipes
Chana Masala (Chickpeas Curry), Chana Saag (Chickpeas & Spinach Curry), Rajma Masala (Red Beans Curry), Lobiya Masala (Black Eye Peas Curry), Mexican Pinto Beans, Mexican Black Beans, and more.Instant Pot Desserts
Chocolate Cake, Red Velvet Cake, Pumpkin Cake, New York Mini Jar Cheesecakes, Chocolate Mini Jar Cheesecakes and more.I am sure you are going to try it. Please leave a review or feedback in the comments section.
Sonal