Indian spiced peas

A quick side dish full of flavor that turns simple peas into something extraordinary. In just about 10 minutes, frozen (or fresh) peas, red peppers, and onions are simmered with garlic, ginger, and warm spices to make Indian Spiced Peas. A vibrant dish like curry with a hint of creamy sauce. It’s healthy, vegan, and full of hints of Indian flavor.

Similar to Kerala-style peas from the Indian region, my simple recipe uses many of the same basic spices and flavors, but replaces dried peas with fresh peas and omits coconut milk to create a version that makes the spices really pop. Popular recipe here since 2018 with some flavorful updates.

Ingredients

• Oil
• Onion
• red chili pepper
• Garlic
• Fresh ginger
• Ground cumin
• Turmeric
• coriander powder
• Garam masala
• Salt
• Pepper
• Tomato paste/puree
• Water
• Mung beans
• fresh mint leaves

Spices for easy flavor

There’s no easier – or healthier – way to add big flavor than with a good mix of spices, and they add great depth to this pea recipe. The dish is not spicy, but you can add a pinch of Indian red chili powder if you want it a little spicy.

I even make my own Indian Spice Mix (pictured below) to keep on hand as greens, like Indian Spiced Acorn Squash, so I can add instant flavor whenever I need it.

Fresh or frozen peas

This recipe is valid all year round. Use fresh peas when they’re in season, or frozen peas anytime for a convenient and flavorful alternative.

Feel free to include other frozen vegetables, such as carrots or corn, to add extra color and flavor to the peas.

These peas are part of a complete Indian meal consisting of Chicken Tikka Masala, Indian Dal and Easy Homemade Naan Bread. See below.

You can make this a completely vegan meal by serving peas with my Curry Vegetable Basmati Rice.

If you’ve made Indian Spiced Beans, please leave a star rating on the recipe. You can also leave a comment below or ask a question.