Being a North Indian, I grew up eating Punjabi Black-Eyed Peas Curry, also referred to as Rongi, Chawli or Lobia Masala in different parts of India. Interestingly they are also referred to as cowpeas, and are from the beans family, not peas. It was very interesting to find that eating Black eyed peas on New Years day is a tradition in Southern United States. They say it brings good luck. We love black eyed peas any time, so I have started to make them on New Years too 🙂 Black eyed peas cook much faster than other beans, which means you can get this meal ready pretty quickly. I have changed this recipe to make it in an Instant Pot, but you could very well use a normal pressure cooker. The preparation for this curry is very easy and you will love the result. It is a comforting and nutritional meal.
Watch How to Make Black-Eyed Peas Curry (Indian Lobia Masala)
Are Black-Eyed Peas Healthy?
Half a cup of cooked black eyed peas, has about 18 grams of carbs, 7 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, and less than 1 gram of fat. They also have a variety of vitamins and antioxidants. Black-eyed peas are a complex carb that takes longer to digest and keep you full for longer. They are a good source of folate, which makes them great to eat during pregnancy. Black-eyed peas are very versatile and can be eaten as soup, curry, added to chili, or added to salad. So do incorporate them into your diet. If you like black-eyed peas, check out hearty and healthy Black Eyed Peas & Spinach Rice. Curious about pulses used in Indian cooking? Check out my detailed guide about Indian Pulses.
Ingredients
This curry needs very basic ingredients, which I always keep in my pantry. The only preparation needed is soaking the black-eyed peas. They cook much faster if they have soaked well for 4 or more hours. If you forget to soak, then try soaking for 1/2-1 hour in hot water and cook for longer, about 20 mins in the pressure cooker. I use dry black-eyed peas that I have soaked for 4 hours in this recipe. Using the instant pot to cook the black-eyed peas is a great convenience, and we can use dry black-eyed peas rather than canned. It is also cheaper to use dry peas. If you want to use canned black-eyed peas, check the recipe notes for more details. Want more Vegan Recipes? Check out this collection of 65+ Vegan Indian Recipes.
How to Make?
Heat oil with some cumin seeds and green chili. The chili is optional. Sauté the onions with ginger and garlic, and then add the tomatoes and spices. Add black-eyed peas and water, stir, and cook on high pressure.
And the black-eyed peas curry is ready. Garnish with cilantro. I like to add some lemon juice at the end. It adds a great tang to the curry. Really…try adding some lemon juice to all the curries and lentils…it tastes wonderful. Enjoy this curry over basmati rice or with paratha. You can also cook rice pot-in-pot with this curry. When cooking this curry after soaking the peas overnight, cook with white rice pot-in-pot for 12 minutes at high pressure. See my spinach dal recipe for how to cook pot-in-pot rice with a dal or curry.
How to cook in Stovetop Pressure Cooker?
Follow the same process as in the video when cooking on a stovetop pressure cooker. Cook on high flame for 2 whistles and then change to medium-low flame and let it cook for another 12 minutes.
How to serve?
This black-eyed peas curry pairs perfectly with basmati rice. You can also pair it with quinoa or cauliflower rice. This curry can also be enjoyed as a soup with some added veggies.
Meeta’s Tips
Double the quantity: You can also double this recipe with the same cooking time. The pressure cooker will take longer to come to pressure. This lentil also freezes well, so it is great for meal prep. Use my Onion Tomato Bhuna Masala: You can use 3/4 cup of this masala and skip onion, tomato, ginger, and garlic in this recipe. Do adjust the spices to your taste.
Make this a Black Eyed Pea Vegetable Soup
Want to make this a hearty soup? Add some veggies, such as carrots and celery, before pressure cooking. Then stir in some collard greens or spinach, or kale once pressure cooking is completed. Enjoy with some delicious garlic bread on the side.
Common Questions
I hope you enjoy this delicious lobia masala curry! Want to find other easy Instant Pot Indian Recipes? Here are 29 Best Instant Pot Vegetarian Recipes for you to try!
