Matra Kulcha is a lip smacking chat from the streets of Delhi . Matra are boiled white peas mixed with green chillies , onions , tomatoes ginger, spices and finally laced with tamarind juice. They make a lip smacking dish when served with kulcha .
Matra Kulcha is also called Chole Kulche and you can see this chat at every nook and corner in Delhi . These vendors are very prominent as they bring the chola in a big brass pot . The pot is handi shaped and placed vertically , slightly tilted . The kulchas are packed in a plastic bag and these vendors also have a small stove to heat the kulchas . They carry whole onions , tomatoes , green chilly and coriander , and normally chop these as and when they get the order .
(Image from Google )
Matra Kulcha is a chat which is customised , so the choice to eat it spicy and tangy or just simple is totally on the customer . It is a filling chat and serves the purpose of a quick lunch. It is interesting to note that the kulchas are being replaced by wheat flour chapatis. Seriously , these vendors have started stocking chapatis too . People who do not want maida kulchas they have these chapatis . Come to think of it , it is a terrific meal , with zero oil , and very cheap too .
I must tell you that the spices used in this chat are very important . The main spice is the black chat masala and yellow chilly powder . These two spices are what make this chat very significant . The chat masala is available only in Delhi, but can be replaced by black salt, roasted cumin powder and a pinch of black pepper.The results are almost the same.
Matra Kulcha
Ingredients
White dry peas
Tomatoes
Onions
Green chillies
Coriander leaves
Ginger juillians
Lemon juice
Tamarind water
Spicy green chutney
Spices
Yellow chilly powder
Red chilly powder
Black chaat masala
Black salt
Salt to taste
Home made kulcha / store bought Kulcha
Method
Wash and soak the peas for 6-8 hours .
Pressure cook with salt for 2 whistles .
Open after the pressure is released .
Check if the matra is soft .
If not then cook without the lid till done .
The matra should be soft .
Drain the matra in a sieve and use the water for a soup or to bind dough .
Making a portion of Matra
Use about 1 cup of boiled matra .
Add the above spices as per taste .
Add chopped tomatoes , chopped onions, chopped green chilly.
Add the tamarind juice , spicy mint chutney.
Mix well .
Drizzle lemon juice .
Garnish with extra green chilly , ginger julienne and coriander leaves .
Serve with kulcha.
Here is what I have been posting under Explore the Flavors
F – Fariyali Sabudana Khichadi
Matra Kulcha
Ingredients
- White dry peas
- tomatoes
- onions
- green chillies
- coriander leaves
- Ginger juillians
- lemon juice
- tamarind water
- Spicy green Chutney
Spices
- yellow chilly powder
- red chilly powder
- Black chaat masala
- black salt
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Wash and soak the peas for 6-8 hours .
- Pressure cook with salt for 2 whistles .
- Open after the pressure is released .
- Check if the matra is soft .
- If not then cook without the lid till done .
- The matra should be soft .
- Drain the matra in a sieve and use the water for a soup or to bind dough .
Making a portion of matra
- Use about 1 cup of boiled matra .
- Add the above spices as per taste .
- Add chopped tomatoes , chopped onions, chopped green chilly.
- Add the tamarind juice , spicy mint chutney.
- Mix well .
- Drizzle lemon juice .
- Garnish with extra green chilly , ginger julienne and coriander leaves .
- Serve with kulcha.
Notes
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 87
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Matra Kulcha looks awesome !!! Black chaat masala and yellow chili powder are so new to me , would love to taste these from those vendors. Soft kulcha with those peas masala must be delicious !!!
Omg, this matra kulcha is calling me, how delicious its looks. Wowwing here and wish i get this ultimate pea masala with that fabulous kulcha rite now, my mouth is watering here Vaishali.
Love the way how you try to present it authentically. 🙂 Very nice and thanks for sharing the street vendor pictures as well. Wish to travel around the world just for food. 🙂
I remember these form my Delhi days, but was too afraid to eat roadside food then (Parathewala galli in Chandni chowk was still my favourite). These kulchewaale do make eating out affordable .. and I am in love with your wooden spice box 🙂
ahh look at that brass pot!!! the whole setup is superb vaishali, that small spice box looks very pretty! matar kulcha looks so delicious, i totally agree on that masala’s used in chat, i totally suck there, the reason i fear making chaat at home!!!
I am reminded of the cycle wala chole we had in Delhi. Is this similar to that? The whole set up looks so good and love to taste some of the chole and kulcha.
No Gayathri , the cycle wale chole that we had in Chandni Chowk are different . Try remembering these , we had called for these for breakfast at Saivilla . We had these along with aloo parathas .
That is a lip smacking chaat, Vaishali. My Delhite friend can’t stop talking about matra chaat. She described the scene just as you have narrated 🙂
Awesome another yummy chaat.. Details are to the core perfect.. You are a genius Vaishali!!
I have heard about this chaat and was waiting for your recipe Vaishali. Chole with kulcha sounds like a meal in itself. I would love to try this one out some time very soon. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
What a fantastic meal Vaishali! My husband used to tell me about these vendors who used to sell the chole and kulcha, this must be something very similar..the whole setup looks so inviting…what a feast!
Love your rustic props Vaishali. Matra kulcha looks so delicious . Was wondering what I could use instead of yellow chili as I don’t get it here.
Thanks Mayuri ! It’s okay if you don’t get yellow chilly powder , use red chilly powder and green chilly .
Omg thats another impressive chaat from you di 🙂 Matar kulcha looks so very tempting and loved your set up a lot !!. I have never used yellow chilli pd before I had looked for it when I heard it for the first time some were but didn’t find it. This is such an amazing chaat and fantastic share for the letter M. and thank you for sharing such unique street foods !! You rock 🙂
Matar kulcha is my favorite street food from Delhi and I love the spicy version of it. As kids we used to locate those vendors with their big handis. Your last pic with dhoop and spices looks like miniature version of those vendors stall.
OMG…Look at the brass pot. So impressive and even more amazing it that you have captured each and every vendor which is so apt for the theme. Wonderful Vaihali and this chat is so delicious. Love that they are also protein loaded.
I do remember these! You had ordered these from outside and we had it along with breakfast! Loved reading your post and gazing at that awesome and authentic set up you do for each post.
That is such a rustic and inviting setup for the delicious matra kulcha. I want to pitch up a tent somewhere near your house. 🙂
matar Kulcha is mine fav street food.. which you easily found everywhere./