Creamy Butter Beans and Green Peas

Let me start by wishing you all a very Happy Independence Day! Today India celebrates her 63rd Independence Day. As children this day is always remembered as a holiday from school, buying national flags and showing them off on your cars, singing national anthem, watching the flag hosting and eating sweets. I have some really special memories attached with this day, back home our residential complex celebrates independence day every year in our building garden. Every year on this day national anthem and other patriotic songs are played from morning 7 am. I remember waking up hearing them :) Light snacks and a packet of Frooti is distributed later on to all the children. Small small children sing patriotic songs and give speeches on indian history. Later on we watch the flag hosting ceremony on the national DD channel, my dad never misses this parade and always insist we too watch along with him. Childrens and students from overall states of india perform in the parade by dancing, singing, sports etc. If you havent watched this parade as yet, i request you to please watch it next time as the efforts taken by the students is worth while and i salute them for their talent! The co-ordination and consistency between the performers is remarkable!

Now coming on to today's recipe, i had seen this recipe at Meeta's blog and immediately bookmarked it. In gujarati butter beans are also known as "Vaal" and usually cooked with usual masalas in a curry style. I loved the idea of making them with cream and I am so glad it came out delicious. I have made few changes to the recipe and used green peas instead of leaks. Its simple and creamy dish and you can enjoy it as a side dish with roti or rice or even have it all by itself.

Sending this to Viki's event Side Dishes for Chapathi and to MLLA 14 hosted by Susan this month.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter beans (lima beans) soaked in water overnight

1 medium onion minced

1/2 cup frozen green peas

1 tsp olive oil

1 tsp butter

2 tbsp cream

Salt & Pepper to taste

fresh coriander or parsley for garnishing

1 cup water as required

Procedure:

• Heat oil and butter in a pan, add in minced onions and saute for 2 mins.
• Now add in butter beans, salt, pepper and enough water to cover the beans.
• Cover the cook on medium-slow heat for 15 to 20 mins.
• Beans will be halfway cooked, now throw in green peas and fresh cream.
• Again cover and cook for 5 to 6 mins , until butter beans are soft and creamy.
• Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley.

Once again wishing you all a very Happy 63rd Independence Day!

Luv,