Matki Usal is a classic Maharashtrian dish made with sprouted matki (moth beans), onion, tomato and aromatic spices. It is hearty, flavourful and easy to serve with pav, bhakri, chapati or rice.
This Maharashtrian Matki Usal recipe uses sprouted matki cooked in a spicy onion-tomato masala. The sprouts absorb the flavours of the curry while still keeping their texture, making the dish satisfying enough for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
If you enjoy traditional cooking, making Matki Usal from scratch is absolutely worth it. But if you are short on time and don't want to prepare a separate masala, Netra’s Instant Red Curry Paste can simplify the curry-making process without requiring you to compromise on a comforting, traditional-style meal.
What Is Matki Usal?
Matki Usal is a Maharashtrian curry made with sprouted matki, also known as moth beans. The sprouts are cooked with onion, tomato, spices and water to create either a thick dry usal or a more gravy-based version called rassa.
It is a popular home-style preparation because matki is easy to sprout and works well with everyday Indian spices.
The consistency can be adjusted according to how you want to serve it:
- Dry Matki Usal – thicker and ideal with bhakri or chapati
- Rassyachi Usal – more gravy and excellent with pav or rice
- Matki Usal Pav – a simple, filling combination for breakfast or a quick meal
Authentic Maharashtrian Matki Usal Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup sprouted matki (moth beans)
- 2 medium onions, finely chopped
- 1 medium tomato, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp oil
- ½ tsp mustard seeds
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp red chilli powder, or according to taste
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- ½ tsp cumin powder
- ½ tsp goda masala
- 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1 tsp jaggery (optional)
- Salt to taste
- 2 cups water, or as required
- Fresh coriander leaves
- Lemon wedges (optional)
How to Sprout Matki at Home
Sprouting is an important part of a good sprouted Matki Usal recipe.
1. Wash the Matki
Wash 1 cup of whole matki thoroughly under running water.
2. Soak Overnight
Soak the matki in enough water for approximately 8 hours or overnight.
3. Drain
Drain the soaking water completely.
4. Keep Covered for Sprouting
Transfer the soaked matki to a clean cloth or sprouting container and keep it covered in a warm place. Allow it to sit until small sprouts begin to appear. Depending on temperature and the quality of the beans, sprouting may take several hours.
A Simple Sprouting Tip
If you are wondering how long to soak matki, overnight soaking is a practical starting point. Keep the beans moist but not sitting in excess water while they sprout.
How to Make Matki Usal
1. Cook the Sprouted Matki
Add the sprouted matki to a pressure cooker with a little turmeric, salt and enough water. Pressure cook for about 2 whistles, or cook in a covered pot until the matki becomes tender. Do not overcook it into a paste. The sprouts should remain reasonably intact. Keep aside.
2. Prepare the Tempering
Heat oil in a kadhai. Add mustard seeds and allow them to splutter. Add cumin seeds and let them become aromatic.
3. Cook the Onion
Add chopped onion and sauté until it turns light golden. Add ginger-garlic paste and cook until the raw aroma disappears.
4. Add Tomato
Add chopped tomato. Cook until the tomato becomes soft and blends well with the onion.
5. Add the Spices
Add turmeric, red chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin powder and goda masala. Mix well and cook for 1–2 minutes. Add a splash of water if the masala begins sticking to the pan.
6. Add the Cooked Matki
Add the cooked sprouted matki to the masala. Mix gently so the sprouts don't break.
7. Adjust the Consistency
Pour in about 2 cups of water. For matki dry usal, use less water. For a more gravy-like version, add more water. Add jaggery if you like a slight balance between the heat and spice.
8. Simmer
Cover and simmer for 7–8 minutes. Allow the matki to absorb the masala and the curry to thicken.
9. Finish the Usal
Taste and adjust salt and spice. Garnish with fresh coriander. Add a squeeze of lemon before serving if desired.
Your traditional Maharashtrian Matki Usal is ready.
How to Make Matki Usal More Flavourful
- Don't Overcook the Matki: The sprouts should be tender but still hold their shape. Overcooked matki can make the usal too mushy.
- Cook the Onion and Tomato Properly: A well-cooked onion-tomato base creates a better masala than adding the spices and water too quickly.
- Use Goda Masala: Goda masala gives the usal a distinctly Maharashtrian flavour.
- Adjust Water According to the Meal: Use less water for a dry usal with bhakri or chapati. Use more water when serving the usal with pav or rice.
- Let It Rest: After cooking, rest the usal for a few minutes. The sprouts continue absorbing the masala and the flavour becomes more balanced.
Traditional Matki Usal Takes Preparation
Making Matki Chi Usal from scratch is not difficult, but it involves several preparation steps. You need to soak and sprout the matki, cook the sprouts, chop onions and tomatoes, prepare the masala and measure several spices.
That is completely fine when you enjoy slow, traditional cooking. But on busy mornings or after a long day at work, you may want a homemade-style meal without spending extra time preparing the curry base.
That's where Netra’s Instant Red Curry Paste can be useful.
Quick Matki Usal with Netra’s Instant Red Curry Paste
Instead of preparing and measuring several masalas individually, you can use Netra’s Instant Red Curry Paste to simplify the curry base. The matki is still cooked fresh at home, while the paste helps reduce the masala preparation involved.
Ingredients
- 1 cup sprouted matki
- 100 g Netra’s Instant Red Curry Paste
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium tomato, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1½–2 cups hot water
- Salt, if required
- Fresh coriander
- Lemon (optional)
Quick Method
1. Cook the Matki: Pressure cook the sprouted matki with a little turmeric and salt until tender. Keep aside.
2. Heat Oil: Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a kadhai. Add chopped onion and cook until lightly golden.
3. Add Tomato: Add chopped tomato and cook until soft.
4. Add Netra’s Instant Red Curry Paste: Add the required quantity of Netra’s Instant Red Curry Paste. Sauté for a couple of minutes until aromatic.
5. Add Water: Add hot water gradually while stirring. Mix until you get a smooth curry base.
6. Add the Matki: Add the cooked sprouted matki. Mix gently so the sprouts remain intact.
7. Simmer: Cook for 5–8 minutes until the matki absorbs the curry and the usal reaches your preferred consistency.
8. Finish: Adjust salt if necessary. Garnish with fresh coriander and lemon.
Your quick Matki Usal recipe is ready.
Why Use Netra’s Instant Red Curry Paste?
Traditional recipes are about more than ingredients. They carry memories, family traditions and the taste of home. But everyday cooking doesn't always leave enough time for elaborate preparation.
Netra’s Instant Red Curry Paste helps make the curry-making part easier.
- Less Spice Measuring: You don't have to measure several different spices separately every time you make a curry.
- Less Preparation: The curry base comes together with fewer preparation steps.
- Less Kitchen Mess: Fewer spice containers and preparation bowls can mean less cleaning after cooking.
- Preservative-Free Choice: Netra’s Instant Red Curry Paste is made without preservatives, making it a convenient option for people who prefer preservative-free food choices.
- Convenient for Everyday Cooking: It can be especially useful for students, bachelors, working professionals, busy parents and anyone who wants a comforting curry without spending too much time preparing the masala.
Homemade Masala or Instant Curry Paste: Which Should You Choose?
| If you want... | Try... |
|---|---|
| Traditional homemade cooking | Make the masala from scratch |
| More control over individual spices | Homemade method |
| Less chopping | Netra’s Instant Red Curry Paste |
| Less spice measuring | Netra’s Instant Red Curry Paste |
| Faster weekday cooking | Netra’s Instant Red Curry Paste |
| A relaxed weekend cooking experience | Homemade method |
| Less kitchen mess | Netra’s Instant Red Curry Paste |
Both approaches can give you delicious Matki Usal. The choice simply depends on how much time you have and how you prefer to cook.
Is Matki Usal a Nutritious Choice?
Matki is a legume and provides plant-based protein, carbohydrates, fibre and several micronutrients.
Because nutrition varies depending on the recipe, oil quantity and serving size, the values below are approximate estimates for one serving of this recipe, not laboratory-tested values.
Approximate Nutrition Per Serving
Assuming the recipe makes approximately 4 servings:
| Nutrient | Approximate amount per serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 230–280 kcal |
| Protein | 10–12 g |
| Carbohydrates | 30–35 g |
| Fibre | 7–9 g |
The exact nutrition will vary depending on the quantity of oil, sprouts, vegetables and other ingredients used.
Why Matki Can Fit Into a Balanced Diet
Matki is naturally a good source of plant protein and dietary fibre. Sprouted legumes are also commonly used in Indian diets as a nutritious way to add variety to meals.
For a more balanced plate, you can pair Matki Usal with vegetables, salad, bhakri or a moderate serving of rice according to your dietary needs.
When Can You Eat Matki Usal?
- Breakfast: Serve it with pav or toast for a filling breakfast.
- Lunch: Pair it with bhakri or chapati and a simple vegetable side dish.
- Dinner: Enjoy it with rice, roti or bhakri for a comforting evening meal.
- After a Workout: Because matki contains plant-based protein and carbohydrates, it can be included in a balanced post-workout meal.
What to Serve with Matki Usal
- Matki Usal with Pav: A slightly rassy version is excellent with pav.
- Matki Usal with Bhakri: Serve thicker usal with hot jowar or bajra bhakri for a traditional Maharashtrian meal.
- Matki Usal with Chapati: Chapati works well for a simple everyday lunch or dinner.
- Matki Usal with Rice: Add a little extra gravy and serve with steamed rice.
- With Onion and Lemon: Raw onion, coriander and lemon add freshness and balance the spicy usal.
Matki Usal Variations
- Matki Dry Usal: Reduce the water and cook uncovered until the masala coats the sprouts.
- Matki Usal Pav: Keep the consistency slightly thinner and serve hot with pav.
- Matki Batata Usal: Add boiled potato cubes for a heartier preparation.
- Malvani-Style Matki Usal: Add coconut or a regional spice blend for a different flavour profile.
- Spicy Matki Usal: Increase the chilli according to your preference.
Tips for the Best Matki Usal
- Soak the matki thoroughly before sprouting.
- Don't leave the sprouts sitting in excess water while sprouting.
- Cook the matki until tender but not mushy.
- Brown the onions properly for a deeper flavour.
- Cook the tomato and spices before adding water.
- Use less water for dry usal; add more water for rassy usal or pav.
- Let the curry rest before serving.
- Adjust chilli according to your spice tolerance.
- Add lemon at the end for freshness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matki Usal
How long should I soak matki?
A practical starting point is to soak whole matki for approximately 8 hours or overnight before draining and sprouting it.
How do you make Matki Usal at home?
Cook sprouted matki until tender, prepare an onion-tomato masala with spices, add the cooked sprouts and simmer until the desired consistency is reached.
Is Matki Usal healthy?
Matki Usal can be a nutritious part of a balanced diet because matki provides plant protein and dietary fibre. The overall nutritional value depends on ingredients, oil and portion size.
How do I make Matki Usal less spicy?
Reduce the chilli powder and green chillies. You can also add a small amount of jaggery to balance the heat.
Can I make Matki Usal without onion and garlic?
Yes. You can prepare an onion-and-garlic-free version by adjusting the base and seasoning according to your cooking preference.
Can I make Matki Usal in a pressure cooker?
Yes. A pressure cooker can be used to cook the soaked or sprouted matki until tender before adding it to the prepared masala.
What can I serve with Matki Usal?
Matki Usal can be served with pav, bhakri, chapati, roti or rice. Raw onion and lemon make simple accompaniments.
How do I make Matki Usal quickly?
Use pre-sprouted matki and Netra’s Instant Red Curry Paste to reduce the preparation involved in making the masala.
Can I use Netra’s Instant Red Curry Paste for Matki Usal?
Yes. The paste can be used as a shortcut for the curry base. You can still cook the matki and fresh ingredients yourself.
Is Netra’s Instant Red Curry Paste preservative-free?
Yes. Netra’s Instant Red Curry Paste is made without preservatives.
Explore More Indian Recipes
Matki Usal is just one way to turn simple ingredients into a comforting Indian meal. Explore more Netra’s Recipes for traditional-inspired dishes, everyday meal ideas and recipes that work with convenient cooking options.
Final Thoughts
A good Matki Usal recipe doesn't need complicated ingredients. Sprouted matki, onions, tomatoes and spices can create a hearty Maharashtrian meal that works for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
When you have time, make the masala from scratch and enjoy the traditional cooking process. When you are busy, don't want to measure multiple spices or simply want less preparation and less kitchen mess, Netra’s Instant Red Curry Paste gives you a convenient alternative.
Traditional when you have time. Convenient when you don't. The choice is yours.
